Poll: But Have You Really Retired?

[Midpack]

Won't apply to everyone, and I am sure some will debate the premise, but it may be one good indicator or when we're mentally retired.

If you had a lot of professional materials or tools that you kept when you retired, how long did it take for you to finally let go and throw them away? In my case I have quite a few books, binders of training materials that I kept (ISO 9000, Six Sigma/Lean, HR/Environmental Regs, etc.), some paper files and most of my PC files. I haven't thrown away much of it, but I think it might be time. Even if I ever do go back to work, it won't be in that career and my knowledge and materials eventually goes out of date (probably already).

Anyway, just another indicator, not meant to be "definitive test."

For some, need and packrat tendencies may work at cross purposes...

 

[travelover]

Interesting that you should mention it. I'm just coming onto 8 years and I'm pitching everything w*rk related that I kept "just in case".

 

[Amethyst]

I thought this was going to be about continuing to do some form of work (start a business, work part-time, consult, etc.) after formally retiring!

Amethyst

 

[marko]

Ditched most of my stuff after about 3-4 years.
Coming up on 10 years now and thinking about closing my LinkedIn account.

 

[Tom52]

Most everything is gone including useless anniversary awards, etc. It helps when we moved a few months after RE so it was a no brainer to clean out the stuff that has no real meaning to me.

 

[Midpack]

Ditched most of my stuff after about 3-4 years.
Coming up on 10 years now and thinking about closing my LinkedIn account.

+1. I just dropped LinkedIn myself after 3 yrs, 7 mos. Wasn't hard to push the "button" though.

 

[marko]

+1. I just did that myself after 3 yrs, 7 mos. Wasn't hard to push the "button" though.

Yeah, but I use it to keep track of former employees/friends...but losing interest in their lives more and more.

 

[Amethyst]

I have my MSSE training materials on CD's. I will pitch these when CDs become obsolete. I did throw away all the scary DODAAF diagrams, CORE and LINGO programs, etc. Even though I'll never work on such things again, I am very glad I endured the training and discipline of systems engineering.

Amethyst

 

[REWahoo]

Not sure how to respond to the poll. I brought some work-associated stuff home in a box and immediately stuck it in the attic. Didn't see or think of it again until I came across it while we were doing some cleaning out a few years later. I dumped it all into the trash.

 

[Helen]

I brought my awards and plaques home from work and they immediately went in the trash. I thought it would be rude to leave it in the garbage can in my office.

I kept a couple of computer books for historical reasons ("8088/8086 Primer" and the "MS-DOS Encyclopedia"). I wished I had kept my college text book, "An Intro to Data Processing".

 

[bingybear]

did not do the poll... but will throw in my 2 cents... not really worth much. I don't expect to throw out certain portions of my technical stuff. I expect I will keep most of my electro magnetic books for a long time. I hope to get back to writing some analytic codes and design some radios (for amateur radio or other hobby). I also expect to do some FPGA design for radio/sensor processing. ISO... already gone. 6 sigma.... not real useful for quantity 1... I will use the statistics maybe in designing, but the credentialed materials... gone.

Most of the work I do for companies stay with the company. Most of the classes taken while on the job is going or will soon be going unless it also relates to a hobby.

ER 5 weeks and counting.... impatiently

 

[frayne]

Ten years ago when I retired I took off my wrist watch and haven't worn one since.

 

[Car-Guy]

There wasn't an option for tossing most stuff before retirement so I picked 3 months or less after retirement.

 

[freebird5825]

I donated all my techie books to the local library. I only kept the personnel records pertinent to obtaining my deferred FERS retirement. All else gone within a year of FIRE. Good riddance.
I have transferred my techie skills to my very favorite hobby...growing green things for food and pleasure of watching them grow. My online research reading is concentrated on horticultural material and container growing systems.
I have recently discovered a new tech area (new to me) that is fun to read about and follow...3D printing systems. Very cool stuff.

 

[audreyh1]

Not sure how to respond to the poll. I brought some work-associated stuff home in a box and immediately stuck it in the attic. Didn't see or think of it again until I came across it while we were doing some cleaning out a few years later. I dumped it all into the trash.

That's exactly what I did. Forgot about it for almost 5 years, then got rid of it when we got rid of most things and sold the house.

 

[Corporateburnout]

There wasn't an option for tossing most stuff before retirement so I picked 3 months or less after retirement.

+1

 

[easysurfer]

Mostly, I parted with in the first could of months (may have been days ). But I did hold a few "just in case" stuff like a couple very good textbooks.

Of anniversary gifts from megacorp, most I don't even know where they are except for on clock/barometer which I have in my living. Not for w*rk memories, but it's a pretty good clock!

 

[martyp]

After 4 years I've still got a box of books related to industrial engineering and ergonomics. I thought this was the area I would most like "consult" in but it never happened. I should throw that stuff away. As soon as I need that box and space in the garage it will go.

 

[jjquantz]

Also tough to reply. Almost none of the stuff related to my last j*b even made it home. I have a few items from the previous job that I will keep forever (it's fun to see your name in print). But most all of that is gone as well.

However, a lot of the materials that I used during the teacher phase of my career still has potential use in my current hobby/side gig. Plus I think it is buried in the closet since our last move and I haven't been motivated to dig it out just to throw it away.

 

[Walt34]

It took me a while because there was a possibility that I might go back if I could find an employer that needed the skill set. Bear in mind that I enjoyed the work, it was traffic and management issues that made me retire so given a good environment I wasn't inherently opposed to going back. Finally when it was clear that everything was obsolete I threw it all out.

 

[Amethyst]

I kept diplomas, plaques, and coins from the more interesting assignments. Sadly, as a memento of one of my most interesting jobs, I was given only a very cheap desk clock/pen set, which soon broke. So the only "keepsake" to remember that job by, was the nice promotion

Amethyst

I brought my awards and plaques home from work and they immediately went in the trash. .

 

[W2R]

I'm not ready to part with it so I guess I still have it all.

The next time I move, for sure I will get rid of it. I don't want it around enough to lug it to another house.

Oddly, I don't really want to see anything from work, or to display any of it, no matter how decorative. It is hidden away in various closets and drawers throughout my house.

Somewhere in a closet there is a paper bag with my copies of all the separation paperwork, personnel files, paycheck stubs, cash award certificates, promotion paperwork, training completion certificates, and so on. EWWW! I really need to find that and dispose of it. I view it with horror and repulsion, like having a dead body in the closet.

On the other hand, I will never get rid of anything published that I wrote.

 

[Cobra9777]

I'm 1.5 years into ER, and I still have everything... mostly books, technical manuals, some training material, and files full of reference information. I also have roughly 7 years of Outlook .pst files and a small portable projector that I traveled with the last 5-6 years, that I forgot to return and no one asked for. Not really sure why I'm keeping all this stuff. There's very little chance that I could restart my career even if I wanted or needed to. I think it's just a little hard to let go after so long.

 

[Hermit]

I moved in anticipation of retirement. Chucked all the books and papers then. Burned up two shredders doing it. The few books I had at work come retirement day were left at work because others used them. Only thing left are mementos from many projects over the years and degrees and training certificates that I thought would be neat to hang on the office wall when the house is completed.

 

[rodi]

Came home from work and put the box on dining room table. It sat there (we eat family dinners at the kitchen table, usually. We were having friends over, so I needed to clear of the dining room table... Looked hard at the contents and trashed or donated it all.

Even if I went back to work, I doubt I'd use the reference books (donated). Definitely don't need the awards/plaques, etc.