10thumbs Posted December 14, 2016 Posted December 14, 2016 Guys,I've been retired now for a while and have still been active on a limited basis for a couple of years now. Self-employed so if all else is normal, I can do a little bit to stay in touch and make some extra cash too! Plus staying at home and nothing to do just isn't in my DNA.This week I've decided to close the doors for the last time. I've had it. Enough is enough, don't need some younger account to lose his cool to cover up his own inability.It was a an unsavory experience for sure, but finally telling a dude who has been paying well for a long time, to do what you've been thinking for an also long time was a pleasure.I'm closing shop next week and will finish things up in January.I'm kind of scared too.New territory.No more shop to go to.The retirement is OK so no big issues there. I don't play golf everyday either.Just no more shop. No more 2nd home. I'll add though, the wife and I get along very well, this helps!What was your experinece when you left work for the last time? Please tell.
peter31a Posted December 14, 2016 Posted December 14, 2016 Being the unmanly emotional type the last day was hard. But I haven't missed it since. As I sit here the wind is howling and I can't see the neighbours house for the snow blowing by and I DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT IN IT! It's beautiful! There are weeks where I don't leave the house. It's great! No, go here, do that and what took you so long etc etc. I love it!
10thumbs Posted December 14, 2016 Author Posted December 14, 2016 Hi Peter,Thanks for the encouraging reply, greatly appreciated.Jeez, the wife is already making plans for the new life. Like, big breakfast everday, more of a brunch, then do some things, then a supper a bit earlier. No more lunch.I take a deep breath now, and think, this will be a debateable situation.Just, I refuse to go grocery shopping.Good too that I have several hobbies.What do you guys do?
maltsr Posted December 14, 2016 Posted December 14, 2016 When I retired last year, I moved from New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, to a much smaller place on the East Coast, Napier (Pop. 60,000). I love it.I spend my time at the workbench, watching motor racing on YouTube and most days go for a cycle ride along the coast. We have a Mediterranean climate down here, so this is my routine for most of the year. No hassles, no worries (apart from the odd earthquake!). I even do the grocery shopping, but living on my own I have to!
10thumbs Posted December 14, 2016 Author Posted December 14, 2016 Ha!Paul, love it.May I ask if you rode during your working days as well?Grocery shopping accepted in this case.I'd buy mostly noodles and steaks anyway.
High octane Posted December 14, 2016 Posted December 14, 2016 My retirement has been very busy for the last 11 years and maybe (?) i get bored three days out of the year. Sometimes I think that I should (NOT) get a job so that I can rest. With taking care of the lawn, the snow shoveling, cooking sometimes, working on my models sometimes, belong to and attend club meetings to two model car clubs, goin' to the drag strip at least once a year, going to car shows & cruise nights 40+ times a year, playing with my grandson, and traveling with my better half at least once a year also keeps me busy. Oh and I also do windows too.
maltsr Posted December 14, 2016 Posted December 14, 2016 (edited) Ha! Paul, love it. May I ask if you rode during your working days as well? Grocery shopping accepted in this case. I'd buy mostly noodles and steaks anyway. It was too hilly where I used to live, I don't do hills at my age. Fortunately it's flat here in Napier, there are 200km of mainly off-road bike trails around here. Edited December 14, 2016 by maltsr
MeatMan Posted December 14, 2016 Posted December 14, 2016 Well good luck Michael. I plan to go in a couple of years and I think I'll do some volunteering.I know all about wanting to check the youngsters when they get a little too big for their britches.Have fun!!
Tom Geiger Posted December 14, 2016 Posted December 14, 2016 Good luck Michael! I work from home a few days a week. Recently my management was traveling and I didn't have to go to the office for 3 weeks. Even though I was working from home, I was going buggy not leaving the house! Halfway through the third week, I went into the office just to be there!
BIGTRUCK Posted December 14, 2016 Posted December 14, 2016 (edited) Oh and I also do windows too. You sound like you keep pretty busy Nick, now about those windows, if you have a little free time I have a few this spring that could use some of your expertise. Stay warm brother.......its cold out.. Edited December 14, 2016 by BIGTRUCK
High octane Posted December 14, 2016 Posted December 14, 2016 You sound like you keep pretty busy Nick, now about those windows, if you have a little free time I have a few this spring that could use some of your expertise. Stay warm brother.......its cold out.. Yes, a lot colder than I like it, and if it were up to me I'd be stayin' south during the months of Dec., Jan., and Feb. But it's not up to me. Stay warm also Big Trucker.
Ace-Garageguy Posted December 14, 2016 Posted December 14, 2016 The way things stand now, I'll be working close to full time until the day I fall off my perch...which is OK by me.
landman Posted December 15, 2016 Posted December 15, 2016 I was "downsized" out of the company I worked for. Having almost 30 years in I could touch my pension with a penalty. I had some nice contracts early on which seemed to be every second year So one year of work, one year off sort of. Then a dry spell after 2008, so I went to work at a machine shop and a parts store. In 2011 I was approached by an agency who had a contract with my old company. Started out quite busy and now down to 2-3 days a month. I'm fine with it.With the help of the bigger contracts, I restored my '34 Chevy between 2008-2013. I cycle in the summer and snowshoe in the winter. I volunteer as the head number one chief of showshoe trail maintenance for the local cross country/snowshoe club. here's our website: http://www.kapnordicskiers.com/. And I do woodworking. Here's some of my things, mostly all with recycled wood: http://www.woodworkingtalk.com/f13/landmans-projects-54925/I build models as well, if you guys haven't noticed
peter31a Posted December 15, 2016 Posted December 15, 2016 Geez, I couldn't get out of grocery shopping while I was working, I sure can't get out of it now. The one downside is that I have not been disciplined enough to keep with an exercise routine. That will be number one New Years resolution. I was always relatively disciplined at work but I'm like a cranky old teenager now not wanting to do things I don't want to do. I acknowledge that that has to change come the new year when the novelty of being retired has worn off. Unfortunately I'm one of those people who's content to sit 16 hours a day and then go to bed. For my own good that needs to change.
Foxer Posted December 15, 2016 Posted December 15, 2016 It's been eight years now and I still drop by my old engineering company to see the "family". I was a partner in it since the 80's and we ran it as it had been since 1949, more a family than a hard core business. We never got rich, but never were hurting either in all that time. It was the uncaring clients that changed and drove me out, not the work. Still, I retired 100% and haven't designed a beam since! I enjoy the freedom from pressure and do only what I want every day ... even not doing that paint job down in the model shop if I don't feel like.
espo Posted December 15, 2016 Posted December 15, 2016 Retired early, I was 62, in 2005. My wife is younger than I and was a partner in her company and we thought we were in good shape with 401k's and money in the bank and the home almost paid for. Then "The great recession" changed a lot of that. Not crying the blues but things are not as planned now. I get to spend more time with my models, something that I hardly ever got to do much of when I was working. It is almost a full time job with the house upkeep both inside and the yard. I also take care of the mother-in-laws yard and home repairs. I think we will look for a smaller home a little further out of town next year so my wife can retire and we can live comfortably.
gtx6970 Posted December 21, 2016 Posted December 21, 2016 (edited) Retirement cant get here fast enough. Wife and I plan to move west , far west the summer of 2018 . Wife wants to be closer to her sister in Sahuarita AZ . I want out of the cold weather Plan is sell or rent the house here in KY and move away from the cold and snow. I've had enough and need a change. ( never was a fan of cold weather anyway ,,even when I was a kid ) My view someday very VERY soon. The Sierra Vista mountain range to the south and the sunset to the west and just listening to the Coyotes howl at nite. Plan is to build a shop , work on old cars, build some models from time to time and maybe even get into some woodworking / house remodeling with my Brother in Law. Edited December 21, 2016 by gtx6970
crazyjim Posted December 21, 2016 Posted December 21, 2016 My last day at work was wonderful. I was so happy to get out. The company had been downsizing for several years and you never knew when it would be your time. It was hard to concentrate on the job. I had over 30 years in so I told my supervisor that I'd like to be on the next downsizing list. I made it and was gone. Haven't looked back either.Now I usually spend my mornings working in the yard, afternoons building models, evenings watching TV. Life is tough but somebody has to do it.
10thumbs Posted December 21, 2016 Author Posted December 21, 2016 Great response here guys, thanks a lot. This helps to clear some things up, also that you're not alone....by any means, good stuff!Just this afternoon I received a call from an account that I've had for many years. A gentleman needs some help quickly, could I do it before Christmas Eve?No. My place is closing up and I'm on vacation for the season already.Man, I can't remember when I turned a decent contract down. What a feeling! I'm excited.Strange though, I has some trouble finding the words to decline the work. The situation will sink in soon, I feel good about it.
BIGTRUCK Posted December 21, 2016 Posted December 21, 2016 Best to you Mike, Im sure you'll enjoy not working sooner or later, like all of us , you work so long it can be hard to accept that much change all at once , .You may have to trick your mind that its always saturday for a while.?
10thumbs Posted December 21, 2016 Author Posted December 21, 2016 Thanks Ken for your input!That's a real good point about 'tricking your mind'. That's something I learned just today. It's like saying to yourself, 'hey dude, you don't want to work anymore....just afraid to say it out loud'!Well I said it today to a good paying and true business partner.Hey, I'm out of it after doing it so long for myself.Takes a while to grasp, but the fact is there is no friendship in a business relation. It's a cohesion that has to perform. Should it tilt, then save your own. I was dumb a couple of times without a doubt.I'm happy to not have to fight so much anymore.
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