Update

13 years ago

Many years ago my wife and I planned our retirement dates. She would have left work the year before she passed away. My date was the year I had thirty years with my job. That day is Feb 16 and I've decided to pull the plug on March 4. I'm tired of getting up a 4:15 and getting home at 6:15 etc etc. I'm looking forward to cooking and eating regular meals at regular times and fishing and playing golf and tiling floors and painting and doing whatever the heck I want to. And visiting here more often and bugging you guys.

James

Comments (26)

centralcacyclist
13 years ago
Congratulations on your decision! I wish you many happy years doing whatever you please.

Eileen
teresa_nc7
13 years ago
Jim, I'm very happy for you and the new life you will begin soon. And I'm also envious.

Teresa
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wizardnm
13 years ago
That's great news Jim, you'll wonder how you ever had time to work.

Nancy
dgkritch
13 years ago
Congratulations Jim!!
Now you're really going to be busy from what I understand!! LOL

I. AM. SO. Jealous!!!

Deanna
(looking at at least 20 more years, even though I'll have 30 years in at the same job 3 years from now. Sigh.)
compumom
13 years ago
Exciting News! Congratulations, I'm truly envious!
caliloo
13 years ago
Congrats on your decision! I wish you many many years of fun and good health and happiness!

Alexa
jessyf
13 years ago
Gee I guess you'll have to spend some time traveling and visiting forum folks darfc

Congrats!
dedtired
13 years ago
Congrats, Jim. Retiring is a big decision. I hope you have plans for how you'll spend your time. Sleeping late and sitting around doing not much gets old fast.

I hope your retirement is both relaxing and fulfilling.
sally2_gw
13 years ago
Congratulations, Jim! You're going to be busier than ever, I can see.

Sally
lindac
13 years ago
Isn't it wonderful to have a decision made/!
Now you are free to get a job that you like....working at something you love at the hours you choose....or not!
Looking forward to seeing you here more.
Linda C
mustangs81
13 years ago
Great to hear from you!

I'm sure you will manage this next step just fine.

Cathy
loagiehoagie
13 years ago
Sleeping in, golf, fishing, household projects, cooking good meals....sounds like a plan! It's the people who's entire life revolves around 'work' and don't have any hobbies or outside interests that do the RETIRE=EXPIRE routine. Jim, it sounds like you got it covered my friend. Now start marking those X's out on the calendar!

Duane
westsider40
13 years ago
Yes, it's wonderful. Interesting how the young French people are protesting cause the govt is proposing moving the retirement age up to 62! Americans have a different work ethic. We need a better live ethic.
dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
13 years ago
Couple of considerations that's very important to formulate in your "retirement" options:

1. Because of the changing world digital economy, there is a possibility that things may get very expensive in the near future. There is not enough to go around for everyone.

2. Due to rapid advances in medicine and genetic engineering, there is a real possibility that we can live to beyond 100 years old.

dcarch
Lars
13 years ago
How fortunate for you that you can make this decision. I won't be able to retire until I reach 70, and I was really looking forward to retiring at 65 or 66. My boss will turn 77 this week, and she has no plans for retiring at all, but if she did, it could affect my position. My 30th anniversary will be in 2019 (before I reach 70), and so that might be a good time for me too.

I hope you have good buddies for fishing and golfing. I enjoy fishing but have never played golf, other than miniature.

Lars
jimtex
Original Author
13 years ago
dcarch, I agree. I've thought about that a lot this year and decided I'd rather be out on the street with a plan than get pink slipped all of a sudden which will happen if the world craters. I've got 5 years of fairly "safe" money set aside accordingly which I could stretch a lot further in crisis mode.
I think if I wait there will always be some reason to not do it. I've already had the worst curve ball life can throw me so I'm really not scared at all.
chase_gw
13 years ago
Jim I am so excited for you! Retiring is a tough call for all kinds of reasons but one you will never regret.

I can't tell you where the time goes but I never have enough of it now that I am retired. There is just so much I enjoy doing in my own sweet time like reading the entire paper over a couple of cups of tea! When I worked my house was cleaner, now I just don't have enough time to get to it! ; )

Take care, be well and I hope we hear more from you. You are missed.
ann_t
13 years ago
James, I'm really happy for you. And I'm happy for me too, because you will have more time to participate here. I've missed you.

Ann
annie1992
13 years ago
Congratulations, James, and happy retirement. I agree, you can now do whatever you choose.

I've got 33 years in my job, and I'm looking at retirement myself, having just turned 55 last May. I'm not dealing with it until after Ashley's wedding in May, though.

Fishing, you need to do lots of fishing. If the world tanks, you can eat fish. Yeah, that's it....

Annie
sushipup1
13 years ago
Jim, sounds like you made the right decision! I can imagine it's a hard one----we're talking about the whens and hows and wheres of the same thing ourselves, and feel more than a little overwhelmed. You sound like it's a peaceful decision for you. Congratulations. Now, hhose fish and golf balls are awaiting!

Helene
jimtex
Original Author
13 years ago
I want to thank everyone for the words of encouragement. I'm looking forward to not changing my life but shifting into a new phase with the time to do things at my own pace.
BeverlyAL
13 years ago
Congratulations Jim. I know you are going to enjoy your retirement. I retired a few years back and now I sometimes wonder how on earth I used to get to work at 6:30 in the AM. Love retirement!

Beverly
loagiehoagie
13 years ago
Jim, once you get to enjoy relaxing for a while and just chill out consider something part time that you like to do. I quit my corporate job at 46 and run my own small business (pet sitting). Not only do I make more money that I ever did sitting in a cube and battling traffic from 7am-7pm I have much more flexibility in my schedule. I feel semi-retired and since I love animals I don't ever want to retire in the traditional sense. Of course living in Michigan....I could do without the winter weather at times and do day dream of a tropical island retirement at some point...but I digress....if you decide to do a little something on the side..which could help with the finances and get you a bit more stimulated mentally it might be something to consider down the line.

Duane
Gina_W
13 years ago
Hi Jim! Congratulations on your decision. It would be great to see you around here bugging us more often!
mer4205
13 years ago
That's GREAT Jim! After coping with what life has given you - you absolutely deserve it! Have fun!

I am planning on retiring in about 5 years. Yup, life is too short... Enjoy! and Happy New Year! -maria
canarybird01
13 years ago
Hello again James, my old swap partner!
So nice to see you here, and hear about your decision to take life a little easier.

I can guarantee that being retired is wonderful as you can organize your own time and just do nothing when you feel like it.
As Sharon said, you can have a second cup of tea and read the paper from front to back.

Although I can bet you will find that your spare time fills up quickly with hobbies, small maintenance jobs, friends and leisure activities. You begin to wonder how you previously ever found time to go to work!

Congratulations on your decision and have a Happy New Year James!

SharonCb

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