The Class of 2014

Congratulations on your retirement, Tom!

I'm sorry about your father. It's something you just don't get over. You just learn to live with it.
 
I'm done and can be crossed off the list. Last working day was yesterday and I was still busy writing emails in the minutes before my HR exit meeting.

Doesn't feel real yet and I'm worried they will call me up and ask me to do one more thing.

Oddly, I still made myself a to do list for today.
 
Congratulations photoguy on crossing the finish line of your working career. What are your plans for retirement?
 
Thanks Tom52,

A huge driver has been to stop working for the man. I really didn't enjoy the corporate environment and having to answer to others. Getting into management was worse than being an individual contributor. At the end, I felt I was just going through the motions and filling out my TPS reports.

However, I definitely have long term objectives that were put on hold while working. I will spend (and have spent) a huge amount of time on photography. Even though it hasn't been super lucrative (i.e., can't pay the mortgage), I've managed to sell a fair bit of my work. Not depending on photography for money meant that I could shoot whatever I wanted without worrying about salability.

Along with photography comes travel, and I've always found writing to be relaxing. Of course now I don't have to write some technical paper that will only be read by a handful of people. I'll probably also dive into programming and make a few apps / plugins (I've started to write some plugins for lightroom).

In the short term, we're going to focus on visiting family. We haven't done a very good job of seeing them in the past few years.
 
That's great Photoguy! The world is out there waiting and you can do whatever you want. Is this a great life or what!!!!

List making is good and helps keep you focused. That's one of my recommendations. A daily list and a long term list.
 
First post. Found this forum searching for a site like this. I'm 52 and pulling the trigger on ER at the end of this month. Been married to my best friend for 31 years, she is a little apprehensive about me being around more (I'm a recovering workaholic). But we are both low-stress people and I don't anticipate any problems.

Financially we are in very good shape, my wife and I are a bit frugal, which is partially why ER has been in the cards.

We are taking a celebratory trip to Puerto Rico next month.
 
I start my last vacation tomorrow. 6 weeks to go when I come back from it. Yeeeeha!
 
It's been a while since we've had someone to add:

1. HeatherB - 2013
2. Retire2013 - 2013
3. Ronstar - Apr-2014
4. akck - Dec 31, 2013 last day of work, Jan 1, 2014 1st day of ret.
5. Redbugdave - Jan-2014
6. sbwitte - Jan-2014
7. debster747 - Jan-2014
8. Coaster - Aug-2014
9. rodi - H - Jan-2014 - DONE!!!
10. Ozstache - 2013
11. Unpaintedhuffhines - Jan-2014
12. Cassie - Jan-2014
13. gozer - Jan-2014
14. BizzyC - Apr-2014 OMM
15. foxfirev5 - Feb-2014 ?
16. Meadbh - Mar-2014
17. nun - Mar-2014
18. brewer12345 - Jan-2014
19. Lagniappe - Apr-2014
20. Hawk50s - Apr-2014
21. jimbee - Apr-2014
22. Dakotah - May-2014
23. christian_n - Jun-2014
24. fh2000 - Jun-2014
25. FreeAtLast - Jun-2014
26. scrinch - Jun-2014
27. 02camp - Jun-2014
28. Huston55 - Jun-2014
29. FIREd - W - Jun-2014
30. jollystomper - Jun-2014
31. photoguy - Jun-2014
32. linny727 - Jun-2014
33. obgyn65 - Jun-2014
34. Nomad4hire - Jun-2014
35. powlusr - Jun-2014
36. WhoDaresWins - Jul-2014
37. Grainiac - Aug-2014
38. ER Eddie - Sep-2014
39. hakuna matata - Oct-2014
40. FLD3C - Oct-2014
41. SecondCor521 - Nov-2014
42. hakuna matata - W - Dec-2014
43. Turn_the_Page - Dec-2014 Maybe earlier in the year
44. sengsational - 2014
45. Amethyst - Jan-2014
46. Masquernom - Jun 2014 possible 2013
47. Difficultrun - Apr 2014
48. pinejake May-2014
49. bjorn2bwild - Apr-2014
50. howdidigetthisold - Dec-2014
51. Grigori - Apr-2014
52. Andre1969 - Apr-2014
53. In-control - Jun-2014 ?
54. Kaufmanrider - Jan-2014
55. Theseus - Jul-2014
56. annienz - Feb-2014 for sure
57. Nomad4hire - Jan or May-2014
58. Rena - 2014
59. Sittingduck - Mar-2014
60. poorcarver - Jan-Apr-2014
61. palomalou - May-2014
62. CherylGrrl - Jan-2014
63. Snowcat - Jun-2014
64. ChaseIt - Jan-2014
65. Tailgate - Jan-2014
66. Vudu Beer - Apr-2014
67. Vudu Beer - W - Apr-2014
68. Wds0410 - Feb-2014
69. Wds0410 - W - Feb-2014
70. Singletrack - Jan-2014
71. PRSC - Jan-2014
72. dawdmorgan - Jan-2014
73. martyb - SOMETIME in 2014
74. Dcharles - Last work day Dec 31, 2013 - Jan-2014
75. aim-high - -2014
76. Corporateburnout - Jun-2014
77. Buck2520 - Jan-2014
78. cinman2000 - July 2014
79. ragabnh - Jul-2014
80. Jackanory - Jan-2014
81. Cassie - Jan-2014
82. Doxiemama - October 14, 2014
83. Chris M - Jan-2014
84. Dog - Apr, Jun or Dec-2014
85. 6miths - Mar, Apr-2014
86. jimbo14 - Jan-2014
87. mschipa - Jan-2014
88. meperki - Jan-2014
89. campcrew - Mar-2014
90. Jgot - H - Mar-2014
91. PERSonalTime - Jan-2014
92. tbilltubbs - Apr-2014
93. ER2CR - Aug-2014
94. ktmissouri - Jan-1024
95. Tom52 - Feb-2014
96. Jaded salami - Mar-2014

Congrats to the new addition!
 
Congratualations Jaded salami on your upcoming retirement and your celebratory trip to Puerto Rico! I also have been married to my best friend going on 40 years now, makes life so much more enjoyable.

What are your plans for your life after retirement?
 
Wow, thats a long list. Thanks for the kudos.

As far as plans, in the short-run planning on some abode projects to catch up on (we own 12 acres, plenty to do), reacquainting myself with a variety of musical instruments I've accumulated but not had the time to get good at, supporting my wife (who basically retired in 2001, and is busier than I am) in her labor of love, breeding and showing dogs, doing some volunteer work when my wife needs me to 'get out of the way'.
 
Getting ready for events coming up (giving notice and retiring). The 2014 list reflects a June date for me. The end of June is the earliest I will give notice as that is when I become 100 percent vested. Several interesting developments are in the works. As a result, I may have a solution to my health care for several years. Timing for better information is from now through November. I may need to be flexible until then. The possibility of continuing health care at zero cost (for at least several years) is worth the wait. Another benefit is not having to limit Roth conversations to ACA MAGI. We will be able to increase up to the conversation to the full 15% tax rate. In the mean time, I would be around for one more software conversion (call me crazy but I kind of like what is involved). Either way, I would be done by next ski season. Happy happy, joy joy.

As the time nears, I am experiencing a change in how I respond to situations. This has been covered elsewhere in this forum. I am living it first hand. My boss suggested something I would normally have pushed back on. It just does not seem that important-after all it will be someone else's issue.

One other item I wanted to share...in a meeting, our HR manager countered my statement, "We have many people over 60 that could retire early or any day." HR manager said, "People aren't retiring early. Our over 60 years old people will continue working (due to lack of funds)." HR manager will be very surprised when I give notice at 47 years with enough money.

My smile is getting larger every day.
 
Happy to report that I am officially in the Class of 2014 - wahoo! Will be departing the corporate grind this summer. Too many other things are competing for my time - trying to juggle it all with work has been overwhelming to say the least. Really looking forward to a saner pace and some time with family!
 
Hurrah! Last day of work was Feb 28....free at last, free at last! It still does not feel real after all the years of planning and saving. I feel very blessed to be able to retire at the age of 57!
 
We're getting close to breaking 100 on the list:

1. HeatherB - 2013
2. Retire2013 - 2013
3. Ronstar - Apr-2014
4. akck - Dec 31, 2013 last day of work, Jan 1, 2014 1st day of ret.
5. Redbugdave - Jan-2014
6. sbwitte - Jan-2014
7. debster747 - Jan-2014
8. Coaster - Aug-2014
9. rodi - H - Jan-2014 - DONE!!!
10. Ozstache - 2013
11. Unpaintedhuffhines - Jan-2014
12. Cassie - Jan-2014
13. gozer - Jan-2014
14. BizzyC - Apr-2014 OMM
15. foxfirev5 - Feb-2014 ?
16. Meadbh - Mar-2014
17. nun - Mar-2014
18. brewer12345 - Jan-2014
19. Lagniappe - Apr-2014
20. Hawk50s - Apr-2014
21. jimbee - Apr-2014
22. Dakotah - May-2014
23. christian_n - Jun-2014
24. fh2000 - Jun-2014
25. FreeAtLast - Jun-2014
26. scrinch - Jun-2014
27. 02camp - Jun-2014
28. Huston55 - Jun-2014
29. FIREd - W - Jun-2014
30. jollystomper - Jun-2014
31. photoguy - Jun-2014
32. linny727 - Jun-2014
33. obgyn65 - Jun-2014
34. Nomad4hire - Jun-2014
35. powlusr - Jun-2014
36. WhoDaresWins - Jul-2014
37. Grainiac - Aug-2014
38. ER Eddie - Sep-2014
39. hakuna matata - Oct-2014
40. FLD3C - Oct-2014
41. SecondCor521 - Nov-2014
42. hakuna matata - W - Dec-2014
43. Turn_the_Page - Dec-2014 Maybe earlier in the year
44. sengsational - 2014
45. Amethyst - Jan-2014
46. Masquernom - Jun 2014 possible 2013
47. Difficultrun - Apr 2014
48. pinejake May-2014
49. bjorn2bwild - Apr-2014
50. howdidigetthisold - Dec-2014
51. Grigori - Apr-2014
52. Andre1969 - Apr-2014
53. In-control - Jun-2014 ?
54. Kaufmanrider - Jan-2014
55. Theseus - Jul-2014
56. annienz - Feb-2014 for sure
57. Nomad4hire - Jan or May-2014
58. Rena - 2014
59. Sittingduck - Mar-2014
60. poorcarver - Jan-Apr-2014
61. palomalou - May-2014
62. CherylGrrl - Jan-2014
63. Snowcat - Jun-2014
64. ChaseIt - Jan-2014
65. Tailgate - Jan-2014
66. Vudu Beer - Apr-2014
67. Vudu Beer - W - Apr-2014
68. Wds0410 - Feb-2014
69. Wds0410 - W - Feb-2014
70. Singletrack - Jan-2014
71. PRSC - Jan-2014
72. dawdmorgan - Jan-2014
73. martyb - SOMETIME in 2014
74. Dcharles - Last work day Dec 31, 2013 - Jan-2014
75. aim-high - -2014
76. Corporateburnout - Jun-2014
77. Buck2520 - Jan-2014
78. cinman2000 - July 2014
79. ragabnh - Jul-2014
80. Jackanory - Jan-2014
81. Cassie - Jan-2014
82. Doxiemama - October 14, 2014
83. Chris M - Jan-2014
84. Dog - Apr, Jun or Dec-2014
85. 6miths - Mar, Apr-2014
86. jimbo14 - Jan-2014
87. mschipa - Jan-2014
88. meperki - Jan-2014
89. campcrew - Mar-2014
90. Jgot - H - Mar-2014
91. PERSonalTime - Jan-2014
92. tbilltubbs - Apr-2014
93. ER2CR - Aug-2014
94. ktmissouri - Jan-1024
95. Tom52 - Feb-2014
96. Jaded salami - Mar-2014
97. moester - Summer-2014
98. just me - Feb-2014

Congrats to the new additions!
 
Not to stir the pot Marty...What if the boss wants you to work the July 4th holiday because there's no one else to work it? It's overtime and you would be thought of in a good light...
 
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