Retirement

[AndyK]

It was quite a shock. One day I was a manager responsible for ten or so people and the next, I was responsible for nothing more thang picking which socks to wear.

I have to confess, I got a bit misty-eyed as I was escorted out of the building after surrendering my credentials. It finally hit -- hard -- that there were a lot of friends and co-workers who I might never see again.

On the bright side, the retirement castle in Sun City, Hilton Head, South Caroline has finally shaped up. Moving down, taking care of all the details about the house, and integrating into the community has kept me fully occupied for the last eleven months.

Finally, with (cough, cough) winter approaching, I have a lot more time to spare.

Unfortunately, I won't have any more access to some of the interesting documents which I posted in the past. Hopefully, someone up there will be willing to take the risk and fill in behind me.

Well, time to head out for the weekly neighborhood bocce tournament.

Later, all.

[webhick]

It was quite a shock. One day I was a manager responsible for ten or so people and the next, I was responsible for nothing more thang picking which socks to wear.

You can always delegate that duty to your wife, in which case you're going from managing 10 to managing one.

I have to confess, I got a bit misty-eyed as I was escorted out of the building after surrendering my credentials.

Were the handcuffs too tight?

It finally hit -- hard -- that there were a lot of friends and co-workers who I might never see again.

Just say the word and you too can have a piece of your former co-workers in a jar on a shelf. I recommend the library, where you can spend time using them to re-enact your favorite television episodes without upsetting the family.

Moving down, taking care of all the details about the house, and integrating into the community has kept me fully occupied for the last eleven months.

Tell us, do they suspect anything? Are we clear for phase two?

Unfortunately, I won't have any more access to some of the interesting documents which I posted in the past.

I suppose we'll still have to like you anyway.

Good to have you back, missed you around here.

[Olsenfin]

I retired from active financial planning in September. Gave up all my clients and my status as Registered Representative/Investment Advisor Representative. Also gave up the privilege of paying thousands of dollars per year in licensing and registration fees and thousands more in Errors and Omissions Coverage. (As I still hold an insurance license, I'll still need E&O, but the premium will be far less).

I'm still doing the things I love the most - teaching (educational sessions at conferences and workshops for advisors), writing, and expert witness work in litigation involving insurance and annuity sales. MUCH less hassle and more FREEDOM!

As my wife is on permanent disability, my being more available to do chores has proven a big help at home. Heck, I'm actually ENJOYING doing those things!

It could be so very much worse. I've much to be grateful for.

[Arthur Rubin]

Got a good provider for E&O (tax preparation)? I think I may need to get back into it after (I mean if) my current aerospace contract terminates.

[Arthur Rubin]

It was quite a shock. One day I was a manager responsible for ten or so people and the next, I was responsible for nothing more thang picking which socks to wear.

You can always delegate that duty to your wife, in which case you're going from managing 10 to managing one.

You need to establish who is managing whom. Normally, that question is subject to negotiations. (Ask webhick for assistance.)

[AndyK]

My wife and I have established a very good separation of responsibilities.

She deals with the day-to-day activities such as managing finances, organizing our social engagements, and planing meals.

My responsibilities are much more significant and long-term: negotiating world peace, averting alien invasions, and programming the TiVo.

[Duke2Earl]

I retired about 18 months ago. I had been working continuously since I was 14 years old. Basically almost 50 years of work. I probably would still be working but the partnership agreement provided for mandatory retirement. I didn't really want to work anymore. I was more than tired of selling tax products to major corporations. But it proved to be a harder adjustment than I had expected. It's just a major change in what you are used to and have done for many, many years and it took me some time to adjust. I did have some health issues in the first 6 months... I am told that is not uncommon. But my innate stubbornness seemingly let me work my way thru that and I am feeling better over the last few months. I was never one of those who lives to work but rather one who works to live and I had saved considerably. In fact, I almost never spent more than about 1/2 of what I made in most of my work years so I'm not wealthy but I can live comfortably for the foreseeable future.

I don't find that I am bored and I can fill my time easily. There are enough books that I put off reading to keep me busy for years to come. And I seem to be good at making sawdust in what passes for my shop.

Wishing you good luck and contentment in your retirement.

[AndyK]

Interesting retirement discovery:

The only real markers of the days of the week, now, are Wednesday (when the grocery ads come in the newspaper) and Sunday when the color comics arrive.

Other than that, it doesn't matter what day it is. The only difference is which restaurant has their early bird and which house is hosting the afternoon bridge game.

If it would just get a little warmer ...

[Judge Roy Bean]

I cannot fathom the idea of retirement and not for economic reasons.

B.B. King was still winning Grammy awards in his late seventies;
Elmore Leonard (too many books & movies to list) became executive producer for the Jusitifed TV series in his eighties;
Brent Scowcroft served in the Bush administration in his late seventies and as far as I know is still active as a foreign-affairs lobbyist.
Dick Van Dyke got into computer animation (among other pursuits) in his sixties and seventies;
Willie Nelson is still touring;
David McCallum is still on TV;
David McCullough won his second Pulitzer well after retirement age and is still writing;
Shirley S. Abrahamson is the Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

There are more examples from all walks of life.

[Prof]

For some of us, the concept of retirement would allow a "do over." If and when I retire, and I qualify for Medicare this next month, I will return to teaching -- full-time if I can. One hold up is total resources -- I have not quite hit my number. Given my health history, I expect that Ms. Prof will outlive me by at least a decade if, God willing, not more. Therefore, I need to plan for a very extended retirement for her. I almost certainly will not be able to retire before she is eligible for Medicare, which will not be for another 4 years.

In the meantime, I have been sort of checking on law school jobs and undergraduate history positions. If nothing else, I'll go as an adjunct, although I am lucky to have the publication record and requisite degrees and experience go find a full time job. I would certainly not expect to spend my declining years at a major university. That said, given my teaching experience and salary requirments, I hope I can find a small school which needs to boost its collective resume and can use a very good bankruptcy law and UCC teacher.

[Duke2Earl]

Yes, some people continue working as long as they can. But those are people who like their jobs and get satisfaction from their work. There is another group of folks... I among them, that hated every moment they worked and whose work seemed like slow torture. You know something, almost 50 years of that is enough. I worked for only one reason, to make enough money to support myself and my family. I had the fortune/misfortune to be very good at something for the last 28 years of my working life that I intensely disliked but paid quite well. I liked most of the people I worked with well enough but the job itself was not fun in the slightest and challenged my ethics daily. I have been asked several times to do it some more (I really was good at it) but I am gladly and happily retired.

[Judge Roy Bean]

Don't sell yourselves short.

IMHO there is no such thing as one career.

[Cathulhu]

I retired nearly five years ago, and for the first six months it made the world seem smaller to me. The downtown area where the Fed building was, Pike's Place market, I found I did miss my daily haunts there a certain amount--after all those years, I know the area as well as the tourist guides, and can show you the plaza with a buried clipper ship beneath it. But I haven't been back.

I was no longer getting up at five to go to work, and threw out an alarm clock. I wondered what I'd do with myself for maybe the first few months, while catching up on all the honeydews I hadn't had time for. Now I find I am busier than I ever was when I was working. I'm halfway through writing a book, producing artworks as well, and herding three cats that are still working out that the newest member of the pride is blind but extremely playful. And writing this while (no, not kidding) waiting for the electrician, or someone like him. (Power installation for new greenhouse.)

[wserra]

IMHO there is no such thing as one career.

Food taster to Roman emperors?

[webhick]

IMHO there is no such thing as one career.

Food taster to Roman emperors?

I was thinking kamikaze pilot. No health insurance, but the retirement plan is to die for.

[AndyK]

Alarm clocks:

Mine used to be set for 5:30 AM and would awaken me to the local news/traffic/weather radio station.

Now, it goes off around 7:30 AM (+/- 20 minutes) and awakens me to a soft "Woof." {Translation: Time for morning walkie.]

Life is good.