yakers
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Short version, what a difference one day (or in my case, night) can make in retirement plans. I have been planning my retirement for several years now. I could technically have retired 2 years ago @ 55 but I still had my younger son in high school and a few other lose ends. So now wife retired last year & loves it, keeps asking when I’ll have more time to do things together. Our son is off to college and the house is a bit quiet. I figured on taking a buyout in March 2008, if I can get it. Not a lot of money involved ($25K) but worth waiting a little, and the time is right from a work perspective, we will be having cutbacks so less fun at work. Well last Tuesday, Oct 16th was memorable for me. I had been feeling some chest pains for a couple weeks but was hard to distinguish anything different than a pulled shoulder muscle. I talked to our work doctor and he said he had the same issue and he went to see his cardiologist so he would recommend I do the same. I called my HMO and they said come right down. They treated me in the emergency ward (they have less sense of humor than airport guards) and found some patterns they didn’t like on the EKG. Kept me overnight and more tests the next morning. Looks like a (hopefully) mild case of aterial fibulation . Meaning a mixed up heart beat, sort of like doing a polka instead of techno; I told younger son, the rock drummer.
So in the last few days we 1) bought a travel trailer (www.tada-rv.com - T@DA - Microlite RV Teardrop Travel Trailer - TADA TAB Daddy ) DW did a major compromise in taking this when she really wanted an Airstream but that would have cost $25K more and needed a larger towing vehicle. and 2) the vehicle I really wanted, a Jeep Liberty diesel to tow it with, had to get a used one, they don’t make new ones since 2006. Depleted the credit union account, it will be interesting to see if it refills over time. But we are fortunate or disciplined enough to have enough savings to not have to go into debt for our toys. But 3) decided I would go out in January 2008 if the buyout becomes available or as soon as I find it will not be offered (historical note: I applied for a buyout last year and it was not approved. Manager says I should be covered this time but I don’t assume anything after the last experience.)
I really liked my job with NASA, especially with my last manager where I told my wife they would have to pry me out of the place. But its amazing how one night in the emergency cardiac ward changes perspectives. I am just not that interested in work anymore. I am more interested in whats ahead of me and I’m not looking back.
So in the last few days we 1) bought a travel trailer (www.tada-rv.com - T@DA - Microlite RV Teardrop Travel Trailer - TADA TAB Daddy ) DW did a major compromise in taking this when she really wanted an Airstream but that would have cost $25K more and needed a larger towing vehicle. and 2) the vehicle I really wanted, a Jeep Liberty diesel to tow it with, had to get a used one, they don’t make new ones since 2006. Depleted the credit union account, it will be interesting to see if it refills over time. But we are fortunate or disciplined enough to have enough savings to not have to go into debt for our toys. But 3) decided I would go out in January 2008 if the buyout becomes available or as soon as I find it will not be offered (historical note: I applied for a buyout last year and it was not approved. Manager says I should be covered this time but I don’t assume anything after the last experience.)
I really liked my job with NASA, especially with my last manager where I told my wife they would have to pry me out of the place. But its amazing how one night in the emergency cardiac ward changes perspectives. I am just not that interested in work anymore. I am more interested in whats ahead of me and I’m not looking back.
