Gonna have a lot more time to ride! Retirement...

[Black Dog]

I did it…  I pushed the button…  After 38 years with Ma Bell, I’m ready to explore the next chapter…  Last day at work – 3/31 

I started in 1978, as a Directory Assistance Operator.  I’ve worked my way up through the ranks, holding both Craft and Management positions.  My final position has been that of New Technology Development Engineer for AT&T Labs.   

I’ve seen technology that was once a dream become reality…

I’ve seen the office culture go from the first desk top computers with monochrome displays and tractor feed Printers to Personal Data Devices for everyone…  Central offices that took up an entire building and were so noisy from clattering relays to now digitized switches that take up about as much room as a few refrigerators that just sit there and hum…

I’ve witnessed a simple request such as “Steve, you are the one most familiar with the project, would you mind giving a few of us a detailed description of what needs to be done?” to “Steve, you’re the SME (Subject Matter Expert).  Can we ‘Loop Back’ (Circle back) and have you ‘speak to’ the issues, and give us a ‘granular view’ of the ‘resource impact’?”  Geeze, office speak… 

I’ve gone from going out for drinks, or going fishing with my boss, after work, to having never met, in person, the Director I’ve reported to for the last 10 years… 

Perfect attendance and dedication were once valued…  Now, people are let go in a heartbeat without so much as a pat on the back… 

I’m a Dinosaur in today’s digital world…  I’ve learned more than I can remember, met many incredible people, and provided for my family in a way I never could have envisioned…

It’s time to turn the page.  There is wind to be got, fish to be sought, grass to be cut, and life to be explored. 

Look out world, here I come.

Black Dog

[Woton]

It’s time to turn the page.  There is wind to be got, fish to be sought, grass to be cut, and life to be explored.

Hopefully as few occasions of the third one as possible.  Congratulations!

[G-Man]

Best wishes, Brother.  Hope retirement is good to you and everything you worked all here years for is easy peasy!

[R J]

Congratulations on your retarded status...........

Good luck in your new venture, it is very very very enjoyable.

Have fun Bro, you have earned it..................

Ride the crap out of the Valk & pull maintenance about once a week now instead of once every 2 months.   LOL.

If you get over in my area, let me know and stop by.

We will see that you get a place to wey ur wittle head.

 

[ChromeDome]

Best wishes on the new chapter! 

[Jess from VA]

Welcome to maximum freedom....... with an 80% pay cut.   

Have fun, live cheap.   I love it. 

[Pappy!]

You are to be commended on a textbook old school career!! Way to go.
Now....since you only go around one time without any "Do-overs", go out there and enjoy what should be the very best part of your life! You have earned it.

[old2soon]

Been retar-er-retired a bit over 6 years.   OTHER than the pay cut I'm liking it.   I have found out though when I have the time I don't gots the money and when I have the money I don't gots the time!   When the weather is nice I run outa cash before I run outa month!   BUT it's ALL good-no more deadlines no more folks askin me to break rules-I NOW do that on my own-enjoy yerself-NO matter WHAT anyone else TRIES to tell you-you DO deserve it!   RIDE SAFE.

[Crackerborn]

I wish you a happy and healthy retirement to do all those things that there was never enough time to do before.

[JimC]

Atta boy !

I am looking foreword to those phone calls saying that is is nice out, lets ride.
(We can always take a ride by Lothar (98T) on the way to where ever we are headed)

Jim

[Pepmyster]

Congrats!!!!

[da prez]

  Been there  , done that  ( I am still doing it) You are right  , there is no loyalty in the workplace.

  I think the scariest thing is, The kids today , are the doctors tomorrow.

   Good luck on the retirement. I am in N/E Illinois.

                                                 da prez

[Momz]

Congrats on sticking it out till you choose the time to leave.
Retirement is not always what it once was.

But retirement often isn't as casual as you might have thought. I often hear that retirees are more busy than they had imagined and have less time to persue personal interests. I truly hope that you can have as much time in the wind as you want.

Happy Retirement Steve.

[Jack B]

Atta boy !

I am looking foreword to those phone calls saying that is is nice out, lets ride.
(We can always take a ride by Lothar (98T) on the way to where ever we are headed)

Jim
[/quote
Congratulations you will love retirement I do.
Let me know when you ride by Lothar sounds like fun.

[GotValk]

Enjoy!, it sounds like you deserve it!!

[Willow]

  

Congrats!  I've been toying with that decision myself.

I identify with your observation that loyalty and relationship that once were held dear by corporate America seem to have been cast aside.  I surely do miss the days gone by.

Enjoy the wind.

[Patrick]

Retirement is great !  I had reservations about it like many probably have. It shouldn't take too long to get used to it.
You'll probably end up busier than when you were working. Most end up that way.  But, most times now you'l be able to pick and choose what you want to do.

[sheets]

Congrats! I, too, left my keys on the desk after 38 years. Like you, I saw many changes over the years; from old trucks and equipment to fancy modern - from processing everything on paper and taking care of business via telephone conversation to all computerized. Could have gone another year, but the company crap at the management level got to be too much to bear. Took me a few months to purge the company sludge from my system, but after 2.5 years, looking back my work life is nothing but a blurry spot in my memory chip. I pick and choose my honey-do chores selectively - start late and quit early. Life is good.
Yrmv,     

[Strider]

Congrats brother!!!

[Disco]

Way to go, Steve!      

[Misfit]

Congrats Steve! Just know that there is a place for you to stay here if you decide to ride out west at some point. We would be honored to have you. Enjoy my friend. You earned it.  

[cookiedough]

Big Congrats as well, well deserved.  Enjoy your retirement years and stay active, preferably more riding time!    More fishing time is also great as well, especially on weekdays when the lakes are all to yourself almost with no boat traffic.   

I have been asking my oldest uncle, age 70 now, with 50 years in with same company, when he is going to retire.  He said he cannot afford it which I know is a lie.  I just think he doesn't want to spend time at home with the misses. 

[DIGGER]

Tha'ts awesome Black Dog......learn the ropes for me....I'm retireing Sept 1st after 42 yrs as an electrician.....may need some advice on what to do later.  you gonna be old enough for Medicare?

[BobB]

Congrats, and welcome to the leisure crowd.  We have similar backgrounds, retired from IBM 18 months ago after starting in 1968.  Started working with computers with 8k of core memory and punched card input.  Today we have watches that totally eclipse the capability of those machines.  We've come a long way baby...

[Cattman]

Congratulations Steve. Time for some bucket list achievements.    

[Skinhead]

Congrats!  Let me know if you like it, I'm not far behind you.

[Thunderbolt]

Congrats Steve.  I retired from AT&T Dec. 2012 as Central Office/Network Technician.  Of course it was Bellsouth before it was AT&T here in Fl.  Before that 21 years with Alltel same position and prior to that a Central Office installer for Western Electric.  Hard to get phone stuff out of your blood once you get used to it.  I installed a lot of the old No.1 step by step and 355 CDO's in the 60's, and 70's.
I am like most other folks that will tell you that you just don't know how you had time to work and get everything done as there is no spare time now.  The company will just put a new employee number XYZ in your place and pay him less and keep on chugging along.
Again congratulations on "making it".  Some don't.

[Hoser]

Less money for toys, but more time to play with them.  Have fun while you can!  Hoser 

[solo1]

Congratulations Steve!  You'll like it.
I was lucky enough to retire when corporations were still treating their people right.

As far as keeping busy, you'll wonder where all your time has gone!

Since i retired in 1991 I have served 14 years as a councilman, 22 years on the local Board of Works and Safety, won a nice award for service, taught classes in gun safety, an elder in my church, and have owned five different motorcycles, still enjoying the present one.

I have been in reasonable health and wish you the same for a long time.

Wayne, solo1

[Big Al of Tennessee]

Retired   3/31/2013.

Is this a April Fools Joke.

I thought not.

Have fun.. is the only rule now.

[EEEZZRIDER]

Good decision Steve ! I semi retired this year myself and make my own hrs. I don't have to be down at the shop to let guys in, no more dealing with early morning moods with employees and I get out of the starting gate with a smile on my face every day now. Always wanted to do Hotglues BBQ and guess what, I'm gonna do it this year. Wanna join me ?

Ron
EEEZZRIDER

[POPS 57]

I have been retired for a few years now. You will find out that you get up in the morning with nothing to do. And by the end of the day you are only half done. Six Saturday's and one Sunday every week.  

[Steve K (IA)]

Congrats Steve. 

My last day was 5/31/2014.  The pay cut Sucks, but living without all the stress is worth it.