Class of 2018

[lwp2017]

Congratulations! I would love to hear about your first week of financial independence!

Week 1 of FIRE

- pension statement was received in mail on first day, auto deposit was also correct. Thanks to an efficient HR coordinator !

- one hour of daily exercise and stretching is a treat.

- having no schedule is surreal. I'm still in mindset I have to accomplish a lot in a short period of time. I do not miss the stress from a 7/24/365 Mgmt responsibility .

- spent 4 hours in flowerbeds with wife, talking while we planted and weeded. That was nice.

- miss seeing all my friends from work.

 

[Pellice]

Week 1 of FIRE

- pension statement was received in mail on first day, auto deposit was also correct. Thanks to an efficient HR coordinator !

- one hour of daily exercise and stretching is a treat.

- having no schedule is surreal. I'm still in mindset I have to accomplish a lot in a short period of time. I do not miss the stress from a 7/24/365 Mgmt responsibility .

- spent 4 hours in flowerbeds with wife, talking while we planted and weeded. That was nice.

- miss seeing all my friends from work.

Love these details. All those people who say, "How many weeds can you pull," have never had a garden. I'll bet your wife is enjoying this as much as you!

 

[Green Hornet 21]

Week 1 of FIRE

- pension statement was received in mail on first day, auto deposit was also correct. Thanks to an efficient HR coordinator !

- one hour of daily exercise and stretching is a treat.

- having no schedule is surreal. I'm still in mindset I have to accomplish a lot in a short period of time. I do not miss the stress from a 7/24/365 Mgmt responsibility .

- spent 4 hours in flowerbeds with wife, talk4
- miss seeing all my friends from work.

About 4 months into my ER. Had planned to retire at 55 but slipped to 57. Welcome to the club. I don't miss the 24/7 stress from Mgt Responsibility either. I wake up every morning around 6:30 am and exercise 50 minutes followed by breakfast and one episode of Andy Griffith reruns. Then I work on projects and run errands. Also take in a lot of reading of mostly non fiction books. I spent 30 years reading financial related items to stay current in my career. Now I read about electronics, history, social media and philosophy. It seems like it's 6:00 in the evening before I know it. Where did the day go and where did I ever find time to work?
We have also traveled frequently since mid December. When I was working we traveled often which usually entailed returning home the night before I had to get up the next day at 5:00 AM to return to work and all the issues that developed whilst I was away. On the last 2 trips we took in March and April, we actually extended our stay by 2 days each time just because we were enjoying ourselves. Something which would have been unheard of back when I was working. Will this retirement lifestyle every get old?
I think not.

 

[jollystomper]

Adding myself to the list...

No date specified
------------------
Grumpyretirement
trapperjohn
datuck
Snoopy (55)
Lovetoski (46)
Coolrich59 (59)

January
-------
chief04010 1/2
JeffinSeattle 1/2
Boilerman 1/2 (57)
OldPhd 1/4
Uncle Lumpy 1/5 (60)
ikubak 1/10 (55)

February
GrandmaHoo feb1 62.5

March
-----
Nunyaa
elainejtm

April
-----
Seaborne (39)
whatnot 4/1
Mr. and Mrs. Honeyfill 4/2
ears20 (57)
Poppydog 4/30 (63/59)
Tdv2 4/30 (54)
tmm2good 4/4 (58)
ILikeStarTrek (55)

May
---
Mcbraemer (63.5)
SumDay 5/31
OnIslandTime 5/31
ears20 5/31 (57)

June
----
Pullin 6/1
GaryT 6/1
JoeWras 6/1 (55)
neihn 6/30
Jollystomper 6/29

July
----
Dan4495 (60)
68Bucks
MRC758 7/13

August
--------
Pellice 8/1 (62)

September
---------

October
-------
FIREmenow
RoyDornoch (60)
Ed B. 10/31

November
--------
Erbragg1 11/1

December
--------
Cnocmmz
tmitchell (50)
WestUniversity (60)

 

[seabourne]

Revising to push my date back one month - staying long enough to hand my project over and roughly enough to max out 401k for the year! But people have been informed and plans made, just no formal letter dropped yet. Hoping for a smooth transition!

No date specified
------------------
Grumpyretirement
trapperjohn
datuck
Snoopy (55)
Lovetoski (46)
Coolrich59 (59)

January
-------
chief04010 1/2
JeffinSeattle 1/2
Boilerman 1/2 (57)
OldPhd 1/4
Uncle Lumpy 1/5 (60)
ikubak 1/10 (55)

February
GrandmaHoo feb1 62.5

March
-----
Nunyaa
elainejtm

April
-----
whatnot 4/1
Mr. and Mrs. Honeyfill 4/2
ears20 (57)
Poppydog 4/30 (63/59)
Tdv2 4/30 (54)
tmm2good 4/4 (58)
ILikeStarTrek (55)

May
---
Seaborne (39)
Mcbraemer (63.5)
SumDay 5/31
OnIslandTime 5/31
ears20 5/31 (57)

June
----
Pullin 6/1
GaryT 6/1
JoeWras 6/1 (55)
neihn 6/30
Jollystomper 6/29

July
----
Dan4495 (60)
68Bucks
MRC758 7/13

August
--------
Pellice 8/1 (62)

September
---------

October
-------
FIREmenow
RoyDornoch (60)
Ed B. 10/31

November
--------
Erbragg1 11/1

December
--------
Cnocmmz
tmitchell (50)
WestUniversity (60)

 

[Pellice]

Sprinting, walking, crawling

I wasn't sure how to create a poll, but wanted to ask whether those of you closing in on the final day feel you are sprinting madly trying to finish off many projects, walking steadily with time to survey and think and observe, or crawling exhaustedly, just trying to make it over the line.

I think the walker is in the best state, but I am sprinting, like many others. All my plans of sprinkling vacation days through the remaining months have gone missing. Still feel like many duties need to be done at speed of light.

And yet ... last night after work and this morning before work, I was out digging holes for some wildlife-friendly trees I had purchased. Our eastern flooding rains gave me a short window where I was strong enough to dig an adequate hole in our clay soil. I got it done, and I was feeling bubbly and strong and positive - almost giddy - thinking *this* is what I need to be doing, *this* is real. And then I had to go to work, where I felt quite impact-less and involved in crazy-making paperwork.

I'm going to focus on the positive: wonderful and meaningful and impactful activities await after FIRE. Not the negative: have I REALLY spent 30 years pushing paper.

 

[WestUniversity]

I wasn't sure how to create a poll, but wanted to ask whether those of you closing in on the final day feel you are sprinting madly trying to finish off many projects, walking steadily with time to survey and think and observe, or crawling exhaustedly, just trying to make it over the line.



I think the walker is in the best state, but I am sprinting, like many others. All my plans of sprinkling vacation days through the remaining months have gone missing. Still feel like many duties need to be done at speed of light.



I'm going to focus on the positive: wonderful and meaningful and impactful activities await after FIRE. Not the negative: have I REALLY spent 30 years pushing paper.

I have my days. Some days I’m so excited I’m about to bust. Others I’m so overwhelmed with the ongoing pressures of my job and the expectations of MegaCorp. Among other issues I’m having my sleep patterns are hosed.

I have been quietly documenting everything I do, so I can “hand the keys” to my successor. Staying focused however is becoming a problem. For example my mind drifts in meetings and conversations that I know ultimately don’t affect me.

I have already made a list of activities I will be involved in post FIRE. That was fun.

If my post seems disjointed well unfortunately that is where I live at the moment.

Come on December 28th...[emoji3]

 

[poppydog]

Great question Pellice. Me and Mrs PD are FIREing next week, and have had completely different experiences.

I work for a European based megacorp, my retirement has been widely signposted, my successor appointed and trained, and I’ve been gradually handing all my management stuff over, to the point where I’ve become bored over the last few weeks.

Mrs PD however works for a much smaller concern, they’re panicking about how they’ll deal with the lack of her unique skill set and knowledge base, so they’re trying to flog her to death to get as much done as possible before she leaves. She’s pushing back a little, but she can’t wait to leave.

Friday 27/04 for both of us, just nine more days! Yippee!

 

[JoeWras]

Sprinting.



I don't have it in my to let down my co-w*rkers. I hate the fact I'm giving Megacorp this work.



I do love the type of work I do, and that helps. Just can't stand all the megacorp nonsense anymore.

 

[mcbraemer]

Gave Notice last Friday (4-weeks notice, after 20+ years at this place). Felt this was a happy medium in my case.


** Official Last Day is May 15 ** !


With DW retired about a year now, can't wait to Break On Through to the Other Side, and join many of you there.


Feeling anxious, happy, a little sad, or maybe unsure of how I will handle less regimen and so much more free time. I feel a little like I would imagine an inmate feels after 42 full time years served. Ha Ha

 

[4aboard]

My last day at work is next Friday, adding myself to list

Added myself to the list. Next few milestones for us listed below.
My last day at work is Friday the 27th.
Vacation home listed for sale this week.
Rented home lease ends May 15th, full-time live aboard boat with 2 kids after.
Boat dockage ends May 20th, head north on Great Loop.
Spend Memorial Day weekend on boat in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
Should "cross our wake" in FL next December.


------------------
Grumpyretirement
trapperjohn
datuck
Snoopy (55)
Lovetoski (46)
Coolrich59 (59)

January
-------
chief04010 1/2
JeffinSeattle 1/2
Boilerman 1/2 (57)
OldPhd 1/4
Uncle Lumpy 1/5 (60)
ikubak 1/10 (55)

February
GrandmaHoo feb1 62.5

March
-----
Nunyaa
elainejtm

April
-----
whatnot 4/1
Mr. and Mrs. Honeyfill 4/2
ears20 (57)
Poppydog 4/30 (63/59)
Tdv2 4/30 (54)
tmm2good 4/4 (58)
ILikeStarTrek (55)
4aboard 4/27 (42)

May
---
Seaborne (39)
Mcbraemer (63.5)
SumDay 5/31
OnIslandTime 5/31
ears20 5/31 (57)

June
----
Pullin 6/1
GaryT 6/1
JoeWras 6/1 (55)
neihn 6/30
Jollystomper 6/29

July
----
Dan4495 (60)
68Bucks
MRC758 7/13

August
--------
Pellice 8/1 (62)

September
---------

October
-------
FIREmenow
RoyDornoch (60)
Ed B. 10/31

November
--------
Erbragg1 11/1

December
--------
Cnocmmz
tmitchell (50)
WestUniversity (60)[/QUOTE]

 

[cnocmmz]

Will need go OMY to Dec 2019

 

[CoolRich59]

------------------
Grumpyretirement
trapperjohn
datuck
Snoopy (55)
Lovetoski (46)
[-]Coolrich59 (59)[/-]

January
-------
chief04010 1/2
JeffinSeattle 1/2
Boilerman 1/2 (57)
OldPhd 1/4
Uncle Lumpy 1/5 (60)
ikubak 1/10 (55)
Coolrich59 1/31 (5[-]9[/-]8)

Just a correction

 

[CoolRich59]

Added myself to the list. Next few milestones for us listed below.
My last day at work is Friday the 27th.
Vacation home listed for sale this week.
Rented home lease ends May 15th, full-time live aboard boat with 2 kids after.
Boat dockage ends May 20th, head north on Great Loop.
Spend Memorial Day weekend on boat in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
Should "cross our wake" in FL next December.

Congratulations! Fair winds and following seas!!

 

[mcbraemer]

Here is our list, with Coolrich59 changes and mine added:




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)
Coolrich59 1/31 (58)


February
GrandmaHoo feb1 62.5


March
-----
Nunyaa
elainejtm


April
-----
whatnot 4/1
Mr. and Mrs. Honeyfill 4/2
ears20 (57)
Poppydog 4/30 (63/59)
Tdv2 4/30 (54)
tmm2good 4/4 (58)
ILikeStarTrek (55)
4aboard 4/27 (42)

May
---
Seaborne (39)
Mcbraemer 5/15 (63)
SumDay 5/31
OnIslandTime 5/31
ears20 5/31 (57)

June
----
Pullin 6/1
GaryT 6/1
JoeWras 6/1 (55)
neihn 6/30
Jollystomper 6/29

July
----
Dan4495 (60)
68Bucks
MRC758 7/13


August
--------
Pellice 8/1 (62)

September
---------

October
-------
FIREmenow
RoyDornoch (60)
Ed B. 10/31


November
--------
Erbragg1 11/1


December
--------
Cnocmmz
tmitchell (50)
WestUniversity (60)[/QUOTE]
__________________

 

[cnocmmz]

change my REFI date

Mine will need to change to
cnocmmz (59) Jan 2020

Here is our list, with Coolrich59 changes and mine added:




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)
Coolrich59 1/31 (58)


February
GrandmaHoo feb1 62.5


March
-----
Nunyaa
elainejtm


April
-----
whatnot 4/1
Mr. and Mrs. Honeyfill 4/2
ears20 (57)
Poppydog 4/30 (63/59)
Tdv2 4/30 (54)
tmm2good 4/4 (58)
ILikeStarTrek (55)
4aboard 4/27 (42)

May
---
Seaborne (39)
Mcbraemer 5/15 (63)
SumDay 5/31
OnIslandTime 5/31
ears20 5/31 (57)

June
----
Pullin 6/1
GaryT 6/1
JoeWras 6/1 (55)
neihn 6/30
Jollystomper 6/29

July
----
Dan4495 (60)
68Bucks
MRC758 7/13


August
--------
Pellice 8/1 (62)

September
---------

October
-------
FIREmenow
RoyDornoch (60)
Ed B. 10/31


November
--------
Erbragg1 11/1


December
--------
Cnocmmz
tmitchell (50)
WestUniversity (60)

__________________[/QUOTE]

 

[Erbragg1]

November can’t come fast enough.... Megacorp is turning into a Megamess... Boss got let go and new boss is an egotistical a#*. New boss is firing all of my peers and bringing in his buddies from his previous companies. Unfortunately, he seems to like me and won’t lay me off and give me a nice severance.

Stock market slump has me a bit concerned about pulling the plug this year, but staying at Megacorp may put me in an early grave.....

 

[cnocmmz]

Hang in there, you do it....

 

[mcbraemer]

Unlikable

Some advice if you are trolling for a package (or at least unemployment insurance) may be to work on becoming "unlikable" to the new boss, without violating HR policies, of course. With some imagination, this could be quite enjoyable.
Many years at corps and Megacorps allows me to completely understand your messy mess.
Other option, may be to keep your head down, stay out of the fray, and keep the countdown going.
Good luck !

 

[Erbragg1]

Some advice if you are trolling for a package (or at least unemployment insurance) may be to work on becoming "unlikable" to the new boss, without violating HR policies, of course. With some imagination, this could be quite enjoyable.
Many years at corps and Megacorps allows me to completely understand your messy mess.
Other option, may be to keep your head down, stay out of the fray, and keep the countdown going.
Good luck !

I think the “head down” approach is my only real option. I think it is very unlikely they will offer me a package...

They are doing some sleazy stuff to some of my peers. They reworked the job description on one of them to make it so he would not fully qualify for it and then posted it this week and told him he could apply for it... There is a lower level management position in his group and I am betting they will hire someone else for his position and then offer him the lower position so that he would, in effect, be quitting if he does not take the ‘demotion’ and would be ineligible for a severance package.

I am hoping to reach my magic number by November, but the market is not cooperating this year. Hopefully, we can eek out 5 percent or so by year end and I will feel a bit better about pulling the plug. Till then, it is time for me to try and stay out of the splash zone....

 

[tdv2]

Moved my last day up to 4/27----three days away.


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)
Coolrich59 1/31 (58)


February
GrandmaHoo feb1 62.5


March
-----
Nunyaa
elainejtm


April
-----
whatnot 4/1
Mr. and Mrs. Honeyfill 4/2
ears20 (57)
Poppydog 4/30 (63/59)
Tdv2 4/27 (54)
tmm2good 4/4 (58)
ILikeStarTrek (55)
4aboard 4/27 (42)

May
---
Seaborne (39)
Mcbraemer 5/15 (63)
SumDay 5/31
OnIslandTime 5/31
ears20 5/31 (57)

June
----
Pullin 6/1
GaryT 6/1
JoeWras 6/1 (55)
neihn 6/30
Jollystomper 6/29

July
----
Dan4495 (60)
68Bucks
MRC758 7/13


August
--------
Pellice 8/1 (62)

September
---------

October
-------
FIREmenow
RoyDornoch (60)
Ed B. 10/31


November
--------
Erbragg1 11/1


December
--------
Cnocmmz
tmitchell (50)
WestUniversity (60)[/QUOTE]

 

[poppydog]

Congratulations TDV2! Exactly the same as me and Mrs PD! Can't believe it, just three more days after today - we've done our last ever alarm-clock Monday morning. Sunday evenings are going to be soooooo much better!

I'm updating the table to reflect this. (I'm sure I did this before - must have got lost in all the updates somewhere....)


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)
Coolrich59 1/31 (58)


February
GrandmaHoo feb1 62.5


March
-----
Nunyaa
elainejtm


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)

May
---
Seaborne (39)
Mcbraemer 5/15 (63)
SumDay 5/31
OnIslandTime 5/31
ears20 5/31 (57)

June
----
Pullin 6/1
GaryT 6/1
JoeWras 6/1 (55)
neihn 6/30
Jollystomper 6/29

July
----
Dan4495 (60)
68Bucks
MRC758 7/13


August
--------
Pellice 8/1 (62)

September
---------

October
-------
FIREmenow
RoyDornoch (60)
Ed B. 10/31


November
--------
Erbragg1 11/1


December
--------
Cnocmmz
tmitchell (50)
WestUniversity (60)[/QUOTE]

 

[tdv2]

Way to go Poppydog....congratulations. It's starting to sink in that I will be free of megacorp in 3 days and what a great feeling it is.

Congratulations TDV2! Exactly the same as me and Mrs PD! Can't believe it, just three more days after today - we've done our last ever alarm-clock Monday morning. Sunday evenings are going to be soooooo much better!

I'm updating the table to reflect this. (I'm sure I did this before - must have got lost in all the updates somewhere....)


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)
Coolrich59 1/31 (58)


February
GrandmaHoo feb1 62.5


March
-----
Nunyaa
elainejtm


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)

May
---
Seaborne (39)
Mcbraemer 5/15 (63)
SumDay 5/31
OnIslandTime 5/31
ears20 5/31 (57)

June
----
Pullin 6/1
GaryT 6/1
JoeWras 6/1 (55)
neihn 6/30
Jollystomper 6/29

July
----
Dan4495 (60)
68Bucks
MRC758 7/13


August
--------
Pellice 8/1 (62)

September
---------

October
-------
FIREmenow
RoyDornoch (60)
Ed B. 10/31


November
--------
Erbragg1 11/1


December
--------
Cnocmmz
tmitchell (50)
WestUniversity (60)

[/QUOTE]

 

[mcbraemer]

I think the “head down” approach is my only real option. I think it is very unlikely they will offer me a package...

They are doing some sleazy stuff to some of my peers. They reworked the job description on one of them to make it so he would not fully qualify for it and then posted it this week and told him he could apply for it... There is a lower level management position in his group and I am betting they will hire someone else for his position and then offer him the lower position so that he would, in effect, be quitting if he does not take the ‘demotion’ and would be ineligible for a severance package.

I am hoping to reach my magic number by November, but the market is not cooperating this year. Hopefully, we can eek out 5 percent or so by year end and I will feel a bit better about pulling the plug. Till then, it is time for me to try and stay out of the splash zone....

Erbragg1, that is sleazy of them to do, but not surprising ! Is his compensation pay impacted (i.e. lower position = less pay) or not? If not, and if they do that to you, it may be wise (but tough) to swallow the pride and take it, as opposed to walking away on your timeline. I have seen, and been impacted personally maybe, opportunity pass-overs and wage freezing based on ageism. Not blatant - just subtle enough to satisfy Mega-corp attorneys that lawsuits or employee challenges won't work. Still bothers me when I let myself chew on it - so I try not to. Could be worse, we must count blessings, you know. Stay Strong.

 

[Erbragg1]

Erbragg1, that is sleazy of them to do, but not surprising ! Is his compensation pay impacted (i.e. lower position = less pay) or not? If not, and if they do that to you, it may be wise (but tough) to swallow the pride and take it, as opposed to walking away on your timeline. I have seen, and been impacted personally maybe, opportunity pass-overs and wage freezing based on ageism. Not blatant - just subtle enough to satisfy Mega-corp attorneys that lawsuits or employee challenges won't work. Still bothers me when I let myself chew on it - so I try not to. Could be worse, we must count blessings, you know. Stay Strong.

If they do offer him the lesser position, it would certainly result in a cut to both his pay and bonus. Truth be told, I know that he will try to negotiate some sort of severance, but he will definitely leave. He will probably retire and do some consulting on the side.

In my case, I don’t see them doing anything like that to me, but you never know. It is just a miserable place to work right now and I am counting the days till I can put in my resignation....