Joining the Team. Put in my notice today.

[DJRR]

Put in my notice today with a retirement date of 3/31/2026 to allow me to transition a few projects. Feeling good, but a little nauseous. Took exactly 34 minutes for the CEO to ping me to see if I was serious about it or wanted to stay longer

Been tracking my spending for 2 years and I can support my current lifestyle on $10k per month. Firecalc gives me 100% on $128k of spending and my finance guy gives me green light on $148k which includes $12k of go go spending that is reduced in 10 years. Fidelity says 80% based on much worse than average returns.

DW has health issues, but reached Medicare last month so I want to spend the time with her while we still are reasonably healthy and able to travel. My oldest daughter turns 26 this month, so she is also off my benefits. 61 is not extremely early, but I think it is the right time for me.

 

[Cassius King]

Congratulations. Hope 3/31/2026 gets here quickly for you.

 

[street]

Sounds like no issues on the financial side. Good luck to you in retirement.

 

[imjustawarrior]

Sounds like a good decision to spend more time with DW. Congrats!

 

[Slim11]

Congratulations!

 

[disneysteve]

Congrats! 3/31 will be here before you know it. Enjoy all that follows.

 

[RetiredHappy]

Congratulations! "Enough is enough."

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

Congrats!

 

[38Chevy454]

Congratulations and welcome a couple months advance to the retirement club.

 

[Dreamer]

Congratulations and enjoy the time with your spouse.

 

[pacergal]

Congratulations! Enjoy your last few months of work, time will go quickly and 3/31 will be here soon.

 

[DJRR]

First month down!!! Only 8 more weeks left, including 2 vacation weeks, so 6 more working weeks.

After the initial shock it is amazing how fast everyone moves on. My workload has dropped dramatically as people cut me out and I am trying to do one meaningful task every day for the company. Sometimes that takes 4 hours and sometimes 30 minutes, but I am on call. Seems like good timing. They laid off my boss, closed my office, postponed the major system project I was doing, and still have not started interviews for my replacement. Good reminder that business works at their own pace and no one is that important.

So far so good and portfolio is at an all time high after yesterday. My Cobra payment is $702 for full coverage and $2,500 deductible so that is settled for 18 months. Looking forward to the future.

 

[Stormy Kromer]

You made a good decision.

 

[Ronstar]

Congrats! My only advice is to start enjoying retirement 4/1. Travel, etc. There are no positives in waiting.

 

[pb4uski]

... My workload has dropped dramatically as people cut me out and I am trying to do one meaningful task every day for the company. Sometimes that takes 4 hours and sometimes 30 minutes, but I am on call. Seems like good timing. They laid off my boss, closed my office, postponed the major system project I was doing, and still have not started interviews for my replacement. Good reminder that business works at their own pace and no one is that important.

So far so good and portfolio is at an all time high after yesterday. My Cobra payment is $702 for full coverage and $2,500 deductible so that is settled for 18 months. Looking forward to the future.

Congratulations! My experienceI was similar. My work was mostly small projects/consultations near the end and the work dwindled off more quickly than what I expected. I was on call for the duration but was pretty much twiddling my thumbs the last couple weeks.

You may want to check into ACA health insurance. I retired pre-ACA, but my premiums for individual insurance was much lower than my COBRA. Much higher deductible too but since we were both healthy that wasn't a concern.

 

[DJRR]

You may want to check into ACA health insurance. I retired pre-ACA, but my premiums for individual insurance was much lower than my COBRA. Much higher deductible too but since we were both healthy that wasn't a concern.

That has been my experience in the past, but ACA was around $850 for Bronze with 3x the deductible, so COBRA is cheaper for me this time. My company also kicks in $1,000 each year towards the deductible, which I get under COBRA.

 

[audreyh1]

First month down!!! Only 8 more weeks left, including 2 vacation weeks, so 6 more working weeks.

After the initial shock it is amazing how fast everyone moves on. My workload has dropped dramatically as people cut me out and I am trying to do one meaningful task every day for the company. Sometimes that takes 4 hours and sometimes 30 minutes, but I am on call. Seems like good timing. They laid off my boss, closed my office, postponed the major system project I was doing, and still have not started interviews for my replacement. Good reminder that business works at their own pace and no one is that important.

So far so good and portfolio is at an all time high after yesterday. My Cobra payment is $702 for full coverage and $2,500 deductible so that is settled for 18 months. Looking forward to the future.

You turn in your retirement plans and they lay off your boss?!? That’s pretty wild.

 

[SJhawkins]

Congrats, keep us posted as you get closer and on to the next chapter. You can help the next group cross the finish line, me included!

 

[Rocky mtn high]

Enjoy

 

[livingalmostlarge]

Congratulations and how exciting. The countdown is on.

So where's your first trip?

 

[DJRR]

Well, I can officially update my signature. No longer the working man. Officially retired on March 31st at 61.
Final Results:
My Company:
Laid off my boss
Laid off some other managers
Closed my office
Interviewed 2 people and chose none
Reduced the scope on my major project and delayed another quarter
Gave me a $100 amazon gift card and a bottle of wine
Bottom line was I was not as important as I thought Glad I did not get caught up in OMY out of guilt. I gave them 3 months notice and they basically wasted it, so if you are thinking about it go for it. I don't regret cashing paychecks during winter but glad I am out. They will make it without me.

At Home:
New Grandson - We watch him every Friday - awesome
Wife got the flu and spent 10 days in the hospital - reinforces the importance of time
Portfolio ended the Iran volatility up .1% for the year - plan is working
Planned trips to Marco Island, FL, Park City, UT, Williamsburg, VA, and Hilton Head, SC. Will hit Alabama and Mississippi on the way home from FL so that will get me to 39 states, Utah makes 40, 10 to go.
Have walked every day since November 1 and lost 25 pounds. Now going to the gym and lifting weights as well 3x per week. No GLPs needed.
Really looking forward to this new chapter.

 

[Al18]

Thanks for the update - nice vacations planned.