My countdown has begun.....

O

old medic

Senior Member
I joined here 2 years ago mostly due to hunting retirement information, and after a lot of info and figuring... and the time has come.
I will be calling it quits following my Dec 16th night shift....
We work a rotating 28 day schedule, and when I walked out the door this morning.... I have 9 more rotations to go.
Or 8 months and 7 days.... not that I'm counting... But 35 years is enough for me.

I have let management know of my plans, but cant apply for retirement unit Sept....
and they are already trying to get me to change my mind....
 
Retirement is Great...so long as you have prepared for it....financially, etc. I was originally planning on working until age 62, then the company announced an early retirement option when I was a bit past 60. With their cash buyout offer, it made little sense to continue working, so I jumped on the offer, and haven't looked back.
 
Great news, medic! You will love it.
The big multi-national corporation I worked for was dangling an early retirement bonus that kept being pushed further and further out when I decided to walk away. Took all my accrued vacation time, shook the boss's hand and disappeared out the gate never looking back. YAY. :cool:
 
Before I announced it, I had saved up Social Security checks and purchased a new car, paid off my credit cards, and had the medical and dental work done while I still had the employer's insurance. Planning ahead made me feel more ready when I actually got down to the final paperwork.
 
Don M. said:
Retirement is Great...so long as you have prepared for it....financially, etc. I was originally planning on working until age 62, then the company announced an early retirement option when I was a bit past 60. With their cash buyout offer, it made little sense to continue working, so I jumped on the offer, and haven't looked back.
Click to expand...
Similar for us. We had 55 as the target but the company offer for pension & other at age 54 made retiring then a no brainer. 26 years ago & never looked back.

Key is good planning & knowing more than one costly item will pop up during however long you survive.

Financial is one aspect health is another key that takes planning. assessing overweight, poor eating habits, no exercise all need to be part of how to plan for longevity
 
RadishRose said:
I bet you're already making fun plans!
Click to expand...
We have already been DOING fun things... My schedule give me a week off every month anyway, can take 4 days off and make it 2 weeks...
We plan our trips around those times. Heading to Ohio for a week of camping in June
Ill be 58 in may, The DW has 7 more years yet and be 60, but already qualifies for early retirement with the state.
Got several big projects here... getting the house done is the 1st priority.... We are doing good on making our place about self reliant food wise.
Then restoring our Sailboat is next, Been sitting nearly 20 years. Of course have several old Harleys to restore.
We are blessed with good health, in decent shape both physically and financially, Well rounds a shape and have a little money saved...
 
I finally took early retirement at 62 three years ago....I was exhausted after 47 years of working, and my body was paying the price,..I've been poorly with one thing or another ever since I retired, not sure whether I left it too late to retire and everything caught up with me , or it's because I have more time to notice these aches and pains...anyway I don't miss getting up early one bit..

Next weekend I become officially old enough for a state pension..I'm excited about that..the pension not the age...:LOL:
 
Last edited:
I took early retirement 10 yrs ago after 27 yrs working part time as a pharmacy assistant in a local hospital..The last 2 yrs I forced myself to come to work with a job I once enjoyed,I was burned out,my body was telling me'enough already'
Good luck when you retire you will enjoy your 'new life',staying busy is the most important thing.
I keep a 'retirement journal' though I don't write in it every day,its interesting to read what I wrote after a couple months of being retired
 
old medic said:
We have already been DOING fun things... My schedule give me a week off every month anyway, can take 4 days off and make it 2 weeks...
We plan our trips around those times. Heading to Ohio for a week of camping in June
Ill be 58 in may, The DW has 7 more years yet and be 60, but already qualifies for early retirement with the state.
Got several big projects here... getting the house done is the 1st priority.... We are doing good on making our place about self reliant food wise.
Then restoring our Sailboat is next, Been sitting nearly 20 years. Of course have several old Harleys to restore.
We are blessed with good health, in decent shape both physically and financially, Well rounds a shape and have a little money saved...
Click to expand...
OMGoodness Old Medic. From your screen name I thought you may be older than me or at least my age (74) but you're still a "baby"! :D I can see by this post that you will not be bored, sitting in a rocking chair waiting for life to happen. That's great. I was able to retire at 50 (1 month before turning 51) after more than 25 years of service but my pension payments were reduced by 12% (they paid me as if I was already 51). Does your state's early retirement eligibility start at 50 or 52?
 
old medic said:
I will be calling it quits following my Dec 16th night shift....
We work a rotating 28 day schedule, and when I walked out the door this morning.... I have 9 more rotations to go.
Or 8 months and 7 days.... not that I'm counting
Click to expand...
Congratulations on the upcoming event. I didn't realize how far along 2021 we were already, you counting down only 9 rotations to December makes the year seem to be going fast!
 
OneEyedDiva said:
OMGoodness Old Medic. From your screen name I thought you may be older than me or at least my age (74) but you're still a "baby"! :D
Click to expand...

OneEyedDiva said:
Does your state's early retirement eligibility start at 50 or 52?
Click to expand...

Yup Im just a youngin... And the wife is even more a baby...only 52.. I'm a cradle robber.
The early retirement age starts at 50 depending on years of service, and department you worked.
 
Congratulations.
The time will fly by.
My husband just retired. He also could have retired at 50 but was going to stay later. ( 2 years more ) but didn’t.

Hope it’s everything you imagined it would be.
Do you have any plans?
Any projects you are thinking of doing?
A move maybe?
 
Keesha said:
Congratulations.
Click to expand...
THANKS
Keesha said:
Any projects you are thinking of doing?
A move maybe?
Click to expand...
Actually we sold our home of 25 years and moved 3 and a half years ago.
After paying everything off, and buying 2 old homes side by side we still had 60K left in the bank.
That has helped in being able to retire... The adventure has been living in a Camper while
totaly gutting and rebuilding the house.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top