I don't mean to sound rude, but comments like this really make me wonder: Why do you guys stay in jobs you hate so much that you're counting the days until you can quit?
It almost sounds like you're "putting in your dues" for 20 years so you can finally start enjoying life. Why not find a job you enjoy?
Thirty-plus years ago I took the job in municipal government that I ER'd from last April. The the top reasons why I originally took that job were:
#1-Job Security
#2-Good Wages
#3-Medical/Dental Insurance
#4-Great Retirement Benefits
Those were the good attributes of the job. When I started there I was 10-20 years younger than all the rest of my co-workers......which meant I was, quite literally, the low man on the totem pole. That wouldn't be too bad in most fields, but I worked in wastewater (a.k.a. sewage) treatment. That meant that I was the guy at the bottom of 30 ft. deep tanks, with the chest-waders, rain-gear, and hard hat on, waist deep in poo. Our boss was the biggest @sshole that I've ever met in all my life. There were
many times that I was ready to walk out and quit.......until I remembered those four benefits listed above. I was also aware from day-one, that my full retirement age would be 55....unless they offered a 'buy-out' (which they did), then my full retirement age would be 50 (which it was).
I out lasted that boss, as well as the 3 that followed him! I also out lasted all of my other co-workers! There was only 1 other guy who had ever stayed there more years than myself. When I retired, out of close to 200 employees, there were only 2 guys with more seniority than myself. My last 10 years there were better than the first 20-some, because I had gradually crawled up the ladder out of the poo, to eventually become plant foreman and lab manager. Of course that climb just took me to a new and different version of poo......dealing with the red tape & bureaucracy of the state and federal regulatory agencies....and dealing with elected [-]sh*thead politicians[/-] officials.
I
NEVER loved my job.....it was
merely the means to reach a desired (and planned) end result.....FIRE! Mission Accomplished! I am now
thoroughly enjoying all 168 hours each week,
totally unencumbered by any thought or actual burden of employment!
As for putting in my 'dues' for all those years so I could
"finally start" enjoying life........Naaah, not even close! The job only took an average of 40 hours out of my 168 hours each week.......those other 128 hours were mine to enjoy life! And enjoy life....I did!!! Retirement just added those 40 hours back into the enjoyment pool!
My retirement benefits for sticking it out there for 30+ years:
#1- COLA'd Pension which equals 87.9% of my former wage
#2- Full Medical & Dental Insurance (for life)
#3- Total Freedom to do whatever I want, whenever I want, wherever I want...for the rest of my life!
Good luck in
your life choices!