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Hi, I am ... Out of here!
04-01-2011, 04:02 PM
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#1
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 230
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Hi, I am ... Out of here!
I keep meaning to introduce myself so hopefully late is better than never.
I married my college sweetheart back in 1977, the same year I started with megacorp as a programmer trainee. Back then we called it data processing, wore leisure suits, used punched cards, and had only 0's and no 1's to program with. I'm still in IT but have morphed into project management over the last few years as we no longer see development and programming as a core competency (or as cost-effective as using off-shore resources).
For most of my career I could not imagine ever wanting to retire, I enjoyed what I was doing so much. That has changed over the years, mainly as my job has changed. Now I am really looking forward to early-retirement at 55.
Monday I will announce to my boss that I will be retiring this summer. Exact date is TBD but should be mid-July to late August depending on how we handle vacation. 34 candles on the retirement cake by then.
There is, of course, that jumping out of an airplane feeling of apprehension that I'm sure I do not have to explain to most of you here. But I'm hoping to get over that by the time the void I leave back at Megacorp is filled.
Our retirement income will consist of drawing down on my 401k at a higher rate now and lower rate after we take SS which will be as late as possible. I do have a small cash balance pension for which I plan to do a cashout (rollover to 401k). I can only take half of it in cash because of funding levels, and will take the rest as 100% survivor to DW. Later if funding improves I'll have the chance to rollover the remainder.
We've tracked our expenses for a long time and have a pretty good idea of how we expect them to change in retirement. FIRECALC and other tools (I also like ESPlanner) show we should be fine based on expected drawdown and other parameters.
Megacorp currently offers subsidized retiree healthcare; hopefully that continues for another 10 years.
As with many here, I have a pretty simple portfolio utilizing low cost index funds, regular rebalancing, diversification, etc. It has worked out pretty well for us over the years.
DW has decided not to retire quite yet, though she is only part-time at her office and we are not depending on her income. She'll retire when the urge strikes or when they object to our vacation schedule.
I'll leave the "what will you do all day" for another thread since you all know that anyway!
This is a great group to be a part of. Thanks to everyone from the mods and admins to the full-time posters to the newbies for making this a fun and informative place to be. And yes Midpack, I posted to the Class of 2011 thread too.
Arnie
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04-01-2011, 04:10 PM
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#2
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 21,202
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Outstanding, welcome to the club...
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No one agrees with other people's opinions; they merely agree with their own opinions -- expressed by somebody else. Sydney Tremayne
Retired Jun 2011 at age 57
Target AA: 50% equity funds / 45% bonds / 5% cash
Target WR: Approx 1.5% Approx 20% SI (secure income, SS only)
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04-01-2011, 04:23 PM
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#3
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: West Tx
Posts: 1,392
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Good luck on your new adventure!
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04-01-2011, 04:52 PM
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#4
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,472
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Congratulations, Arnie! The time will fly and soon this summer will be here, and you will be retired.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arnie
There is, of course, that jumping out of an airplane feeling of apprehension that I'm sure I do not have to explain to most of you here.
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The emotional adjustment to retirement was unusually easy for me, luckily, but I admit that I really do know what you mean. On my last day, the very last thing I had to do was surrender my badge. That was my "jumping out of the airplane" moment - - very hard to do and I felt a little lost and scared as I walked out to my car. Not to mention naked without my badge.
Then, I started the car and put both hands on the steering wheel and knew that finally I was in complete control of my life and how I spend my time (just as I was in control of my car). It's a great feeling.
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Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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04-01-2011, 07:39 PM
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#5
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 805
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Arnie,
This is wonderful news! I am so happy for you! and yes, i want to know exactly how you spend your days.
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04-01-2011, 11:10 PM
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#6
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 654
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Congrats,
It is a strange feeling when you walk out for the last time.
But you will adjust,
Steve
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04-02-2011, 12:46 AM
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#7
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 229
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Your life will begin as soon as you walk out megacorp's door. The possibilities are endless! Enjoy your time as it goes very fast at this point.
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04-02-2011, 02:10 AM
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#8
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Administrator
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: N. Yorkshire
Posts: 34,053
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Congratulations Arnie. Hopefully you'll be like me, and that "jumping out of an airplane" feeling will evaporate the day after you retire.
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Retired in Jan, 2010 at 55, moved to England in May 2016
Enough private pension and SS income to cover all needs
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04-02-2011, 05:04 AM
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#9
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 230
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Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I've never actually jumped from a plane before, but I know I will enjoy the view once I do.
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04-02-2011, 07:29 AM
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#10
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,596
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Congratulations Arnie. I understand that feeling well. Lucky for me, I had a safe landing Just one question...who's the guy in your avatar?
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I purr therefore I am.
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04-02-2011, 07:45 AM
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#11
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 1,050
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Congrats.... 55 is a wonderful age ;-) (too bad I have a few good years to go)
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04-02-2011, 11:33 AM
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#12
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 230
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Purron
Congratulations Arnie. I understand that feeling well. Lucky for me, I had a safe landing Just one question...who's the guy in your avatar?
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Thanks. That is another Arnie born back in 1849.
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04-02-2011, 01:20 PM
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#13
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 17,773
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Thanks for taking the time to post the intro, Arnie. Good that your DW is working part time so you can plan travel around her schedule after you jump ship.
Retirement was sort of like bungee jumping--you put your faith that you've picked strong enough elastic bands, and off you go.
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“Would you like an adventure now, or would you like to have your tea first?” J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
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04-02-2011, 06:55 PM
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#14
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 230
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bestwifeever
Thanks for taking the time to post the intro, Arnie. Good that your DW is working part time so you can plan travel around her schedule after you jump ship.
Retirement was sort of like bungee jumping--you put your faith that you've picked strong enough elastic bands, and off you go.
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I think DW enjoys the stimulation at the office (most of the time). Probably also the little extra cash. But maybe mostly not wanting to be with yours truly 24/7. I'd ask, but can I handle the truth?
Bungee jumping and sky diving are a couple of things that I think I would like if I had the courage to actually try. Fortunately I've checked my retirement "parachute" enough times to have faith in it so I know I can do this.
Have you ever bungee jumped (literally)?
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04-03-2011, 07:50 AM
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#15
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Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Eastern WV Panhandle
Posts: 25,299
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Congratulations on making it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arnie
Have you ever bungee jumped (literally)?
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I never had the inclination to bungee jump or parachute, (Jump out of a perfectly good airplane? No way!) but I think acrobatics in an airplane is fun and I ride a motorcycle. But who ever said people are logical.
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When I was a kid I wanted to be older. This is not what I expected.
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04-03-2011, 09:17 AM
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#16
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sarasota,fl.
Posts: 11,447
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Welcome ! I am afraid of heights so I could never jump out of an airplane but retiring was easy .
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04-04-2011, 06:08 AM
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#17
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Dryer sheet aficionado
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Macedon
Posts: 35
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Retired at 54 three years ago and don't regret it. I started with a lot of home maintenance items that had been ignored. I get to play a lot of golf and do things with my wife - a lot of short trips. Enjoy.
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04-04-2011, 08:49 AM
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#18
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Allen Park
Posts: 118
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CONGRATS Arnie! Well deserved.
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04-04-2011, 04:36 PM
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#19
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 230
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Thanks for the kind words everyone. I gave notice this morning ... seemed a little anti-climatic but nice to have it out of the way.
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04-06-2011, 02:02 PM
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#20
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 169
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Great Post Arnie. Hope you will keep us updated. I have not FIREd myself, but I am in the class of 2012 and I appreciate reading the experiences of others on the site as they (you) progress toward the Big Jump and freedom.
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