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DFA · 01-18-2013, 10:42 AM

I like the "holding pattern" idea; I am there too; don't know what is going on with work, no one is talking.

We are FI now, but I am still working waiting to see what changes at work come down, may get laid off, with severance and vacation payout because the corp is being taken over by the banks.

The banks may offer key employees options to stay on after change of control, but I would probably take the payouts and RE.

Also, DW is looking at 2.5 years of working left to get to her goal of 30 years military time, but she is looking at jobs outside of the state which means a move, I would probably RE if we move since I don't really need to work anymore.

So “holding pattern” it is, maybe I will be able to set a date soon

eytonxav · 01-18-2013, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67walkon

70 days to go! But who is counting?

I'll be 63 so you youngsters should be showing me some respect! My wife is 58 but has been retired for quite a while.

"You talkin to me"

. Hey, I'll be 64 in June and DW turns 59 in July. I'm not yet in countdown mode, but the end of April is not far off.

Huston55 · 01-18-2013, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyb

I'm officially in a "holding pattern". It's a nice feeling that I can go anytime I want to now. All requirements for pension eligibility are met. If I retired tomorrow, my net income would not be reduced, in fact it would go up just a hair, without withdrawals from my TSP. Of course, I'm used to contributing the IRS max, so my normal pay is a good bit lower than it would otherwise be. Still....between pension & withdrawal, we'd be just fine. Wife will work another 3 yrs or so, and we'll continue to pump up her 401k & the Roth IRA's as much as possible. I think it'll feel different coming to work now, knowing I don't have to if I don't want to anymore. When the time feels exactly right, I'll bail. It won't be long now...

MB-nice to see the "Days to Freedom: 0" in your sig line. Bet it feels good eh?

Tom52 · 01-20-2013, 06:41 AM

I am still hoping/planning to pull the plug at w*rk by the end of 2013. I am not ready to make it official by adding my name to the 2013 list for a while yet. DW and I decided yesterday that we will make the decision on October 1st, and if it is a go I will give notice before Nov 1.

Problem is, this last year is turning out to be much more difficult at w*rk than I had hoped. I was hoping to get out before a new software system was implemented, but it was moved up to this year. This new software is proving to be a step backwards and basically requires more work and is much less user friendly than the software we already utilize. This implementation has alreadly been difficult as it requires me to travel a great deal the last several months and will continue another 3 months.

I would really like to get out now but I expect a very nice bonus coming my way just about the same time we "go live" end of April. Also, I don't want to jump out just as the going gets tough and leave my department in a lurch. So I bite my tongue and just keep plugging away. I truly hate going to work now much more than I ever did in the past.

I visit this forum daily just to keep my focus on our ER goal.

Huston55 · 01-20-2013, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom52

I would really like to get out now but I expect a very nice bonus coming my way just about the same time we "go live" end of April. Also, I don't want to jump out just as the going gets tough and leave my department in a lurch. So I bite my tongue and just keep plugging away. I truly hate going to work now much more than I ever did in the past.

I visit this forum daily just to keep my focus on our ER goal.

Tom-I'm in a different industry but a very similar situation; just a slightly longer timeline. I feel your pain. I've made a "To Do" list of things to complete before FIRE, which is helping me get through; helps me keep a positive focus. In addition to that, DW and I make sure we enjoy ourselves as much as possible in the meantime.

martyb · 01-20-2013, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huston55

MB-nice to see the "Days to Freedom: 0" in your sig line. Bet it feels good eh?

Yep, it sure does!

Now all I have to decide is the exact date I WANT to stop working.

Gonna be sooner rather than later...

Avalon · 01-20-2013, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyb

Yep, it sure does!

Now all I have to decide is the exact date I WANT to stop working.

Gonna be sooner rather than later...

No time like the present, Marty. You're right in the middle of the Sharelunker program entry dates.

TPWD: Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center | ShareLunker Program

azauthor · 01-25-2013, 02:46 PM

Been watching this site for years. Learned a lot. I think I was suffering from "one more year" syndrome until corp announced a huge layoff. Boss made sure i was on list. (Good guy, not bad guy). My last day is March 8th. Got a lot of work to do if i plan to be on the road in my rv by May!

KM · 01-25-2013, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azauthor

Been watching this site for years. Learned a lot. I think I was suffering from "one more year" syndrome until corp announced a huge layoff. Boss made sure i was on list. (Good guy, not bad guy). My last day is March 8th. Got a lot of work to do if i plan to be on the road in my rv by May!

Well that is definitely one of the better ways to go (DH got a similiar incentive in Dec). Congratulations!

martyb · 01-25-2013, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avalon

No time like the present, Marty. You're right in the middle of the Sharelunker program entry dates.

TPWD: Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center | ShareLunker Program

Yeah, I know! Where I currently work and live 4 days a week, I'm 15-20 minutes from Sam Rayburn, and have never once fished there! I used to fish Toledo Bend, Caddo, Lake O' The Pines, etc etc regularly, but not at all lately. On the Louisiana side, I've spent countless hours on the Red River and all the lakes within a couple hrs of Shreveport. I've fished Lake Fork maybe a dozen times or so. You'd think I'd be dying to get out there, and I actually am. It's just that work is getting in the way these days. I'm holding off till I retire to get another boat. I put fishing on the back burner when I moved up north back in '08, except for just a handful of trips with friends. Sold my boat, and put it mostly out of my mind. That's about to change though...very soon. This year. Might be a little later in the year, though.

Throwdownmyaceinthehole · 01-29-2013, 04:47 AM

-So! Company decided that they didn't want me working remotely - I now just have 8 more days of work, then move back to the US, a slight transition as I turned down a big job, and I am off to RE land - floating between despair and giddyness. Looks like I am going to get what I wanted

. I've got boats to build....

67walkon · 01-29-2013, 09:15 AM

43 working days after today. Or do I get President's Day off, making it 42?

jon-nyc · 01-29-2013, 09:43 AM

Wow, looks like several people targeting end of March.

I haven't fixed a date with w*&k yet but that will likely be my date as well.

Grigori · 01-29-2013, 11:14 AM

I'm planning RE 10/15/2013

After 58th birthday (7/17/2013).
After vesting in company stock (8/29/2013).
After vesting in a small pension (7/1/2013)

And before that BIG pile of year end work starts 11/1/2013.
(I'll get 75% of the years pay, and do 25% of the years work).

T-bird · 01-29-2013, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grigori

I'm planning RE 10/15/2013

After 58th birthday (7/17/2013).
After vesting in company stock (8/29/2013).
After vesting in a small pension (7/1/2013)

And before that BIG pile of year end work starts 11/1/2013.
(I'll get 75% of the years pay, and do 25% of the years work).

Isn't that how it should be getting all the goodies and leaving a nice sampling of w*rk for those that will carry on once you leave. Congrats to the class of 2013!

We are a happy lot not worried about the unlucky number 13. To us it is all good.

T-bird
Class of 2013
DW Class of 2012

jclarksnakes · 01-29-2013, 08:02 PM

DW put her retirement paperwork in this week. She will retire june 1st.

eytonxav · 01-30-2013, 07:00 AM

50 work days left till April 30, as I'm taking every Friday off

mystang52 · 01-30-2013, 08:23 AM

Ahhhhhhh, FINALLY this long month (basically it was 5 weeks) is nearing its end. And then that means only one more month for me (and 19 w*rk days)! No wonder I'm in a good mood today.