Take this job and ......

C

CatyMae n Steve

New member
you know the rest...I've had it all the way up to my eyebrows and I ain't takin it any more! Today's my last day at work. I finally figured it's makin me cranky and I just ain't the cranky sort, so I'm takin a small retirement fund early, takin the tax whooopin and lookin for a new job to keep me outa trouble for a couple years til we retire! SO, we'll be at the SBS with bells on our toes (well, maybe I'll have retired the Christmas bells by that time), looking forward to seeing everyone. Off to work for 8 more hours of sumunfuns.
 
Man...I am SOOOO envious. You lucky dog. Congrats!

Dana and I are spring chickens compared to all the old goats that hang out here - sometimes I think Mike created this place so he'd have his own little virtual senior citizens community...:lol:

Still, we're obsessed with that coming day, me a little more than her. When things stink around here, usually because of work, we just look at each other and say "411". That's short for 04/2011, when we plan on blowing this popsicle stand, and making the move to WA.

We're a little nervous about it...we'll only be 50, and we've got to figure out how to survive for four years - our pension plans don't kick in until 54, and like you, we'll be yanking some money from retirement savings over those first few years. We'll also be looking for work, but for me, it won't have a damn thing to do with computers...I'm hoping to do something more hands-on. Might start up a small tractor business with the Kubota (tilling, brush cutting), or maybe something boating related.

I'm sure you've planned things out well, but here's a great resource I found a few weeks ago - I've been soaking up all sorts of good info there. Even though the focus is on early retirement, they touch on all sorts of things that affect retirees of any age. Like here, they seem to be a pretty nice bunch of folks.

Early Retirement Forums
 
AWw man!..... aww man.....
I don;t even have a date yet but...
Well congrats... I think....

Does this mean you are gonna have more tome to go after MY fish? :D
I hope to at least get to watch you catch some some day..

Aww man.
 
Old goats?!!! Well, I guess if the shoe fits....

I just hit my nine month retirement anniversary; I pulled the plug on my 55th birthday. It does take some adjustment, though. Even though I was never one to define who I was by my job, it still is a big life change. Other folks I've talked to say to figure on about a year of adjustment. Who woulda thunk having unlimited free time would take adjustment.

Still, I spent the morning pickling northern pike and making a cassoulet which is a hell of a lot better than yet another morning of facing my erstwhile a**hole boss.

More power to you all.

Al
 
First: Moose, you got that one (very) right.

Most folks think that if they've sort of got the financial end of retirement figured out, the rest of it is a piece of cake. Not necessarily....

I "retired" 4/98 at the tender age of 51. We were busy motorhoming and traveling, and keeping busy and things went quite well. Than in 3/02 I got called-up by the army and spent 2.5 years doing stuff for them. Damn if the active duty didn't almost make me forget how to be "retired!" finally re-entered retirement in April of this year, and it's been more challenging than the first four years! ...but I think I got it down now!! (I'm taking lessons from Bill & El, and a few others!)

Gee's, I'd hate to Flunk retirement!

On the "financial" end of it - I'll pass along something an 'ol gal in the Personnel Office told me. (She was a "retirement specialist" ... now they're called Human Resource Specialist's I think...). What she suggested was:

"...about 12-18 months BFORE retiring, determine how much your after-retirement income will be, and LEARN TO LIVE ON IT before you retire." There will be some budget adjustments here and there, but adapting to retirement income while you're still working sort of eases the bumps.

The dutch-uncle version of that is: "...if you can't live on your fulltime working pay, you probably don't need to think about retiring yet."

Just some thoughts....

Enjoy your Last Day, and then buy Ollie a beer! Somewhere inside most bosses is/was a pretty good person; see if you can find that person.

Casey
C-Dory Naknek
 
Two more comments:

Don't any of you slow down or you will find me bumping into your arse... :twisted: fourteen months and counting... :clock down!

Can I have some of that cassoulet... sounds real mmm mmm good! :smilep
 
At the risk of ruining this thread, it is a French country dish of long-cooked, oven-baked white beans, sausage, duck or other game (I used rabbit - first grilled), white wine, stock, tomatoes, and herbs. I made it up today and layered it all in a clay casserole and then will bake it tomorrow for dinner. Since we had the first bit of snow last night, some of which is still on the ground, it'll be a perfect late fall meal with a robust red wine.
 
Thanks for the well wishes...and Bill for the link...I'll be reading up. Steve and I have had to tighten our belts with the job I just quit, as it paid about 1/3 of my last job wages. I doubt I'll stay unemployed (if I can find someone who'll hire this old goat!), in reality, as it'll drive me nuts being at home and Steve being at work...I've worked all my life...and certainly look forward to retirement, but want my playmate to be free with me! :-) It was hard initially, moving to a small farming community just outside a blue collar town after having lived in metro areas most of my adult life, but now I've developed some contacts and maybe I'll find something fun to do for a couple years until Steve's ready to retire too...(price paid for marrying a younger man :lol: ). I have faith all will work out just peachie! :thup

So, Moose, when is dinner going to be ready?

And, Mr. Fisherman....naw, I won't catch YOUR fish...but I been thinkin 'bout Sensei's post on fishing for pikeminnow...hmmmmm :smile
 
Finances seem to get front page coverage when reading, discussing, or considering retirement -- and yes, financial planning is important. However, there are many sources of information on this aspect of retiring.

In our experience, just as important for a quality retirement experience (both for health and happiness) is the adaptation to the new situation. We believe it is imperative to have exciting, engaging, and broadening events to anticipate in those retirement years. One should be absorbed in interesting experiences -- and every individual defines that for themselves. There are no guides or prescriptions to success in this area that are really effective -- it is an individual choice, and each of us is different.

We have discovered that those without the excitement of wanting to get out of bed and get going with something interesting soon wane in mental and physical ability. Nothing is more debilitating than slowly turning into a vegetable because there is "nothing to do." Get into tractor pulling, fishing, building Habitat for Humanity houses, taking hikes, traveling, working up your genealogy, ... anything you find absorbing and interesting.

Yep, check out the finances (and sure, live on that projected retirement income for a year while still working is a great idea), but we think, most importantly, be busy considering an exciting life, and plan your financial needs for that projected future life -- probably (and hopefully), it will be very different than your work life.

Just some ideas from 20 years of wonderful retirement (and, by the way, we loved our jobs) ...
 
Don't be expecting any planning advice from me. I am 53 years old, have two kids in grade school, and a fresh mortgage. I'll still be working when boats fly. But it is the most rewarding stage yet of my life.

Speaking of rewarding, if any of you are able to get the Trailblazer game on TV tomorrow, watch for the pregame cheerleader performance. Our 11 year old will be in it, and another granddaugther will be there on injured reserve. Kay has seen a few of their practices and she tells me I won't believe what the coach has those girls doing. You don't have to watch the game if you don't want.

OK, back to your regularly scheduled early retirement programming.........
 
Ditto, in spades...Austin is a few years older than the girls, but then Patty and I have a few years on you too...however, I can now take a few weeks off a year without worry (finally) and make LOTS of three, four or even five day "long weekends" - so it could be a lot worse! ♪♪♫"Look on the sunny side, always on the sunny side. Look on the sunny side of life..."♪♪♫

TyBoo":b1jtmkwd said:
I'll still be working when boats fly.
Click to expand...
 
TyBoo":13a2iubi said:
Don't be expecting any planning advice from me. I am 53 years old, have two kids in grade school, and a fresh mortgage. I'll still be working when boats fly. But it is the most rewarding stage yet of my life.
Click to expand...

and a horse to feed.. :)
 
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