Retiring December 31st, 2016

I retired in 2012, I spent 20 years in the Air Force, Mostly in SAC. After I retired from the service I returned to college,finished my degree in Social Work work 13 years in a mental health clinic and did suicide prevention/crisis intervention. I needed a change so I worked as a substance abuse counselor. I was starting to have some health issues and decided I needed to take care of myself. I retired and my health improved, my aim improved, more guns appeared in my safe, I got more sun while at the range.Took a long trip spending time with my grand children, developed a taste for 10 year old Bourbon.

I buried my best friend today. He had been retired 3 years and was just now enjoying his retirement. You worked 41 years to reach this point in your life. It's time to take care of your self get to know your wife again, spend time with your kids and grand children, shot more teach your grand kids to shot. Just find what you like doing and do it.
 
Good for you!

That said, I am struggling with picking my own retirement date. Besides the need to ease into it, the thought of having all that time off beginning in the winter scares the heck out of me. I can only reload and tie flies so much before I go crazy. I'm thinking April.
 
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I have no idea why anyone wants to work. I thought I did until I retired. I was the first guy in most morning, turned off the alarm and turned on the lights. But no more.

So I keep busy and have a terrible time getting it all done. Of course my favorite day is Monday. Both for the reasons others have said, and I get my youngest grandson for the day. He's 4 now. We're best buddies, but he's not sure what that means. First thing he says when he hits the front door is "where's gwandpa". Better than a day off is when he gets dropped off for a 2nd day in the week.

We go out to eat. When someone asks what I'm doing in my retirement, I tell them "taking my wife out to eat."

You'll get lots of advice. If any of it involves you doing something, just turn it down. It's your retirement, not theirs.
 
les.b said:
Next best thing. College Professor.

Best Regards, Les
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Ugh, you have my sympathies! I went back to school in my late 40's to get my degree in applied science and I found a large share of the younger generation very lacking in motivation. Many seemed to be there because there wasn't anywhere else for them to be at the moment, or because it was marginally better than working. That was a long time ago, but I'm confident it hasn't gotten much better. That you actually enjoy your job says a lot of positive things about your character. :)
 
opaul said:
Retiring after 41 years with the local power company. It's been a great career that has been fortunate for me in that I got to work with a great group of people and many great friends.
I've been mentally preparing myself for several months but I'm sure it's still going to be strange to get up and not have to go into work.
I have a lot of projects lined so I'm sure I can stay busy. Might even look into getting a part time job at a LGS :).
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Everyone is different and experiences different feeling when they retire. For most however, it's a welcome change after years of laboring to someone else's rules or schedule. Personally, I missed the people I worked with, but that was it. The job was mentally taxing and stressful, and the commute sucked. Being free to plan your own schedule and do things you want to do is priceless. You will find that you'll wonder how you ever had time to do things in your pre-retirement life until you realize you didn't have the time and things (mostly the ones you enjoy) didn't get done. Relax and enjoy it. Like old age, it doesn't last forever. ;)
 
Congratulations! I did the same just a few weeks ago and am loving every minute of it. It does feel strange at times and I catch myself once in a while thinking about my job, but then I smile and realize it's not my problem anymore
 
Wee Hooker said:
Good for you!

That said, I am struggling with picking my own retirement date. Besides the need to ease into it, the thought of having all that time off beginning in the winter scares the heck out of me. I can only reload and tie flies so much before I go crazy. I'm thinking April.
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I understand exactly. That was my plan to retire sometime next year as well but offers from the company narrowed that window.
Good luck!
 
So the wife asks me yesterday "what are you going to do today", I said "nothing". She says, "that's what you did yesterday", I tell her "I know, I didn't get finished".
Good luck on your well deserved retirement, enjoy!
 
joeintexas said:
So the wife asks me yesterday "what are you going to do today", I said "nothing". She says, "that's what you did yesterday", I tell her "I know, I didn't get finished".
Good luck on your well deserved retirement, enjoy!
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When my dad retired from Chevrolet I asked him what he was going to do. He said - "I'm going to do nothing,...and I'm going to do it slow!" :)
 
les.b said:
Congratulations!!! I retired once, but it just didn't take. That was 19 1/2 years ago. Come spring, I'll have 20 years in the "retirement" job. I'm not sure if retirement is for everyone... and not sure that there is a certain age that we should think of as "retirement age". I'm 71 now, and at work today, I felt like I did twenty or more years ago.

I guess that everyone knows when it is right for them.

I like that I have a little extra money that I can spend on guns, ammo, tools, and all the stuff that goes with our hobby. But it's more than that, I just like what I do. And I think that I'm good at it.

Best wishes in your retirement...

Les
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What do you do?
 
Actually, I'm doing it right now, sitting at my desk... I'm a college professor. I spent 22 years as a police officer, and taught as an adjunct instructor at the local college for 18 of those years. about the time that I was eligible to retire from police work, I was offered a full time teaching position. At the end of the spring semester, I will have 20 years in teaching full time. I love the job, and have lots of time off. At the end of next week, I will be off for a month, from the 9th of December til the 9th of January. Off a week in the spring, a week in the fall, and three months in the summer.... That leaves me lots of time for my hobbies and travel. I can afford guns and leather and other stuff that I might not be able to have if I wasn't still working.... Oh, yeah, about one fourth of my teaching load is a course called "Firearms in Police Operations", so I even get to work my passion for shooting and firearms into my "work". I know that I will eventually retire, but I'm not in a real big hurry to do so.

Best Regards, Les
 
les.b said:
Actually, I'm doing it right now, sitting at my desk... I'm a college professor. I spent 22 years as a police officer, and taught as an adjunct instructor at the local college for 18 of those years. about the time that I was eligible to retire from police work, I was offered a full time teaching position. At the end of the spring semester, I will have 20 years in teaching full time. I love the job, and have lots of time off. At the end of next week, I will be off for a month, from the 9th of December til the 9th of January. Off a week in the spring, a week in the fall, and three months in the summer.... That leaves me lots of time for my hobbies and travel. I can afford guns and leather and other stuff that I might not be able to have if I wasn't still working.... Oh, yeah, about one fourth of my teaching load is a course called "Firearms in Police Operations", so I even get to work my passion for shooting and firearms into my "work". I know that I will eventually retire, but I'm not in a real big hurry to do so.

Best Regards, Les
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Well, now i'm just jealous! :)
 
Congrats on your retirement. I also retired from the local power company. I surely don't miss all the miserable nights and the storms and the lost sleep and middle of night calls. I was thankful to have the job and miss my fellow workers but I'm now too old to do much.
 
deanodog said:
Congrats on your retirement. I also retired from the local power company. I surely don't miss all the miserable nights and the storms and the lost sleep and middle of night calls. I was thankful to have the job and miss my fellow workers but I'm now too old to do much.
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Let me guess - AEP?
 
Congrats, Opaul. I also work in the power industry as a powerplant operator. I've seen way too many people work way too long thinking they'll work just a little longer. Walk away and enjoy it. You earned it.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
 
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