The countdown begins

[kumquat]

I now have less than 10 working days left. My RE date is June 1. Co-workers have been bugging me about how many days, minutes or seconds I have left. I've told them they can put a number on my door every day but no-one has.

Not that I care, but would it be a breach of etiquite to put a big "9" up on Tuesday (Monday is a Cdn holiday) and reduce it by one each day?

WHAT WILL I DO ALL DAY?

[mountaintosea]

My brother had T-shirts made up, apparently with the number of days he had left on them. He got a laugh out of his staff.

[crazy connie]

Originally Posted by kumquat

WHAT WILL I DO ALL DAY?

Anything you want and whenever you want without committee meetings to try to get a consensus instead of a decision!!!

[Goonie]

Originally Posted by kumquat

I now have less than 10 working days left. My RE date is June 1. Co-workers have been bugging me about how many days, minutes or seconds I have left. I've told them they can put a number on my door every day but no-one has.

Not that I care, but would it be a breach of etiquite to put a big "9" up on Tuesday (Monday is a Cdn holiday) and reduce it by one each day?

WHAT WILL I DO ALL DAY?

I did that.....but started somewhere around 386 (plus or minus a couple)! A lot of our contractors and engineers would make a trip back to my lab, just to check how many days I had left....they always got a kick out of it. The boss was usually about half p*ssed off about it, but didn't have the ba**s to tell me to knock it off....so I normally would change the number while he was in close proximity! If it hadn't p*ssed him off so much, I probably wouldn't have continued the practice.

The lowest I got to though was "4"....because I walked out a few days earlier than originally planned.....'cause I got fed up with all the bullsh*t!

[kumquat]

Originally Posted by kumquat

WHAT WILL I DO ALL DAY?

Originally Posted by crazy connie

Anything you want and whenever you want without committee meetings to try to get a consensus instead of a decision!!!

The old crew tends to gather for beer at 4:30. I'm thinking of gathering the other RE's and showing up to gloat now and again.

I hate to admit it but my presense in meeting (for the last few months) was only physical.

[Khan]

I posted my highest blood pressure numbers on my cubicle as an inspiration.

<quote>WHAT WILL I DO ALL DAY? laugh</quote>

What ever you want.

They actually made me do some real (computer) work on Wednesday ( my checkout day was Thursday)(Friday was a holiday)

[SteveR]

I have had a countdown timer on my computer screen at work. At the time got closer I made the image larger. When people would ask I would proudly refer them to the screen. During this past week, I had it a max. font size.

When people asked me "so, what are you going to do all day?" My answer has been "Not Work!"

Hang in there. The finish line is close. The last week was the toughest to get through but you will get through it.

[kumquat]

During my working life a few of us had what we called the 4:30 meeting, beers after work where we plotted stategy vs evil upper management (we are/were middle). They have decided that the final 4:30 may last until the next day. I feel obliged to give them a reason to party, but I really don't want to stay. Can I puke on the floor and thus gain a reason to leave or do I have to grin and bear it?

[Goonie]

Originally Posted by SteveR

When people asked me "so, what are you going to do all day?" My answer has been "Not Work!"

Same here! Of course some would come back with, "No...really, what are you going to do?" I usually just shook my head and chuckled, then walked away. They just couldn't grasp that concept, the poor souls!

[Want2retire]

Originally Posted by Goonie

Same here! Of course some would come back with, "No...really, what are you going to do?" I usually just shook my head and chuckled, then walked away. They just couldn't grasp that concept, the poor souls!

I agree, poor souls! I can't imagine being so short on dreams.

A few years ago my big brother was newly retired. He e-mailed me one day and asked me to compile a list of things that I wanted to do when I retired. In about an hour I made up a list of 20 or so pursuits, and he sent me a dozen or so of his own as well. That was interesting. We both wanted to work on a book, fiction in his case and non-fiction in mine. Playing the piano once again, trying my hand at painting (pictures), taking a few economics and finance classes, growing my own vegetables, volunteering (maybe to assist older seniors than me?), and completing a 10K run with a decent time are just a half dozen of the items on my list.

I saved my list to my computer desktop and have added and tweaked since then. If somebody asks me that question, they had better look out because I am armed!

[F M All]

Originally Posted by Want2retire

In about an hour I made up a list of 20 or so pursuits, and he sent me a dozen or so of his own as well.

Have either of you completed any of the items on your lists?

[Want2retire]

Originally Posted by F M All

Have either of you completed any of the items on your lists?

I have made some attempts, but apparently I was successful in identifying retirement activities as such. Due to working I simply haven't been able to devote as much time to these activities as I would like. Any attempts I have been able to make were half-azzed and certainly nowhere near the level I have planned for retirement. Once I retire, I'll have more time to focus on these additional activities that I have planned to supplement my present leisure time activities. Activities such as getting fit, unwinding from work, and planning my retirement pretty thoroughly fill up the quantity of leisure time that I presently have available.

But then, that's the point of the list, isn't it? When making a list such as this, I think it's important to distinguish between those activities that you can reasonably attack NOW with the quantity of leisure time available while working, and other activities that you would not be able to fit in while working but may be able to add due to the additional leisure time that retirement affords.

As for my brother, he had several severe strokes and has gone from being the most intelligent person I have ever met, bar none, to being mentally and physically disabled. He tried to write his book, and sent me some rambling verbiage. It was heartbreaking.

Poor Bob. I have GOT to retire as soon as I can. You never know what life will bring.

[Goonie]

Originally Posted by Want2retire

A few years ago my big brother was newly retired. He e-mailed me one day and asked me to compile a list of things that I wanted to do when I retired. In about an hour I made up a list of 20 or so pursuits, and he sent me a dozen or so of his own as well. That was interesting. We both wanted to work on a book, fiction in his case and non-fiction in mine. Playing the piano once again, trying my hand at painting (pictures), taking a few economics and finance classes, growing my own vegetables, volunteering (maybe to assist older seniors than me?), and completing a 10K run with a decent time are just a half dozen of the items on my list.

I saved my list to my computer desktop and have added and tweaked since then. If somebody asks me that question, they had better look out because I am armed!

I started a list on a legal pad, somewhere near the end of December or the first part of January. I have about 3 or 4 pages. My only problem is that I've been so busy having fun, traveling, messing around in the yard and the garden, and other miscellaneous stuff.....I haven't had time to look and see if I've accomplished anything on my list!!!

Boy, I sure do miss having a j*b.............NOT!!!

[Want2retire]

Originally Posted by Goonie

I started a list on a legal pad, somewhere near the end of December or the first part of January. I have about 3 or 4 pages. My only problem is that I've been so busy having fun, traveling, messing around in the yard and the garden, and other miscellaneous stuff.....I haven't had time to look and see if I've accomplished anything on my list!!!

Boy, I sure do miss having a j*b.............NOT!!!

I am so glad!! As long as I am having fun in retirement, I don't plan to pull out my list, either. It's just in case I start thinking that I am bored.

[Goonie]

Originally Posted by Want2retire

I am so glad!! As long as I am having fun in retirement, I don't plan to pull out my list, either. It's just in case I start thinking that I am bored.

Yep! That's why I made my list too. Almost ALL of the retirees that I know have had glowing reports of how great retirement life has been for them. But there was an occasional person that was bored to tears and wished that they had never retired, because there was nothing to do. I took sides with the happy campers......but did the list "just in case" the 'other guys' were right.....they WEREN'T!!!

[Want2retire]

Originally Posted by Goonie

Yep! That's why I made my list too. Almost ALL of the retirees that I know have had glowing reports of how great retirement life has been for them. But there was an occasional person that was bored to tears and wished that they had never retired, because there was nothing to do. I took sides with the happy campers......but did the list "just in case" the 'other guys' were right.....they WEREN'T!!!

I am SO HAPPY for you!!! On Memorial Day weekend, I will have a long weekend and I plan to "play retired" all weekend. I can hardly wait.

[SteveR]

Our list is pretty short but meaningful to us.

In time we will forget about lists and just do things as they hit us. Lists? I don't need no stinking lists!

[kumquat]

Something will come up.

Today I made a plan. BIL died a month ago and a friend who lives at mile 800 of the Alaska highway just heard and called. Suggested I come fishing again (last trip was 9 years ago and awesome). My friend is RE due to MS but can get around and suggested a further trip to the midnight sun. I think I'm off to Inuvik and maybe Tuktoyaktik (spelling) to dip my toes in the Arctic ocean.