Ok down to 9 days, gimmie some ideas....

[dumpster56]

down to 10 days and I am done.

Now Where to go on a vacation ideas please, do not hold back.

 

[BarbaraAnne]

Re: Ok down to 10 days, vacation ideas....

Drive or fly to Miami or Cape Canaveral and take a cruise on either the Navigator of the Seas (Miami) or Mariner of the Seas (Cape Canaveral).

These are megaships with tons to do and a great way to relax with your wife. We did it in October (Navigator) and had a blast!

 

[dumpster56]

Re: Ok down to 10 days, vacation ideas....

Drive or fly to Miami or Cape Canaveral and take a cruise on either the Navigator of the Seas (Miami) or Mariner of the Seas (Cape Canaveral).

These are megaships with tons to do and a great way to relax with your wife. We did it in October (Navigator) and had a blast!

Humm, wife will not get on a boat.

She had a real bad experience a few years back.

Next idea thanks on that one though.

 

[Patrick]

Re: Ok down to 10 days, vacation ideas....

New Year's Eve in Vegas!

 

[Khan]

Re: Ok down to 10 days, vacation ideas....

http://www.earthwatch.org/site/pp.asp?c=dsJSK6PFJnH&b=386457

 

[Jane_Doe]

Re: Ok down to 10 days, vacation ideas....

Hey, New Guy!

Congrats! I've enjoyed reading your posts as you count down to freedom!

As to ideas of where to celebrate this great accomplishment -- I'm trying to think of something not too extravigant, yet exotic --- here goes
If you can't get your DW onto a cruise ship (and right now the way the people are getting sick, I have to concur!), I'd like to suggest taking a trip to Freeport in the Bahamas - this area is NOT to be confused with Nassau (dirty and unfriendly). Anyway, we have gone to Freeport many times using our timeshare and enjoy the friendliness, safe feeling and pretty beaches. There is an area called Port Lucaya that has a nice beach, shopping and eating areas with some light night life, casino, port with day excursions on boats, and more. My DD (SPring Break!) stayed at this hotel: http://www.pelicanbayhotel.com/ and really liked it. It was reasonable and nice. There are more expensive hotels as well in the area. If I remember, this place is not on the beach, but short walking distance to nice beach. NOTE: Weather in (Freeport) Bahamas can be on the chilly side at times as it is located just west of Fort Lauderdale. Airfare is generally reasonable. Also heard Exuma (another Bahama island) is very nice but know nothing about it.

Hope this helps. If not, please post as to what you are thinking of - hot or cold weather, price range, activities, etc.

Wishing you the best!

Jane

 

[rs0460a]

Re: Ok down to 10 days, vacation ideas....

Main Entry: 1va·ca·tion
Pronunciation: vA-'kA-sh&n, v&-
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English vacacioun, from Anglo-French vacacion, from Latin vacation-, vacatio freedom, exemption, from vacare
1 : a respite or a time of respite from something : INTERMISSION
2 a : a scheduled period during which activity (as of a court or school) is suspended b : a period of exemption from work granted to an employee
3 : a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation <had a restful vacation at the beach>

=====================================================================

You're not going on a "vacation". After U R retired (for me, 87 work days!) it's "just a trip"

We had a "vacation" in October (cruise in the Med, from Venice to Barcelona).

We've already made our reservations for a two-week riverboat cruise on the Danube in Sept '07.

For my wife, it will be a "vacation" (she decided to remain in the workforce ). For me - it will be just a trip (in my retirement!)....

Regardless - whatever you do, have fun!

- Ron

 

[dumpster56]

Re: Ok down to 10 days, vacation ideas....

Get this, I have recieved two job interviews today here in NC. I am down here this week taking a few sick days dental work, I had put my resume on the NC state website as a PE teacher and two schools want to talk TODAY in the area.

Hummmm

Funny when you are not looking for a new job they fall all over you.

I am going to meet with the one school at 2:30 its around the corner!!

Who knows, maybe my terms??

 

[BOBOT]

Re: Ok down to 10 days, vacation ideas....

Get this, I have recieved two job interviews today here in NC. I am down here this week taking a few sick days dental work, I had put my resume on the NC state website as a PE teacher and two schools want to talk TODAY in the area.

Hummmm

Funny when you are not looking for a new job they fall all over you.

I am going to meet with the one school at 2:30 its around the corner!!

Who knows, maybe my terms??

The schools will still be there a year from now & no doubt still as desperate for talent. Why not chill for a year, make them beg.

 

[dumpster56]

Re: Ok down to 9 days, hey how about some ideas....

The schools will still be there a year from now & no doubt still as desperate for talent. Why not chill for a year, make them beg.

I just spent an hour at an interview which I killed!!

But I couldn't wait to get out of that k-5 elementary building fast enough!

Oh yes they were impressed, probably will be offered the job.

NOT A CHANCE IN THE WORLD will I take it!

I intend to yes CHILL for the next year. Any extra money I need will come from sub teaching at 100 dollars a day in a 5 mile radius from my house. I am goin FISHIN, as of next friday. What am I crazy to think I NEED a FULL TIME gig.

Someone tell me again that I am taking ER!!! Please!

 

[brewer12345]

You are days away from freedom. Remember to slow down enough to savor t, at least for a while. No jobs, big commitments, big decisions, etc. Just the here and now.

 

[crazy connie]

I would look close to home for this 1st post work time out. Be a tourist in or close to home at a nice place with room service and great amenities. Just drive over and check in sort of place. That is an option here in Phoenix and there are many things to do that I never had time to truly enjoy while working.

Save the splurge of travel for a while, until the stress of work and fatigue have passed a bit.

 

[dumpster56]

I would look close to home for this 1st post work time out. Be a tourist in or close to home at a nice place with room service and great amenities. Just drive over and check in sort of place. That is an option here in Phoenix and there are many things to do that I never had time to truly enjoy while working.

Save the splurge of travel for a while, until the stress of work and fatigue have passed a bit.

I am kinda freakin out, I am down home here in NC this week heading back to NJ on sat for the last week.

I cannot remember the last time I was not having to work. Something like 30 years ago. Funny I made so much on my sale of my NJ house and to have really no mortgage and taxes which are low and paid thru 2007 already and a pension of 33+ a year which by my calculations is enough for all of my bills. Who knows but I am looking forward to painting and writing and doing fun work for the next 50 years of my life.

 

[73ss454]

Good for you NG. I'm retired a week now and I still don't know what to make of it.

I'm 57 and worked since I'm 13 so I know what you mean.

Stop with the interviews, you don't need a crutch you have a pension. Enjoy it!

I don't have a pension but DW does get a 8K pension and we only pay 10% on the healty bennies so things should be OK.

 

[dumpster56]

Good for you NG. I'm retired a week now and I still don't know what to make of it.

I'm 57 and worked since I'm 13 so I know what you mean.

Stop with the interviews, you don't need a crutch you have a pension. Enjoy it!

I don't have a pension but DW does get a 8K pension and we only pay 10% on the healty bennies so things should be OK.

I keep telling myself that.

Then I get a call and boom out the door and heading for the meeting.

I is a dummy!!

Anyway I know it is just the one week jitters, I mean I was listening to some of my co workers saying they cannot believe I really am heading for zee hills and leaving my job! I hear them say but you are so young only 50 you should still work.

$hit we all seem to hate our jobs why should we work? I bought low sold high and now have a very low monthly financial need. Time to reinvent myself. I know there is a book in these hands!

Thanks for the ideas. Keep em commin!

I just cannot wait to take the 500 mile trip back up to NJ sat for my last week!!

Zoom it sure goes fast!

Lets see supposed to be 70 thurs and friday here in my new southern hometown, then a sunny dry day sat for the drive up north. I will enjoy the days!

 

[savedapile]

congratulations.

I left my job this spring. My first choice was to go part time, but "we can't have parttimers." So I gave my notice, thinking I could find work if we needed (age 52). Moneywise we are OK but DH has to work two more years to carry health bennies so we are pretty much stuck here.

I took the whole summer off and in the fall got a call. "anyway you could fill in a couple days a week." That is what I do, come and go as I please. This week and next two will work three days because a lot of people are on vacation. when I go in it is very social, I go out to lunch with friends or do errands in the area. It works out well. I still have time to do 95% of what needs to be done around here taking a huge burden off DH.
subbing would be like that to you.

As far as vacation goes, here are some of our favorite places:
The desert southwest. You can get a cheap flight to vegas and go to Bryce and Zion or Grand canyon (I would wait a few months until it was a little warmer)
Australia . We rented a vehicle and drove up the east coast. Super friendly people.
Europe. We book 9 months ahead of time using Rick Steves books and get cheap airfare so we go yearly.
Nova Scotia late spring or summer.
If you can bag a cheap flight to Rapid City South Dakota there are the black hills, Mount Rushmore, and Custer State park. Does involve driving.

or just drive to the coast, rent a hotel room and stroll the beach, golf if you like, read etc.

PS. I want to write a book too.

 

[setab]

What difference does it make where you go? Get a few bottles of great Champagne, get naked and stay that way for a week or two. You could even do that at home, just don't answer the door or the phone. Retirement is a great time to...ah...how to say this delicately, reconnect.

setab

 

[Khan]

Good for you NG. I'm retired a week now and I still don't know what to make of it.

I'm 57 and worked since I'm 13 so I know what you mean.

It took me about 6 months to settle in to my present existence.

Time for the stress to seep out, headaches to taper off, work dreams to taper off...

Time to realize I was losing weight, BP was dropping...

Time for that free-floating anxiety to float away...

 

[TromboneAl]

it took me about 6 months to settle in to my present existence.

I'm 4.5 months in, and I still feel like there's something I've forgotten to do, or something I should be doing. Seriously, I can't shake this feeling.

 

[Khan]

I'm 4.5 months in, and I still feel like there's something I've forgotten to do, or something I should be doing. Seriously, I can't shake this feeling.

I realized one day that that feeling was gone.

It was similar to one day noticing the chronic ache in my knees was gone.

 

[kaudrey]

Well, I'm a ways away from ER, but the places at the top of my travel list right now are:

Argentina (touring the wine country of Mendoza)
Portugal
New Zealand
Croatia
Ireland
New Orleans
Yellowstone/Glacier Nat'l Parks
Big Sky, Montana (planning a Feb ski trip)

There are more, so I guess my question has to be - what are your interests?

Congrats on almost FIRE-ing!