Class of 2018

[Chapter 3]

Today was my last day at MegaCorp. It was interesting. Still trying to process it all. More later....

Congratulations!! Only been two weeks for me, but so far certainly is great.

 

[WestUniversity]

Done

Not sure where to begin regarding my ultimate departure. Many things turned out as I expected, others did not, both in good and bad ways. To cut to the chase, the ultimate thing is I’m done… at least as far as my former job is concerned. Now I have a couple of months of transition regarding my medical, pension, work related retirement accounts and other issues. For the most part all of that is simply waiting on prescribed periods of time before making final decisions and completing forms. Since I have already analyzed the financial impacts and made the various decisions for the respective plans, I’m simply waiting on paperwork. After having MegaCorp consume my life for the better part of 3 decades I’m sure it will take some time to fully transition to a life without MegaCorp. The retirement phase of my life has now officially begun. More to come…

 

[Jimmie]

Not sure where to begin regarding my ultimate departure. Many things turned out as I expected, others did not, both in good and bad ways. To cut to the chase, the ultimate thing is I’m done… at least as far as my former job is concerned. Now I have a couple of months of transition regarding my medical, pension, work related retirement accounts and other issues. For the most part all of that is simply waiting on prescribed periods of time before making final decisions and completing forms. Since I have already analyzed the financial impacts and made the various decisions for the respective plans, I’m simply waiting on paperwork. After having MegaCorp consume my life for the better part of 3 decades I’m sure it will take some time to fully transition to a life without MegaCorp. The retirement phase of my life has now officially begun. More to come…

Congratulations!

 

[Pellice]

Is the Class of 2018 the last big class heading into a possible economic downturn? There are very few entries for the class of 2019 at this point.

This has been a helpful and encouraging thread and a fun cohort of classmates! I have really enjoyed everyone's stories!

Is this the final list?
2018 CLASS LIST:

------

Grumpyretirement

trapperjohn

datuck

Snoopy (55)

Lovetoski (46)

January

--------

chief04010 1/2

JeffinSeattle 1/2

Boilerman 1/2 (57)

OldPhd 1/4

Uncle Lumpy 1/5 (60)

ikubak 1/10 (55)

Jerry1 1/17

Coolrich59 1/31 (58)

February

----------

GrandmaHoo feb1 62.5

March

------

Nunyaa

elainejtm

JimmyV65 (55)

April

-----

whatnot 4/1

Mr. and Mrs. Honeyfill 4/2

ears20 (57)

Poppydog and Mrs Poppydog 4/27 (63/59)

Tdv2 4/27 (54)

tmm2good 4/4 (58)

ILikeStarTrek (55)

4aboard 4/27 (42)

BeachOrCity 4/30 (53)

May

---

Hilltopper 5/4 (55)

Mcbraemer 5/15 (63)

DrBrisket 5/15 (49)

OnIslandTime and Mr. OIT 5/31 (59)

ears20 5/31 (57)

Ed B 5/31 (58)

June

----

Pullin 6/1

GaryT 6/1

Seabourne 6/1 (39)

sayhey24 6/7

Redduc 6/8

Lagniappe 6/11 (53)

willatl 6/15

neihn 6/30

Jollystomper 6/29

akidagain2018 6/30 (56)

July

----

54andChange (53)

68Bucks

MRC758 7/13

Dan4495 (60)

August

--------

Pellice 8/1 (62)

JoeWras 8/30 (55)

SumDay 8/30 (61)

HondoBob 8/31

September

---------

Steeler75 9/28

October

-------

FIREmenow

RoyDornoch (60)

68bucks

November

--------

Erbragg1 11/1

December

--------

Al18 12/3 (56)

Magwitch & Mrs. MagWitch 12/21 (39)

cnocmmz 12/18 (59)

tmitchell (50)

WestUniversity 12/28

camfused 12/31

 

[JoeWras]

3+ months in and I am slowly finding a rhythm. The holiday season does complicate that a bit.

We're prepared for sequence of returns issues. Looks like that plan is going to have to go into effect and hopefully the bear doesn't bite too hard.

 

[Carpediem]

We're prepared for sequence of returns issues. Looks like that plan is going to have to go into effect and hopefully the bear doesn't bite too hard.

As someone eyeing a summer 2019 retirement date, would you be willing to share any high-level details of your SOR plan? I'm thinking that if we were faced with SOR, we'd start relying on our cash reserves. Thanks.

 

[JoeWras]

As someone eyeing a summer 2019 retirement date, would you be willing to share any high-level details of your SOR plan? I'm thinking that if we were faced with SOR, we'd start relying on our cash reserves. Thanks.

Simply put, we have enough cash to fund our expenses for 5 years. It will require continued spending restraint. And if the TSHTF on the market (50%+ drop), it would mean reeling spending back and going back to super frugality.

 

[Carpediem]

Simply put, we have enough cash to fund our expenses for 5 years. It will require continued spending restraint. And if the TSHTF on the market (50%+ drop), it would mean reeling spending back and going back to super frugality.

Thanks, JoeWras, and congrats on your retirement.

 

[WestUniversity]

Simply put, we have enough cash to fund our expenses for 5 years. It will require continued spending restraint. And if the TSHTF on the market (50%+ drop), it would mean reeling spending back and going back to super frugality.

Ditto. We have sufficient cash to cover expenses for about 8 years. Should be long enough to ride out whatever might come, short of TSHTF. Meanwhile looking to DCA any equities I can pick up down the road...

 

[Ed B]

Not sure where to begin regarding my ultimate departure. Many things turned out as I expected, others did not, both in good and bad ways. To cut to the chase, the ultimate thing is I’m done… at least as far as my former job is concerned. Now I have a couple of months of transition regarding my medical, pension, work related retirement accounts and other issues. For the most part all of that is simply waiting on prescribed periods of time before making final decisions and completing forms. Since I have already analyzed the financial impacts and made the various decisions for the respective plans, I’m simply waiting on paperwork. After having MegaCorp consume my life for the better part of 3 decades I’m sure it will take some time to fully transition to a life without MegaCorp. The retirement phase of my life has now officially begun. More to come…

Congratulations.

For me there was a little stress as I worked through getting the post-retirement medical, dental and distributions started - i had never retired before afterall - but nothing like the stress at megacorp. But after that life is good.

I have been asked to come back for some consulting work. I have put off telling them no just in case the markets scared me too much but I am not going back. I can't imagine surrendering control of my time to megacorp again.

 

[WestUniversity]

Congratulations.

For me there was a little stress as I worked through getting the post-retirement medical, dental and distributions started - i had never retired before afterall - but nothing like the stress at megacorp. But after that life is good.

I have been asked to come back for some consulting work. I have put off telling them no just in case the markets scared me too much but I am not going back. I can't imagine surrendering control of my time to megacorp again.

Sounds familiar. Senior management did not want me to leave and my supervisor broached the subject of coming back for some consulting work. I didn’t say yes and I didn’t say no. Like you at this point I cannot see going back. Perhaps down the road, but I need to unplug for a while mainly for my health. I’m sure all of the post retirement transition paperwork etc will come together, but right now it’s something critical that needs to be done, i.e. a stressor, and constitutes a leash still tying me to MegaCorp...

 

[tdv2]

Not sure where to begin regarding my ultimate departure. Many things turned out as I expected, others did not, both in good and bad ways. To cut to the chase, the ultimate thing is I’m done… at least as far as my former job is concerned. Now I have a couple of months of transition regarding my medical, pension, work related retirement accounts and other issues. For the most part all of that is simply waiting on prescribed periods of time before making final decisions and completing forms. Since I have already analyzed the financial impacts and made the various decisions for the respective plans, I’m simply waiting on paperwork. After having MegaCorp consume my life for the better part of 3 decades I’m sure it will take some time to fully transition to a life without MegaCorp. The retirement phase of my life has now officially begun. More to come…

Congratulations!!!

 

[Tiny Kingdom]

Done!

Done with MegaCorp today after almost 25 years. I'm 51, so I hope I have another 25 years to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. Only a couple of people on my hall working at all this week and those were sent home about 2:00. I was alone in my office packing four small boxes. It was wonderful. Hasn't hit me yet, although I got a letter on Christmas Eve from my pension agency letting me know I'd be getting my first check 1-31-19. Looks like my timing is perfect for retiring into a bear.

Got my first comment last week that I was too young to retire from a lady in her 70's. I told her wasn't too young--I just looked amazing!

 

[Calico]

Done with MegaCorp today after almost 25 years. I'm 51, so I hope I have another 25 years to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. Only a couple of people on my hall working at all this week and those were sent home about 2:00. I was alone in my office packing four small boxes. It was wonderful. Hasn't hit me yet, although I got a letter on Christmas Eve from my pension agency letting me know I'd be getting my first check 1-31-19. Looks like my timing is perfect for retiring into a bear.

Got my first comment last week that I was too young to retire from a lady in her 70's. I told her wasn't too young--I just looked amazing!

Congratulations!!

 

[Steeler75]

Congrats Tiny!

Welcome to the club. There is no better feeling then come Sunday night and not getting the blues for Monday. Woo hoo!!! It’s been 7 weeks so far for me and I am busier than ever. Working on prioritizing still.

Enjoy the new year, and the new you!

 

[umograd83]

Pellice:

I retired on August 17, 2018. One more name for the 2018 Retiree list. Although 60 years old isn’t exactly early, it is earlier than I thought we would be retiring. Both DH and I are enjoying the retired lifestyle.

Norma

 

[Dtail]

Pellice:

I retired on August 17, 2018. One more name for the 2018 Retiree list. Although 60 years old isn’t exactly early, it is earlier than I thought we would be retiring. Both DH and I are enjoying the retired lifestyle.

Norma

Congrats. Yes nothing beats retirement.
Don't get caught up with an Early Retirement Forum average retirement age.
Anyone retiring before 65 or perhaps the SS FRA is considered early to the masses of this country.

 

[Pellice]

So, with these most recent two names, the pretty-much final Class of 2018 is below. Happy New Year of Discovery, everyone!


2018 CLASS LIST:

------

Grumpyretirement

trapperjohn

datuck

Snoopy (55)

Lovetoski (46)

January

--------

chief04010 1/2

JeffinSeattle 1/2

Boilerman 1/2 (57)

OldPhd 1/4

Uncle Lumpy 1/5 (60)

ikubak 1/10 (55)

Jerry1 1/17

Coolrich59 1/31 (58)

February

----------

GrandmaHoo feb1 62.5

March

------

Nunyaa

elainejtm

JimmyV65 (55)

April

-----

whatnot 4/1

Mr. and Mrs. Honeyfill 4/2

ears20 (57)

Poppydog and Mrs Poppydog 4/27 (63/59)

Tdv2 4/27 (54)

tmm2good 4/4 (58)

ILikeStarTrek (55)

4aboard 4/27 (42)

BeachOrCity 4/30 (53)

May

---

Hilltopper 5/4 (55)

Mcbraemer 5/15 (63)

DrBrisket 5/15 (49)

OnIslandTime and Mr. OIT 5/31 (59)

ears20 5/31 (57)

Ed B 5/31 (58)

June

----

Pullin 6/1

GaryT 6/1

Seabourne 6/1 (39)

sayhey24 6/7

Redduc 6/8

Lagniappe 6/11 (53)

willatl 6/15

neihn 6/30

Jollystomper 6/29

akidagain2018 6/30 (56)

July

----

54andChange (53)

68Bucks

MRC758 7/13

Dan4495 (60)

August

--------

Pellice 8/1 (62)

Umograd83 8/17

JoeWras 8/30 (55)

SumDay 8/30 (61)

HondoBob 8/31

September

---------

Steeler75 9/28

October

-------

FIREmenow

RoyDornoch (60)

68bucks

November

--------

Erbragg1 11/1

December

--------

Al18 12/3 (56)

Magwitch & Mrs. MagWitch 12/21 (39)

cnocmmz 12/18 (59)

tmitchell (50)

WestUniversity 12/28

Tiny Kingdom 12/28

camfused 12/31
__________________

 

[camfused]

Does not matter much, but mine was delayed until 18 Jan 2019, so you can remove me.

 

[Al18]

My last work day was 12/26, so I got paid for Christmas and New Years holidays. Updated list below.



2018 CLASS LIST:

------

Grumpyretirement

trapperjohn

datuck

Snoopy (55)

Lovetoski (46)

January

--------

chief04010 1/2

JeffinSeattle 1/2

Boilerman 1/2 (57)

OldPhd 1/4

Uncle Lumpy 1/5 (60)

ikubak 1/10 (55)

Jerry1 1/17

Coolrich59 1/31 (58)

February

----------

GrandmaHoo feb1 62.5

March

------

Nunyaa

elainejtm

JimmyV65 (55)

April

-----

whatnot 4/1

Mr. and Mrs. Honeyfill 4/2

ears20 (57)

Poppydog and Mrs Poppydog 4/27 (63/59)

Tdv2 4/27 (54)

tmm2good 4/4 (58)

ILikeStarTrek (55)

4aboard 4/27 (42)

BeachOrCity 4/30 (53)

May

---

Hilltopper 5/4 (55)

Mcbraemer 5/15 (63)

DrBrisket 5/15 (49)

OnIslandTime and Mr. OIT 5/31 (59)

ears20 5/31 (57)

Ed B 5/31 (58)

June

----

Pullin 6/1

GaryT 6/1

Seabourne 6/1 (39)

sayhey24 6/7

Redduc 6/8

Lagniappe 6/11 (53)

willatl 6/15

neihn 6/30

Jollystomper 6/29

akidagain2018 6/30 (56)

July

----

54andChange (53)

68Bucks

MRC758 7/13

Dan4495 (60)

August

--------

Pellice 8/1 (62)

Umograd83 8/17

JoeWras 8/30 (55)

SumDay 8/30 (61)

HondoBob 8/31

September

---------

Steeler75 9/28

October

-------

FIREmenow

RoyDornoch (60)

68bucks

November

--------

Erbragg1 11/1

December

--------

Al18 12/26 (56)

Magwitch & Mrs. MagWitch 12/21 (39)

cnocmmz 12/18 (59)

tmitchell (50)

WestUniversity 12/28

Tiny Kingdom 12/28

camfused 12/31

 

[qmartd]

Today is my last day of work. Not sure if that puts me in the 2018 class or 2019 class.

 

[umograd83]

Today is my last day of work. Not sure if that puts me in the 2018 class or 2019 class.

Congratulations!

 

[bigadventure]

Please add me to the class. I retired in September 1 at 60 and my wife retired in June at 60.
38 years as a Pipefitter and things are starting to hurt a little.

 

[woodguy00]

I pulled the plug July 6, 2018. We’re now full time RVers- in Texas for the moment.

 

[Hilltopper]

It's been 8 months for me now. The feeling today knowing I don't have to return to work tomorrow after what would have otherwise been a holiday break is pretty darn awesome! Congratulations to the class of 2018, and happy new year to all.