I am Felix and recently retired

[Felix Mulier]

Hello to the group,
I retired a little over a year ago at age 56. I had a 26 year career with an erstwhile Dow component company. The year I started (1985) was the beginning of the end of a great American icon (I swear it was just a coincidence!)

My career plan included navigating to "safe" initiatives, projects and organizations, but it was a lot like running across a wooden bridge burning behind me while I tried desparately to get to the other side of the canyon before the bridge crashed and burned into the abyss!

Long story short , in late 2011, the top brass announced to a live assembly of all employees that they had "no intention" of filing for bankruptcy. The very next day, they announced that they retained a law firm specializing in corporate restructuring/bankruptcy.

What's this? Is that the other side of the canyon I see through the billowing smoke? The bridge is almost gone behind me! But wait! I'm 56! Friends and family said "Don't worry! Your pension is secure - you're vested!" Talked to an attorney who told us "Well, sort of!"

Well, folks - I took the money and ran! So, here we are, just the 2 of us (3 if you count the dog!) I really really really like being retired - we're trying to figure out how to make it so I don't have to go back (unless I want to ).

That's why I'm here. Looking forward to being in this group.


P.S. Did I mention I really like being retired?

 

[Severinooh]

Congratulations,

I am new as well, there are some very sharp ER's on this site. I hope I can benefit from their wisdom. Not retired yet but won't be long. Welcome and enjoy.

 

[SumDay]

Welcome Felix! I think you'll learn lots here - I know I have.

My DH is semi-retired, and I plan to flip the switch in ~5 years. Until then, I read, read, read and absorb all my brain will allow.

 

[travelover]

Welcome Felix. There are much worse things than early retirement.

 

[mystang52]

Welcome! I loved your well-written story and metaphors [or is it similes??]

 

[eytonxav]

I enjoyed your intro! and Welcome

 

[Nodak]

Welcome.

 

[Purron]

Love your post! You know that we absolutely need a picture of your dog, right? Just so we can tell you what a pretty dog he or she is. Good luck Felix!

 

[Rickochet]

Welcome to the site Felix! There's a ton of wisdom and encouragement here. You are a seasoned veteran compared to me.... today is my second day of ER. Like you, I was also propelled into ER, which has been quite an experience so far. Were you prepared to go when you did or are you adjusting on the fly? Good luck!

 

[obgyn65]

Welcome to the forum, Felix.

 

[Felix Mulier]

Were you prepared to go when you did or are you adjusting on the fly? Good luck!

[FONT=&quot]Rickochet,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Congratulations on your retirement![/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Everything happened so quickly in my case that I wasn't "prepared" as such. Ready? Absolutely! Prepared? Sort of. I was planning to retire 18 months later than I did, so we're having to adjust financially.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]I think you'll get the hang of being retired. I wasn't happy in my last position and it took a few months before it really sunk in that "I never have to go back there again!" Then I really started to enjoy myself. Now I wonder how I ever had time to work!
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[ERhoosier]

Congrats, Felix!

Sounds like you got across that bridge in the nick of time. Not a victim of the 'one-more-year' syndrome for sure

 

[walkinwood]

Congratulations! Welcome.