Class of 2012

I don't think my agency has had any early outs since I retired in 2009, so I know what you mean; it's a dream that could come true, but not something you can count on. Still, either way you will retire before too long. You can't lose. :)
 
martyb said:
I'm really a 2013-er, but....lately the fed govt. has stepped up offering "early outs" to employees who meet certain time & age requirements, and I'm well past those, so....

They made the offer last year & I wasn't ready. Next time, if & when...I might have to really consider it. As it stands right now, I'm due to check out in January '13. If they make an offer sometime around the mid-year mark, I might be persuaded to jump into the class of 2012.
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My wife and I work for the Fed too and after 26 years of service we both decided to take the VERA early out with the 25K buyout each. At age 50 and 51 it is a big move, but with our little FERS pensions and our saving over the last 26 years we will be free at last Jan 31,2012. We plan to not dip into Tsp/401k funds until age 65 letting it grow tax free and just use our after-taxed saving. Looking forward, Federal Taxes will be our greatest headache. We have zero deductions.
 
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aeross60 said:
My wife and I work for the Fed too and after 26 years of service we both decided to take the VERA early out with the 25K buyout each. At age 50 and 51 it is a big move, but with our little FERS pensions and our saving over the last 26 years we will be free at last Jan 31,2012. We plan to not dip into Tsp/401k funds until age 65 letting it grow tax free and just use our after-taxed saving. Looking forward, Federal Taxes will be our greatest headache. We have zero deductions.
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That sounds great to me! I wish my wife was a fed, but she's not. No pension at her job, just her 401k which isn't so much now, but she'll continue to max out for another 4 yrs till she retires at age 55. As far as my situation, I'm under CSRS, so even though I do have money in my TSP, and have been maxing out for the last few years, still isn't as big as it would be if I were getting matching $$. Also, mister stock market has been less than friendly to me lately :( However, I'm currently have nearly 35 years service, and will do ok with the pension. In addition, at age 60, my AF reserve pension will begin. Hoping to not have to touch wife's 401k or our Roth IRA's, but more than likely will be dipping into my TSP to some degree. Due to WEP, I'll get a very small SS (maybe $250) at age 62, and wife will get her SS at 62 as well. She is designated to receive 55% of each of my pensions if I pre-decease her.
 
W2R said:
I don't think my agency has had any early outs since I retired in 2009, so I know what you mean; it's a dream that could come true, but not something you can count on. Still, either way you will retire before too long. You can't lose. :)
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I work for Defense Contract Management Agency, which is a sub-agency of DoD. Last year they circulated an email to see who might be interested in signing up for an early-out to occur in Sept. 2010. I could have gone, but they weren't offering any cash incentives, plus going out 2 years early would cost me 4% off my pension (2 yrs x 2%) plus....my TSP wasn't where I wanted it to be yet (doubt it ever will be) so I declined. Next time I'm thinking I might have to look seriously at it. There's a lot of buzz about another offer maybe early to mid 2012. The TSP still needs some help, but like I said, probably always will to me. I could probably live with taking maybe a 1% or 2% cut to get out early. I hear WalMart is looking for a greeter..:cool:
 
While I told my principal of my plans last spring to retire after this school year and most of my colleagues know, i never intended to tell the students. It just didn't seem cool.

Today a third grader raised his hand and asked if this was my last year. When i asked him where he heard that, he replied, from Mrs. C*****. (their teacher). I went ahead and admitted it and they were sweet to moan and act bummed. But, I am bummed that they know. Can't pinpoint why it bothered me, but it did.

However, a new librarian will be exciting and fun for them and that part is good. :)
 
martyb said:
I work for Defense Contract Management Agency, which is a sub-agency of DoD. Last year they circulated an email to see who might be interested in signing up for an early-out to occur in Sept. 2010. I could have gone, but they weren't offering any cash incentives, plus going out 2 years early would cost me 4% off my pension (2 yrs x 2%) plus....my TSP wasn't where I wanted it to be yet (doubt it ever will be) so I declined. Next time I'm thinking I might have to look seriously at it. There's a lot of buzz about another offer maybe early to mid 2012. The TSP still needs some help, but like I said, probably always will to me. I could probably live with taking maybe a 1% or 2% cut to get out early. I hear WalMart is looking for a greeter..:cool:
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We are lucky that we took the offer when we did cause now they are trying to backout of the initial offer by adding a quota to the language for the number of employees who can retire early. I don't think they can do that, but they will try anyway and at the same time we are still hiring. Go figure, that's our government.
 
I guess I could squeeze more out of retirement by working longer, but in the last 3 years I have seen so many of my friends and relative either die or face life-changing illnesses that I want the time not the money. I can make up for the 6% it will cost me by not buying a few things every year. What I can't get back is the time and my health.
 
I may very well be joining this crowd. Looks like we'll be selling our business in the early part of the year, and part of the deal is working for the buyer for 6 months as a consultant. Not looking forward to that part. However, the goal will be for us to take a vacation for 2 weeks in September for our 20th anniversary and to celebrate retirement.

Still working out the details of the purchase so I can't start counting my chickens yet, but it certainly gets you thinking/dreaming.
 
No kidding, Chuck. At first, i thought the signs were showing up just because i was looking for them so intently.

Not, any more.....

A couple weeks ago the district librarians (about 15 of us) attended a mandatory meeting with an administrator. The road the district is putting us on goes against some of my strongest beliefs about what school libraries are all about. It begins this spring; I won't get out of all of it, but at least won't have to be there for much of it.

Two of my colleagues messaged me later with You looked so happy and content. I was NOT. I was distraught by what we were told, but perhaps my face lit up when thoughts of retirement danced through my brain. (Because I was thinking, Retirement in May, retirement in May, retirement in May):D
(Official date is July 1, but school year ends in late May)
 
I'll be straddling the classes of 2011 and 2012 since my last day working is Dec 23, 2011 but I'll be on holiday and vacation until Feb 15, 2012 at which point I will go off payroll.

Only 3 weeks of work left - i can hardly believe it! :dance:
 
I can't believe how the negatives keep adding up. Administrators focus on the negative. Some students are happy to screw around and don't put much effort into their learning - somehow that is my fault. One student threatens another before school and outside the classroom and somehow I should have known. I goin early, stay late and take hours of work home this weekend - that never gets noticed.

Oh.... More budget cuts next year.....

Just letting off steam.
 
Ohyes I have to agree. I fought the urge to focus on the negative to 'justify' the decision to retire. But , they keep adding up.

The latest is our third set of student learning standards in five years. Then the state testing to measure us against those standards starts almost two months BEFORE the end of the school year. So we have to set a very fast pace to cover the material before the test. Yet we must also go back and 'fix' students who did not have the prerequisite skills before day 1 of this year.

Administrator's solution is to pile on more programs in the hope one will solve the problem. Yet all they do is absorb teacher time. They are helpless when faced with so many outside obstacles to learning that school are powerless against.

And I get up at 5:30 AM so as to enjoy this fun!
 
You know when you know it's time...sounds like you know. One thing I do know about teachers, when the door closes and the bell rings, we have a way of doing what we know works and what's right. It doesn't matter how many new or recycled programs are put in place, there's only so much room on your plate. We're starting a "new" program, which is actually my 4th time implementing it in my 31 year career. They say it's a 5 year process, yet I only have 24 weeks!
BIG smile!
 
Another reason to retire. It is Sunday night. I am home early from being out with friends because I have to get things together for work tomorrow. I have already spent a good six hours this weekend grading papers but that is not enough. Or, I could choose to not do the additional work tonight and instead, skip an enjoyable Monday evening men's group at my church so I can get it done then. Either way, work is impinging on my personal time. If this was one weekend a month, I could live with it, but it is more like three weekends a month - on top of many extra hours Monday through Friday.
 
DH has a good friend who works for Federal Reserve Bank in Boston and has put off retirement due to child support obligations. He is burned out and wants to retire so badly. I can still hear him wistfully saying, You get your life back.


(Chuck, you aren't trying to get folks to move to Arkansas, are you?!)
 
Had a meeting with boss last week. It was ok. Meaning I am not in trouble but ..... All I got for my coming in early, leaving late and taking work home was suggestions for how I could do even more!
 
Chuckanut said:
Had a meeting with boss last week. It was ok. Meaning I am not in trouble but ..... All I got for my coming in early, leaving late and taking work home was suggestions for how I could do even more!
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Oh Chuck--I know this experience exactly! :mad:
 
Chuckanut said:
Had a meeting with boss last week. It was ok. Meaning I am not in trouble but ..... All I got for my coming in early, leaving late and taking work home was suggestions for how I could do even more!
Click to expand...

If they know that you are leaving next year, and you still had to endure this ridiculous meeting, then yes - it is time to get out! :facepalm:
 
Blackwoodt said:
If they know that you are leaving next year, and you still had to endure this ridiculous meeting, then yes - it is time to get out! :facepalm:
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It is amazing, but what I and others have come to expect. One thing I have noticed is that I am surrounded by workaholics! People who seem to thrive on this stuff. Once again, it shows that I am ready to retire. I will do my best, but my days of sacraficing my health and personal quality of life for the job are over.
 
YIPEEEEEE!

Curious...Why September 1? Do you teach all summer?

Congratulations on getting the paper work in. Last spring, when we turned in DH's retirement paperwork, it seemed overly complicated. I think one should just be able to push a YES button on the state website that means I RETIRE! :dance:
 
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