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12-01-2006, 09:37 AM
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#1
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: minnesota
Posts: 13,228
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Part time to no time
When I first came to this forum, I was working full time plus managing our law firm. I was just entering my biggest earnings years with 2004 my best year ever. At the end of 2004 I resigned my presidency and went part time, working about half time in 2005. Clients had a hard time getting used to it. I would tell them to call me even if I was out, but they hated to impose on me when I was gone. But then they chided me for being unavailable. But the work got done and the clients adjusted for the most part. That first year I earned about 1/3 of what I earned the year before.
I enjoyed every moment off from work. The new leisure time was addictive. It made it harder and harder to come into work and to have that constant tie to the workplace. I found myself becoming less patient with aspects of work I did not like. A reduction in the amount of money we had readily available made me realize that I didn't have to spend big bucks to be comfortable. I cut my work back more and more and started talking about phasing out totally.
As of January 1 2007 I will no longer be an owner of my firm. For a few months I will be available for my successor to call me and talk to me about issues. But no more billable hours. So I guess I can call it retired.
__________________
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No more lawyer stuff, no more political stuff, so no more CYA
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12-01-2006, 09:48 AM
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#2
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,321
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Re: Part time to no time
Martha,
Wow. Congrats! Now you will have even more time to give us all the benefit of your knowledge and experience.
Grumpy
__________________
...you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave...
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12-01-2006, 09:56 AM
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#3
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Bay
Posts: 1,246
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Re: Part time to no time
So you've taken about 2 years to wean yourself away from a very consuming job. Your approach seems quite reasonable if you actually like your job (but not as much as the alternative ). I hope I can follow in your footsteps.
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12-01-2006, 09:57 AM
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#4
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 92
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Re: Part time to no time
So now I get to ask YOU what you are going to do all day!?
__________________
FIREd on 12/31/2006
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12-01-2006, 10:01 AM
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#5
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,183
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Re: Part time to no time
Quote:
So now I get to ask YOU what you are going to do all day!?
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Perhaps whatever she want and only whenever she wants...
ENJOY!!!!
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12-01-2006, 10:02 AM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: minnesota
Posts: 13,228
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Re: Part time to no time
Quote:
So now I get to ask YOU what you are going to do all day!?
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I thought you might ask.
In January I am going to crawl under a blanket and read and sleep. Plus I hope to at least drag myself out to the gym three or four days a week. If I get some motivation I am going to finish making the bedroom curtains, work on regrouting the bathroom floor, and start a stained glass window.
Sometime in February we are going to leave on a month or two RV trip. Going to Mexico.
Then we shall see.
__________________
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No more lawyer stuff, no more political stuff, so no more CYA
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12-01-2006, 10:14 AM
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#7
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 18,085
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Re: Part time to no time
Congrats, Martha. I'm sure you will enjoy being fully out to pasture.
__________________
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
- George Orwell
Ezekiel 23:20
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12-01-2006, 10:25 AM
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#8
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,005
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Re: Part time to no time
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martha
Sometime in February we are going to leave on a month or two RV trip. Going to Mexico.
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Dang! I'm jealous! Are you going to be "Of Counsel" on the firm's letterhead?
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12-01-2006, 10:27 AM
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 8,827
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Re: Part time to no time
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martha
I enjoyed every moment off from work. The new leisure time was addictive. It made it harder and harder to come into work and to have that constant tie to the workplace. I found myself becoming less patient with aspects of work I did not like. A reduction in the amount of money we had readily available made me realize that I didn't have to spend big bucks to be comfortable. I cut my work back more and more and started talking about phasing out totally.
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Always thought of part-time being the best of both worlds, but maybe I should at least be on the look-out for just the opposite: leisure being so addictive that part-time work just gets annoying. I can already see that travel time is just as difficult to arrange if you work 2 days a week as it is at 6 days a week.
I heard of one opportunity that requires 7-10 consecutive days per month, planned well in advance. If the content of the work is OK, maybe that would be a good solution for part time.
__________________
Rich
San Francisco Area
ESR'd March 2010. FIRE'd January 2011.
As if you didn't know..If the above message contains medical content, it's NOT intended as advice, and may not be accurate, applicable or sufficient. Don't rely on it for any purpose. Consult your own doctor for all medical advice.
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12-01-2006, 10:31 AM
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: minnesota
Posts: 13,228
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Re: Part time to no time
Quote:
Originally Posted by justin
Dang! I'm jealous! Are you going to be "Of Counsel" on the firm's letterhead?
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Yup. There is something appealing about that title.
__________________
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No more lawyer stuff, no more political stuff, so no more CYA
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12-01-2006, 10:38 AM
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#11
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: minnesota
Posts: 13,228
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Re: Part time to no time
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa
Always thought of part-time being the best of both worlds, but maybe I should at least be on the look-out for just the opposite: leisure being so addictive that part-time work just gets annoying. I can already see that travel time is just as difficult to arrange if you work 2 days a week as it is at 6 days a week.
I heard of one opportunity that requires 7-10 consecutive days per month, planned well in advance. If the content of the work is OK, maybe that would be a good solution for part time.
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That was the unexpected problem that I had. I managed quite a bit of flexibility, with four day weeks, many off days, nearly no full days, plus two 4 to 6 week trips last year. But there always was that umbilical cord attached to clients and I needed to be in phone/email range most always.
__________________
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No more lawyer stuff, no more political stuff, so no more CYA
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12-01-2006, 11:12 AM
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#12
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 260
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Re: Part time to no time
Congratulations! How freeing for you! Enjoy the reading and the trip, and remember to post pictures. (If, of course, that's not too much work.)
I'm just a paralegal, but I can definitely understand the freedom of no billable hours! It's one reason I switched from a law firm to a corporate position.
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12-01-2006, 11:19 AM
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#13
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Crownsville
Posts: 3,696
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Re: Part time to no time
The new leisure time was addictive. It made it harder and harder to come into work and to have that constant tie to the workplace. I found myself becoming less patient with aspects of work I did not like.
I've noticed this about myself, too. I've started taking more time off here and there, and while it does help me to relax, recharge, and find other things to do outside of work, I've noticed that it also makes the time I have to come into work that much more aggravating. And it seems like the less I need my job, the less patient I become with some aspects of it. For instance, years ago when I was on CCCS and working my butt off with two jobs trying to get the bills paid down, I was willing to put up with a lot of crap. Now that I could afford to kick off and relax for a few years before seeking employment, not so willing!
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12-01-2006, 11:22 AM
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#14
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Re: Part time to no time
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martha
Yup. There is something appealing about that title.
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So is moving eventually on your adgenda?
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12-01-2006, 11:47 AM
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#15
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,071
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Re: Part time to no time
AAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Congratulations, Martha.
__________________
Compounding: Never forget! Never not remember!
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12-01-2006, 11:48 AM
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#16
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,677
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Re: Part time to no time
Congratulations Martha! Mexico sounds like a nice trip to start off the offical retirement phase of your life.
__________________
Dogs aren't our whole lives, but they make our lives whole. - Roger Caras
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12-01-2006, 11:58 AM
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#17
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas: No Country for Old Men
Posts: 50,000
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Re: Part time to no time
Quote:
Originally Posted by Outtahere
Mexico sounds like a nice trip to start off the offical retirement phase of your life.
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Si.
Any trouble getting the dogs back & forth across the border? I have no idea about what the requirements might be for pooch passports.
__________________
Numbers is hard
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12-01-2006, 12:42 PM
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#18
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,071
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Re: Part time to no time
Quote:
Originally Posted by REWahoo!
Si.
Any trouble getting the dogs back & forth across the border? I have no idea about what the requirements might be for pooch passports.
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We just plan to stuff them in our back pockets and smile while saying "No comprende, senor."
Actually all they need is a current rabies certificate. But we will douse them in flea gunk on the way back home--maybe after passing thru Texas.
__________________
Compounding: Never forget! Never not remember!
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12-01-2006, 01:26 PM
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#19
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas: No Country for Old Men
Posts: 50,000
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Re: Part time to no time
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg
...we will douse them in flea gunk on the way back home--maybe after passing thru Texas.
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I recommend waiting until you flee Oklahoma.
__________________
Numbers is hard
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12-01-2006, 01:50 PM
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#20
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 927
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Re: Part time to no time
Sincere congratulations on a well-earned retirement, Martha.
Please reassure us that you won't become a stranger! Some will miss your excellent legal contributions if you do, I suppose. But I think I speak for many when I say that I have long appreciated and would truly miss your reasoned and compassionate contributions in other areas as well!
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