For those already RE - was your last year easier or did time slow down?

My last year was very stress-free. I had hit my FI goal 2 years before retiring, but was in a sweet spot at work (programming). When the atmosphere changed, I left.
 
Same here. I had a 6 month countdown. For the first 3 months I kept my decision to myself. I had a lot less stress but time seemed pretty normal. I was waiting for something to happen that might change my mind. Then I announced my ER to my boss. My employees were reassigned within 3 weeks and I had little to do for the last 3 months. I was in late, long lunch, and left early. Time became excruciatingly slow. I couldn't wait to get out. It was the longest 3 months of my life.
 
What was supposed to be my last year was pretty boring on a frustrating off shore platform project. I was about to retire when my original Downstream group was very busy and I didn't want to leave my boss in the lurch. I worked a couple of months until things were "normal" and went through the retirement drill. I discovered that if I retired in the middle of the year my income taxes would be astronomic so I decided to make it until Jan 2015. That was painful because I was so ready to go. I put in the motions but didn't have any zest left.

Now I am newly retired and feel much better. I now only have a horrible tax bill coming this year. The difference in taxes will be over a year's living expenses. I'm still not sure if it was worth it or not but it's too late to worry about it now.
 
Once I hit the time I *could* retire, I just waited. I figured I wasn't hating my job *too much*, so more $$ in the bank was a good thing. Once the BS started to pile up, I began to resent the job more and more. One day I simply had enough and went home and discussed it with the DW. The next day, I went to work early and "punched the button"; being in the military, you have to give at least 120 days notice and that's pretty much what I gave them.


Once the retirement was approved, time seemed to slow down *BY A LOT* but my propensity to take crap went to 0. So, the last 3 months weren't too bad at all. I came and went as I pleased and once I had flown my final flight, I became pretty scarce around the office.


Now that I have been retired for a few months, I have noticed that time is going my MUCH, MUCH faster!!!
 
I had told my management in year (N-1) that Year N would be my last year. At the beginning of year N, they offered a package to a few volunteers as they had to adjust the budget a bit. After a bit of back and forth, I was out of there in the 2nd month of Year N, with a package. So, my last year turned out to be 2 months of running around to get the right people to sign the papers. :) I still thank the divinities for handing me that bit of luck.
 
I'm on my last 5 weeks until I go to 1 day a week. I am as busy if not more so than ever. And I'm not sure how well the person taking over for me is doing but it's not my problem. I am losing my patience, really don't want to take any cr*p and can't wait to be done with the 10-11 hour days, week after week. I am hoping 1 10 hour day will be bearable. If not, who knows?

DH doesn't want me to RE but I am done. Just because he worked until 68 doesn't mean we all have to!


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I'm sure my senior management suspected I was going to retire a few years before I did since they made things at work extraordinarily "comfortable". They made it hard to retire, but looking back, even with the promotions, significant pay increases and numerous other perks, the last year was miserable for me. I did my job but just wanted out!
 
Discovering this website, deciding it was time to retire, and then retiring, all took place within a few months of each other ... no perceptible impact on the general flow of time.
 
One awkward moment was when the boss (who did not yet know my RE plan) told me about an assignment that would "be very visible to upper management and good for my career path". I sweated a bit, but managed to weasel my way out of getting involved.
 
My final year was filled with a lot of "lasts" (last year end, last quarterly report, last month end, etc.), which made the time pass by quicker. But, I started at 5 years (when early pension benefits would kick in), slowly watching each retirement milestone being reached. With such a long period, the last year just flew past.

The only galling thing, since I only gave a month's notice, was my newly hired incompetent boss was slowly passing his a lot of his work onto me that last 1-1/2 years. I had to do several one-time tasks (only because I wouldn't be around the following year), which was a slight drag. I did get out of one task when I turned in my one line resignation letter, a small triumph.

It also helped the time go quicker, knowing I could quit at time during the last 6 months and still be good on retiring.


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One awkward moment was when the boss (who did not yet know my RE plan) told me about an assignment that would "be very visible to upper management and good for my career path". I sweated a bit, but managed to weasel my way out of getting involved.


How far in advance was this of your fIRE date?


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