Class of 2018

I pulled the trigger in March. After helping a popular motorcycle company get a plant set up in Asia, I decided to make the call and ER. We flew home from our part of the plant setup in January and I began winding things down. I turned 53 yesterday. I had always been planning on 55 being the ER point, so I am a bit early.

5 months in and things are good. Here's some highlights.

  • Health care is stupid expensive.
  • Some days more relaxed, some days stressed. Need to worry less. Getting there....
  • Exercising more. Feeling physically great.
  • More present in the moment. Not just racing to the next thing. Meditating. Just noticing more. Finding beauty in areas unnoticed before.
  • Learning and trying new things.
  • Can only blame myself if I had a bad day--double edged sword! I have total control. Freedom is a very different feeling.
  • Having Fun.

So far, it is very good, but different than what I had pictured before I started.

That is my 5 month story.
 
jimmyv65 said:
I pulled the trigger in March. After helping a popular motorcycle company get a plant set up in Asia, I decided to make the call and ER. We flew home from our part of the plant setup in January and I began winding things down. I turned 53 yesterday. I had always been planning on 55 being the ER point, so I am a bit early.



5 months in and things are good. Here's some highlights.



  • Health care is stupid expensive.
  • Some days more relaxed, some days stressed. Need to worry less. Getting there....
  • Exercising more. Feeling physically great.
  • More present in the moment. Not just racing to the next thing. Meditating. Just noticing more. Finding beauty in areas unnoticed before.
  • Learning and trying new things.
  • Can only blame myself if I had a bad day--double edged sword! I have total control. Freedom is a very different feeling.
  • Having Fun.



So far, it is very good, but different than what I had pictured before I started.



That is my 5 month story.
Click to expand...



Congratulations! It sounds like you are starting to decompress...
 
Adding Jimmy65 to the list

Our updated class list:

2018 (date unknown)
------
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) <graduate degree>
willatl 6/15
neihn 6/30
Jollystomper 6/29
akidagain2018 6/30 (56)

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

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
--------
Magwitch & Mrs. MagWitch 12/21 (39)
cnocmmz 12/18 (59)
tmitchell (50)
WestUniversity 12/28
camfused 12/31
 
Just joining the group after pulling the trigger on 1/1/18 @55. Life goal to retire after 35 years in the race. Last months since then have been great with a lot of adjustment. Decompressing from high stress job, learning to be more flexible with my plans, trying to get better at staying in touch with friends, trying new things that time now allows.

Found this group and really like the discussions from others who have or succeeded in similar plans. New life adventures await!
 
HondoBob said:
My last day was Friday, August 31st. I’m now looking forward to a brief staycation then following up with mine and DW’s projects – which will take years!
Click to expand...


no doubt. DF and DM retired 2 and 4 years ago. At 66 they are still working on their retirement projects. I keep asking if they get paid by the hour now...as it seems to be dragging on. :cool:
 
Since I'm on the list thought I'd check in. My scheduled last day was 7/13. I'm not one for goodbye's so I paid one of my partners to work my last couple of days unknown to anyone. They still threw me a party a couple of weeks later that my DW made me go to and my siblings came in for it. Trying to adjust since it still just feels like an extended vacation. Just piddling around doing errands and playing on the computer trying to get a more conservative stance in my portfolio since I don't have a pension.
 
I would love to be in the class of 2018, but we can't figure out how to deal with the health insurance elephant in the room, so I am going to keep working. I am hoping my husband will retire at the end of this year though. He will be 60 later this year.

So, I am no longer in the Class of 2018, and I don't know when I will be able to retire since we can't buy individual health insurance policies in our area that offer a decent network.

We are also spooked that many politicians want to allow insurance companies to exclude pre-existing conditions. My husband just had stage 1 melanoma this year. We may end up leaving the US for another country with a better health insurance situation. Or I may work until we have $1.5 million saved up just for health insurance.
 
I punched out in June 2018 at age 54. No parties or fanfare. I walked out with a small folder of personnel items in hand and that was it.

I was in a 50 hour a week high stress and pressure job. No more. Loving this retirement lifestyle. My weight is coming down and regaining a level of health and fitness that I haven’t seen in decades. It’s awesome.

I was in line for a promotion but I just couldn’t see myself working another couple of years for 5 to 10 percent more money. Not worth the price on my health and family. So I promoted myself to retirement. Best decision I ever made.

Now if I can get my lovely wife to retire life would be perfect!
 
Sorry, Dreaming, for your postponement. I think the health insurance issue is moving in a big way these days, and there will be major changes in the next few years.

1234, don't you love the better health - and that's worth both money and more than money.
 
I submitted my retirement letter today to my employer. My retirement date is 12/3/18. Hooray!

Our updated class list:

2018 (date unknown)
------
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) <graduate degree>
willatl 6/15
neihn 6/30
Jollystomper 6/29
akidagain2018 6/30 (56)

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

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
 
Need to change our retirement date to 1/2020....DW parents overseas has been diagnosed with cancer...the flights back and forth are expensive so :confused:??
 
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
 
Decided to go one more month so now in November. Had so much unexpected turnover in my department that I decided to stay on until most of the new hires are onboard. Told boss I’m looking at 11/2 but could stay until Thanksgiving at the latest. As the days go by I’m leaning more towards 11/2 being a hard stop. C suite unwilling to admit folks are burning out due to the increased and sustained workload.

Anyway, strange how my feelings swing back and forth at this point in the game. Have a great day, then think maybe I should stay, then get caught in 90 minute b2b commute and realize...nfw! :facepalm: life is too short not to FIRE when you can.


------

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

---------

October

-------

FIREmenow

RoyDornoch (60)

68bucks

November

--------

Erbragg1 11/1

Steeler75 11/2 (54)

December

--------

Al18 12/3 (56)

Magwitch & Mrs. MagWitch 12/21 (39)

cnocmmz 12/18 (59)

tmitchell (50)

WestUniversity 12/28

camfused 12/31[/QUOTE]
 
90 Day checkpoint

This past weekend marked 90 days of my retirement. I could not be happier. Things have been a lot busier than expected, but it is great being able to control 90% of ones schedule.

I feel now more than ever that I retired just at the right time. No regrets about not retiring earlier, nor for choosing to work longer for get more of those big Megacorp paychecks. :) I left the and my co-workers on a positive note.

In September I received 2 queries on "are you thinking of part time work, your name has come up for a couple of projects", but I gently turned them down, I'm too busy. :)
 
cnocmmz said:
Need to change our retirement date to 1/2020....DW parents overseas has been diagnosed with cancer...the flights back and forth are expensive so :confused:??
Click to expand...


So sorry to hear that for you and your family. It is a wise decision. The flight timings will be unknown and you cannot control scheduling them at optimal pricing times, so that is the best you can do. I hope all goes well for them.
 
Notified all last week of my intention to retire in December. Lots of congratulations mixed with shocked reactions. All in all it went better than I expected. We will see what the next couple of months hold...
 
And how do you feel about it, WestUniversity? Do you feel relief yet. Has time sped up or slowed down?
 
Beginning to feel the weight lift. But I still have about two months of handing off duties. I have been disinvited to a lot of meetings [emoji108]Yeah!
 
WestUniversity said:
I have been disinvited to a lot of meetings [emoji108]Yeah!
Click to expand...
Wow. That is great. When word got out about my impending retirement, my meeting requests doubled. It was as if they were trying to squeeze as much time as they could out of me before I left. :LOL:
 
The meetings I have been disinvited from are long range planning related and ongoing operations. I know there will be a lot of hand-off meetings but so far all is unusually quiet...
 
3 month checkup

3 months since my last day in the office! These have been the happiest months in my life. I wake up with a sense of anticipation, I am already in better physical shape, I haven't had a real migraine since leaving work, and I sleep well (and if I wake up in the middle of the night, I never feel stressed about it). I'm preparing for two much-anticipated trips in the next 6 months.

Things I'm still working on: I haven't accomplished as much as I planned - both in terms of fixing things up around the house (that deck is still not re-stained - but I've cleared the basement!), and in terms of things I wanted to be doing, particularly a website I have in mind. I still pay too much attention to what is going on in the work world - as per "Thank goodness I avoided that.

Things I'm satisfied with - my rate of expenditure. It seems to be in line with what I anticipated. My planning was realistic. Also pleased with my social interactions. I live alone and my colleagues at work thought I'd be lonely. Well, I've probably increased my activities with friends somewhat, and I don't feel lonely.

Things I'm anxious about - that stock market drop was worrying yesterday. My FA says so far so good, but what if it continues? I guess that's why I did my planning with an adviser.

Bottom line so far - although I have a smaller net worth than most here, by keeping my expenses in line with my income all my life (as is the case with almost everyone on this site, regardless of net worth), I was able to leave at an active age - 62 - and feel that my sense of time and possibility has expanded.
 
Sounds awesome Pellice. I will be there in a few months myself. It’s funny how many comments I’ve received along the line of “you’re too young to retire”. Many others are curious and wonder how I am able to do this. I simply respond with LBYM....
 
3 Weeks to go

Nice to hear from y’all about how good the first few months of FIRE have been.

With three weeks to go, things are really moving along. Made formal announcement two weeks ago to the organization and have received many nice comments from colleagues. Gave my supervisor a heads-up in late July but still hasn’t appointed my temporary successor...

Since I’ll be using weeks of PTO, have plenty of time work with HR on pension selection. Hard to believe that three weeks from tomorrow i’ll be free :dance:

Can’t wait to wake up on a November 5th and just get up and have a cup of coffee and smile knowing I’m not getting ready for work. Wow!

Any additional thoughts on action items to complete before leaving work place for good? Started removing office items and copying contact info. Still doesn’t seem that it’s really the end of this chapter of life, but here it comes.
 
Joining the class as of 12-21. Filing my paperwork Monday--although I gave verbal notice four or five months ago. I'll be happy to go and they'll be happy to see me go.
 
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