In his opening post in the thread he said "first thing is a vacation" so I read that to mean that while he's put in his notice, he's also taking a week or so off now before the retirement date - figure there's some vacation time to burn off maybe?
This is getting even more confusing by the minute. Communication is an interesting thing. There is the message you intended to give, the message you thought you gave and the message someone heard. Not always all one and the same.
"I plan on taking the high road and leaving with no task undone and my reputation intact. First thing on the schedule, a long vacation in a warmer climate!"
That was in the OP. As I read it, the long vacation comes after the 'leaving'. The retirement will begin with a long vacation as the first thing on the schedule. It's one paragraph as written with 'first thing' therefore referring back to 'leaving'. Hence my question about has a ticket been bought.
Then came the Saturday comment: " Hopefully I'll be in South Florida by Saturday night."
Then came the retirement date: "May 6th" Followed by the temperature "quite balmy" comment.
So no, I don't read any week or so off now, in there Aerides. Not unless a 'week' constitutes a "long vacation". It's now reached the comedy of errors point. With you, me and now Alan, all having to guess at what was meant initially and the consequent comments confirming nothing.
It is not a big deal, never was, but it sure shows just how easily mis-communication can occur. Learning to communicate clearly is a skill just like any other skill. Never more so than when you only have the written words to work from. Body language and tone don't transmit from the written word. Whether you subscribe to the '7% rule' or not regarding how much of the message is in the words alone, the fact is that only part of the message will get through with words alone unless you are a clear communicator.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/beyond-words/201109/is-nonverbal-communication-numbers-game
So foxfirev5, in order to put this to bed, here is what I would like to hear from you. When are you going to Florida?
If this Saturday, it has nothing to do with your retirement and including it in your OP could have been omitted for clarity. If it is the Saturday after you retire then it could have been clearer by simply adding, 'the Saturday after I retire in May.'
In the end it's all much ado about nothing and I wish I had never commented. But having now gone this far, we might as well get it right.
