Class of 2021

[gamboolman]

Nougat,

They can't pay you in time pawdnaahhhh.....

Most likely, a short time after your gone - they will refer to you "as that guy who used to work here".....

Cliches but good ones:

Never a horse could not be rode; never a rider could not be throwed

At some point time becomes more valuable than the money you will inevitably leave on the table by retiring. Life is too short. Spend more of it doing what you want and not what some employer wants.

The longer you work, the more money you’ll have for retirement. But the longer you work, the less time you’ll have to enjoy that retirement.

Its great to wake up with someone you love and realize you have the whole day to do whatever you want!




I just retired 1-Feb-21 after 43 year in the Oilfield. They will get along just fine without me....

All the best in your decision. It is a big step - that's for sure.

gamboolman...

Lifes A Dance And You Learn As You Go...

[Aramis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nougat ... foggy ... not so easy to leave ... April 1 ... as planned ... critical project phase ... running late ... current estimate of leaving ... June 15th ... no matter what ... quit 1 Aug ... thats not all ... employer offers ... part-time ... consulting ... 5-10 hours/week ... same project ... next phase ... Jan 2022 ... estimate ... 18 months ... expertise ... meetings ... with customer ... difficult choice ... don’t need the money ... 10 hr/week ... too much ... 4-5 hours maybe .... need ... digital twin ... to retire .... hope ... fog ... clears ...

The whole "consulting" thing with the former employer is a tricky one - at least from my perspective. It has to be managed carefully or I just won't do it. I think it would be too easy to get drawn into something that you thought had some borders but which becomes a nightmare of increasing obligations and deadline extensions.

Personally, I have not ruled it out, but it would have to be on my well-defined terms. Like, I can give you this many hours, on these days during this window, and that is it. If something doesn't get done, or a problem pops up, someone else is going to have to have the responsibility to put in the work to address it. It won't be me, not from here and not from afar, wherever I may be.

I have too much long-stay travel planned and will only be able to commit certain blocks of time, of my choosing, for consulting. My scenario would be "I will not available for any reason from October - Dec, or in May or June". For me, it is not a question of reduced hours on a regular basis, it is all about large blocks of time.

Obviously that kind of positioning means consulting with a "new" client is unlikely to ever work.

[HI Bill]

A coworker asked (at just 9 days from my ER), whether I was excited. I thought I'd share my response here. T-8 days, now!

Am I getting excited? I’m feeling a lot of emotions. I think I’ll feel relief, more than excitement. Right now, it’s the stress of handover meetings, internal and external, deliverables, and change proposals. It will be nice not to have to set an alarm, and not to have to sit in the office all day!

I’m having some arthritis in my left hand finger joints, that just started, and have some shoulder issues as well. I really wish I had started this early retirement journey earlier (I didn’t save anything the first two years of work, and saved little the next five years), and had been able to actually retire at 50, per the original plan. Having moved into a new (for us) house, and having started repairs and upgrades, and already working from home, will make the transition easier. My only concern is starting COBRA insurance (I’ve read stories of it not going well). It is tough to resign in one’s peak earnings years, and to give up a regular paycheck and insurance. In the early retirement community, there’s a term, OMY (One More Year), that we call a syndrome. I had planned to retire 1-3 years after starting at AECOM, but it’s almost been 6! First, I decided I wanted to save extra $ to up the travel budget, and then, my wife wanted to buy a house, rather than a condo, so I continued working a bit longer. I’m really looking forward to reduced stress, being able to maintain the house better, diving, and home projects (building book cases, sliding kitchen cabinet shelves, electrical upgrades, and a lot of projects I haven’t had the time or energy to do since moving in). Probably more of an answer than you were looking for, but it should provide some food for thought. How do you know when you’re ready to retire? “When you have enough and you’ve had enough”. Having options is better than not.

[Gocubsgo]

I graduated! Tendered my notice this morning... my supervisor was a little shocked but very supportive. Agreed to work through the end of the quarter to help them with the transition.

I can’t thank this group enough for all the great information. I read the forum posts daily and they’ve provided tremendous comfort and help in planning my next chapter.

Cheers!

[Markola]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gocubsgo I graduated! Tendered my notice this morning... my supervisor was a little shocked but very supportive. Agreed to work through the end of the quarter to help them with the transition. I can’t thank this group enough for all the great information. I read the forum posts daily and they’ve provided tremendous comfort and help in planning my next chapter. Cheers!

Woot, woot! Congrats! Sounds like end of March for you, just in time for spring.

[Out-to-Lunch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gocubsgo I graduated! Tendered my notice this morning... my supervisor was a little shocked but very supportive. Agreed to work through the end of the quarter to help them with the transition. I can’t thank this group enough for all the great information. I read the forum posts daily and they’ve provided tremendous comfort and help in planning my next chapter. Cheers!

Congratulations! I put you down for 3/31. Will that do for you?



(I think it is easiest to quote the latest list, then remove the quote tags.)

Boose 1/5/2021 Announcement.
BGH1 1/15/2021 Announcement
GATime 1/2021 or 3/2021 Seems to have graduated early, in Oct. 2020.
gamboolman 2/1/2021 Announcement
Ger0n1mo 2/5/2021. Announcement
Exchme 2/11/2021 Announcement
djsander 2/12/2021 Announcement
Djwil296 2/12/2021
Ready2Go 2/19/2021. Announcement
Irishgirlyc58 either March or September
ATX78701 3/1/2021
iblearning 3/1/2021
DeepSouth 3/1/2021
ClearSky 3/5/2021
AZDre 3/5/2021
CCBoard 3/5/2021
HNL Bill 3/5/2021
SunnyOne 3/31/2021
Corn18 3/31/2021
Spanky42 3/31/2021
Aramis 3/31/2021 (subject to revision!)
Gocubsgo 3/31/2021
Retire2023 3/31/2021-4/1/2021
Nougat 4/1/2021
Georgia Girl 5/2021
goingtotravel 5/15/2021
BGH1 6/1/2021
RobotMom June 2021
Caramel 6/25/2021
Out-to-Lunch 7/1/2021
LeeLee2021 7/15/2021
FLSUnFIRE "summer"
DenverCraig 8/3/2021
ChicagoGal 8/16/2021
Ospreyjp 9/27/2021
RBDan "October"
tmitchell "October"
Unpaintedhuffhines 10/1/2021
KrisQuit 10/1/2021
retireingby50 10/1/2021
kaudrey 10/31/2021
Proteus126 "November"
old medic 12/16/2021

[Gocubsgo]

Absolutely! Thank you!

[ChicagoGal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gocubsgo I graduated! Tendered my notice this morning... my supervisor was a little shocked but very supportive. Agreed to work through the end of the quarter to help them with the transition.

Congrats! Must be something in the water. I gave notice today as well. Tentatively, my last day is April 2 (although may take vacation for the last week or two). I decided that it wasn't worth it to wait until my birthday in August, as I had originally planned.

Dang, can't believe it's finally almost real!

[Exchme]

Well I spent my first week of retirement trying to keep our house and pipes warm and our food cold during the great Texas freeze up. And then this week, DW retires and both stock and bonds are cratering. So apparently the world is quite mad at us.

[Out-to-Lunch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gocubsgo Absolutely! Thank you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChicagoGal Congrats! Must be something in the water. I gave notice today as well. Tentatively, my last day is April 2 (although may take vacation for the last week or two). I decided that it wasn't worth it to wait until my birthday in August, as I had originally planned. Dang, can't believe it's finally almost real!

Well, when Gocubsgo and ChicagoGal give notice back-to-back, there certainly could be something happening in the Windy City!

Update for ChicagoGal. (I'll put you at 4/2 for now, okay?)


(I think it is easiest to quote the latest list, then remove the quote tags.)

Boose 1/5/2021 Announcement.
BGH1 1/15/2021 Announcement
GATime 1/2021 or 3/2021 Seems to have graduated early, in Oct. 2020.
gamboolman 2/1/2021 Announcement
Ger0n1mo 2/5/2021. Announcement
Exchme 2/11/2021 Announcement
djsander 2/12/2021 Announcement
Djwil296 2/12/2021
Ready2Go 2/19/2021. Announcement
Irishgirlyc58 either March or September
ATX78701 3/1/2021
iblearning 3/1/2021
DeepSouth 3/1/2021
ClearSky 3/5/2021
AZDre 3/5/2021
CCBoard 3/5/2021
HNL Bill 3/5/2021
SunnyOne 3/31/2021
Corn18 3/31/2021
Spanky42 3/31/2021
Aramis 3/31/2021 (subject to revision!)
Gocubsgo 3/31/2021
Retire2023 3/31/2021-4/1/2021
Nougat 4/1/2021
ChicagoGal 4/2/2021
Georgia Girl 5/2021
goingtotravel 5/15/2021
BGH1 6/1/2021
RobotMom June 2021
Caramel 6/25/2021
Out-to-Lunch 7/1/2021
LeeLee2021 7/15/2021
FLSUnFIRE "summer"
DenverCraig 8/3/2021
Ospreyjp 9/27/2021
RBDan "October"
tmitchell "October"
Unpaintedhuffhines 10/1/2021
KrisQuit 10/1/2021
retireingby50 10/1/2021
kaudrey 10/31/2021
Proteus126 "November"
old medic 12/16/2021

[Gocubsgo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChicagoGal Congrats! Must be something in the water. I gave notice today as well. Tentatively, my last day is April 2 (although may take vacation for the last week or two). I decided that it wasn't worth it to wait until my birthday in August, as I had originally planned. Dang, can't believe it's finally almost real!

Congrats to you and your early birthday present.

[ChicagoGal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Out-to-Lunch Update for ChicagoGal. (I'll put you at 4/2 for now, okay?)

Yep, that's great!!! Whee!

[iblearning]

My last day was today. Feels good, have lots planned going forward.

[Ready2Go]

Just finished my first week as a retiree. It was great! Still woke up at the normal time but stayed in bed an extra 30-60 mins reading the news on my phone. Had a couple of scheduled dr appointments. Went to the gym 4 times. Lots of errands and I started knocking a few things off of the TO DO list. Life is good!

[Aramis]

I think I am going to have to push my date to May 28. My boss just retired yesterday (announced in December) and I didn't want to get in the middle of his farewell tour or complicate things for him if they asked him to stay and assist in hiring a dept. replacement (its a two person technical department and I am the senior one). So now I just have to get the courage to tell my new boss by the end of this month that I will provide 2 months notice. Is it good or bad that it seems like such a monumental decision? I KNOW I am going, I cannot go through another key "busy" season (begins in September) but walking in and pulling the cord is quite unnerving.

[Irishgirlyc58]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aramis I think I am going to have to push my date to May 28. My boss just retired yesterday (announced in December) and I didn't want to get in the middle of his farewell tour or complicate things for him if they asked him to stay and assist in hiring a dept. replacement (its a two person technical department and I am the senior one). So now I just have to get the courage to tell my new boss by the end of this month that I will provide 2 months notice. Is it good or bad that it seems like such a monumental decision? I KNOW I am going, I cannot go through another key "busy" season (begins in September) but walking in and pulling the cord is quite unnerving.

I’m having the same issue @Aramis.
I have been debating between March or September. Well, I need to give at least 3 months notice so March is out.
Now I’m debating June or September. It’s pulling the plug and giving notice that has me sort of frozen. I really don’t want to work another summer. But I need to decide quickly if I’m going to bail in June.

Good luck with your decision and let us know when you do give notice. I’d be interested to hear how you finally decided.

[caramel]

I gave notice to my principal and the superintendent of schools 3 days ago. I'm not leaving until the end of the school year, but I feel lighter already! It was definitely nerve-wracking to hit send on that email, but it felt like the right time to make it official. Telling people I've worked with my entire career has definitely been bittersweet. And the poor souls are all jealous.

[Out-to-Lunch]

Some catching up to do! (For iblearning, Aramis, Irishgirl, and caramel)


(I think it is easiest to quote the latest list, then remove the quote tags.)

Boose 1/5/2021 Announcement.
BGH1 1/15/2021 Announcement
GATime 1/2021 or 3/2021 Seems to have graduated early, in Oct. 2020.
gamboolman 2/1/2021 Announcement
Ger0n1mo 2/5/2021. Announcement
Exchme 2/11/2021 Announcement
djsander 2/12/2021 Announcement
Djwil296 2/12/2021
Ready2Go 2/19/2021. Announcement
iblearning 2/26/2021 Announcement
ATX78701 3/1/2021
DeepSouth 3/1/2021
ClearSky 3/5/2021
AZDre 3/5/2021
CCBoard 3/5/2021
HNL Bill 3/5/2021
SunnyOne 3/31/2021
Corn18 3/31/2021
Spanky42 3/31/2021
Gocubsgo 3/31/2021
Retire2023 3/31/2021-4/1/2021
Nougat 4/1/2021
ChicagoGal 4/2/2021
Georgia Girl 5/2021
goingtotravel 5/15/2021
Aramis 5/28/2021 (subject to revision!)
BGH1 6/1/2021
RobotMom June 2021
caramel "end of school year"
Irishgirlyc58 either June or September
Caramel 6/25/2021
Out-to-Lunch 7/1/2021
LeeLee2021 7/15/2021
FLSUnFIRE "summer"
DenverCraig 8/3/2021
Ospreyjp 9/27/2021
RBDan "October"
tmitchell "October"
Unpaintedhuffhines 10/1/2021
KrisQuit 10/1/2021
retireingby50 10/1/2021
kaudrey 10/31/2021
Proteus126 "November"
old medic 12/16/2021

[Irishgirlyc58]

Thanks for updating the list Out-to-Lunch.

[Out-to-Lunch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irishgirlyc58 Thanks for updating the list Out-to-Lunch.

De nada! You are welcome.