Retiring this Friday

[OneFinger]

Larstrup's retirement post encouraged me confess that I'm retiring this Friday, 22 June. I notified my employer after the Christmas holidays and have been working with them on a plan. Currently working in Program Controls on a $1.5B project in San Diego. Have done this kind of work for 35 years and I'm getting burned out.
 
Have been training my replacement for a year and feel he's up to the challenges. My company really doesn't want me to go and we've worked out a win-win relationship. There is a limited amount I can earn each month before it affects my Social Security. The company has agreed to make me a part time employee and let me work by the hour up to the SSA limit. For example, I'm flying back to San Diego the 3rd week of July to work 40 hour and help with month-end reports. Airfare, hotel and transportation are covered by am expense report (not considered income). After that, I can work remotely from our Portland office for up to 40 hours per month. Thank goodness for VPN techology.

I've had some significant health issues and need to minimize the stress in my life. Hopefully, the health will improve when the stress is removed.

Still own my house in Utah and plan to be there 30% of the time. The other 70% I'll live in my condo in Portland.

[MsAnn]

Congrats...One of the most interesting days of my life, is the day that I decided to retire early. Hope your health improves and enjoy Portland!

[Suckrates]

Congrats OneFinger.   It is a great accomplishment.  I retired 2 years ago January, and have a similar arrangement to yours.  My employer allows me part time work as well.

However, since my retirement, I have been plagued with health issues, spend most of my time at doctors and taking medicine, and havent yet been able to enjoy the fruits of my labor.

Before I retired, people used to joke,  sure you work your whole life, then you retire and DIE soon after.    Now I understand, maybe they werent joking ?

Best of luck to you Buddy....enjoy your life in Good Health !  

 

[caeron]

I salute you.

 

I'm turning 55 in August and am taking a sabbatical. I wasn't happy at my job and am close to what I need for retirement, so just said "fuck it." and quit. Going to do a fun around the world trip, and then look for something new when I get back starting in August.

But I have to say this freedom is pretty intoxicating after 35 years of the grind!

[TotallyOz]

Congrats!

[BigK]

Jealous... Congratulations!!

[RockHardNYC]

It's too bad it took a lie, a D-minus at creative writing, to lure you into sharing your own revelation. Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading about your future, OneFinger.

If one is going to work for a corporation, I can't imagine a better compliment than: "My company really doesn't want me to go." Given that, I'm not surprised you were able to work out a "win-win relationship" moving forward. This sounds like a mutually happy transition. The vast majority of corporate workers don't have these happy stories to share.

I'm not a fan of work-causing stress. Stress is no friend to one's health. If you can achieve a less stressful life while still enjoying the financial benefits of working on your own terms, I'd say you hit a home-run. Congratulations.

The word retirement is foreign to me. It always sounded like bringing something to an end that you didn't enjoy. A kind of relief. I'm fully aware that most people need to work, but very few truly love the work they do.

I consider myself lucky, because I've always loved my work. I was advised early in life to follow my passions, and that financial security would follow me. That's exactly what happened. As long as my brain continues to function, I can produce and create until the day I die. I have no desire or will to stop.

I'm hoping the work keeps my brain exercised, while the gym membership works on the body. I've witnessed a few retirees who aged very rapidly and let their mind and body go. Without certain goals and achievements, a sense of vitality and determination can easily disappear.

[OneFinger]

Thanks so much for all your congratulations and support. My company has been fantastic in supporting me and helping me out. Since being transferred to my project in San Diego I've been hospitalized twice with some serious problems. Co-workers were very supportive and I would have at least a couple visitors per day from work when I was hospitalized.

Then in March I was rear-ended on the freeway driving to work. My personal truck was totaled but thankfully no one was hurt. When the office manager found out she called me and said I could use one of the company fleet vehicles until I retired.

And this is the same company that paid 100% for my medical insurance. I had a 90-10% policy with $500 deductible and $3,000 out of pocket maximum per year. They also put 10% of my annual salary into my 401K and 15% into my employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). It was a hard decision to retire. But, I know I need to for health reasons.

Moving out of my San Diego apartment on Wednesday and flying to my condo in Portland.

[BigK]

Safe travels and have a great semi-retirement.  Your plans sound like the ideal way to ease out of the full time workforce.  I hope it helps you in taking care of health issues so you can enjoy a long retirement.

[Lucky]

OneFinger, thanks for sharing this information. I wish you well!

[numerito]

All the best, @OneFinger  Do not forget the forum in your retirement! 

[Suckrates]

 

Did you get a big send-off dinner at Red Lobster ?    Consider this the first Day of the Rest of your Life !   

[boiworship]

I’m also taking 2018 as a sabbatical. I’m doing a lot of European travel, mainly in the East. Also going on long bike rides, enjoying friends and my summer place and working out. Next year I’ll choose what I’d like to invest my time and money in. As you all have mentioned, it’s wonderful to have removed stress from my life.

[OneFinger]

5 hours ago, Suckrates said:

 

Did you get a big send-off dinner at Red Lobster ?    Consider this the first Day of the Rest of your Life !   

They were planning a big dinner and drinks. I asked they not do that because I feel very awkward at functions like that. I just wanted to quietly exit. But, Friday night I did celebrate at Urban Mo's with about 10 gay and gay-friendly coworkers / partners. Had a great time.