I'm 10% Retired as of Today

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Well, it's a start.

Just heard today that a long negotiation over my compensation and responsibilities finally concluded today in my favor. I've been collecting more and more responsibilities in my position and last month my boss initiated discussion about my getting a very sweet raise (it was preemptive, as he knew I was going to approach him shortly).

I kind of stumped him when I said that at this time I'd like to discuss going from 1 FTE to 0.9 FTE. This is unprecedented in the type of position I hold, but I reassured him that I did not want to reduce patient care time, and would be willing to put in some work time during travel and at my convenience (which of course I do anyway), and that time to visit family was a very important priority to me (that's as far as I needed to go - he got it).

Long story short, I will now have a 4-5 day weekend every month mostly intended to visit distant grandkids FINALLY, or just to relax when we are not visiting. Usual vacation time continues at 4 weeks plus holidays. Oh yeah -- they gave me a raise, too.

I think it's a win-win -- they get to keep me (I have accumulated some experience and expertiese they really need), I get to see my kids and take a deep breath regularly, and it doesn't cost anyone anything they weren't going to pay for anyway.

I realize it doesn't sound like much, but in context it's a significant departure from business as usual - one small step. Buyin' new golf clubs next weekend.

[Notmuchlonger]

Congratulations. Seems like a nice way of easing into things.

[LOL!]

I am going 0.5 FTE in two weeks. It's hard not to skip out early every day now. With such a large difference in expected time at work, I think I am not going to get 'taken' by working extra hours.

With only a 0.1 FTE difference aren't you worried those hours are gonna get added to the weeks where you have those long weekends?

[audreyh1]

Congratulations!

That is an EXCELLENT step.

Audrey

[W2R]

Congratulations!!

Enjoy your time with the grandkids.

[REWahoo]

Rich, congratulations on your raise. As to being "10% retired", you'll have to forgive me for being a little skeptical. Based on your track record, well, you know...

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOL! With only a 0.1 FTE difference aren't you worried those hours are gonna get added to the weeks where you have those long weekends?

They already are.

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 Congratulations!

Thanks Audrey. Where've ya been?

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Rich, congratulations on your raise. As to being "10% retired", you'll have to forgive me for being a little skeptical. Based on your track record, well, you know...

Hey, have some fatih, man .

It's only 2 or 3 days a month, and I definitely know where I won't be.

[Alan]

Well done Rich, I'm sure you''l enjoy and look forward to those long weekends.

I just re-located to a site that has a 989 schedule PLUS flex hours so Mon - Thurs I work 6:30 - 4:00, 1st Friday I work 8 hrs, 2nd Friday I work 4 and the 3rd Friday I am off. I love it as the early start is easy for me and misses the taffic.

[Martha]

Good news. Keep chipping away .1 at a time.

[Sheryl]

Way to go Rich! 10% is better than nothing.

[Dawg52]

I went from 1.0 to .0 last year. Of course I don't get paid squat either.

[Dreamer]

Congratulations! Enjoy those long weekends and the grandchildren!

[megacorp-firee]

Congrats Rich. Enjoy.
That's a great way to do part time (5 day weekends). Otherwise you would end up working full time anyways. I have seen some people try to do 1/2 time and it turns out that meant 40 hours in our industry.

[brewer12345]

Sounds like a workable situation. I am especially impressed that you managed to negotiate this sort of thing in a profession that generally does not put up with anything less than 125% time/effort. Enjoy the time!

[barbarus]

Paging Dr. Rich,

At what age do most physicians retire Rich? Do they cut back to part time (probably 40 hrs/wk in the medical realm) or usually just bail completely at a certain age?

I've seen a few solo practitioners still going in their 70s.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by barbarus Paging Dr. Rich, At what age do most physicians retire Rich? Do they cut back to part time (probably 40 hrs/wk in the medical realm) or usually just bail completely at a certain age? I've seen a few solo practitioners still going in their 70s.

My father, a plastic surgeon, retired when he was 70. But, from about age 55 to age 70, he only spent about 8 hours a day in the office (very much less than he spent when I was growing up) and didn't see as many patients or spend as much time at the hospital. Instead, he edited a surgical journal which took a lot of his time, and compiled a literature review, and that sort of thing. Sadly, he died at 71. His cancer was discovered the week that he retired.

So, does THAT story make you think about retiring early, or what? It does that for me.

[barbarus]

It sounds like your father spent his last 15 years doing something he greatly enjoyed or at least felt compelled to do Want2. He probably regretted not having been able to spend more time with you but found fulfillment in his profession at the same time. Classic approach/avoidance.

Amongst blue-collar types, it's almost a joke(of the non-funny kind), that a man will die within a couple of years after his retirement. One of life's cruel jests is that people increasingly identify with what the do, even, oddly enough, in j*bs they hate. Often, there is a lose of stability when the familiar pattern finally ends.

I don't think this will happen to me.

Best avoided by having many non-w*rk interests I'd speculate.

[Twinkle Toes]

Congrats, Rich...and good luck sticking with the 10% retirement. Enjoy the grandkids and those new golf clubs!