Countdown to retirement

[BobL]

19 working days left - whoo hoo!

[Greg Ward]

Watch what you wish for....... I've had a month now.......

Up on the farm it's fine, plenty of things to do and we are working on an Easter big auction....

But here in town, 40 years of activity, working around the globe, starting work around 7.00 each morning with a structured day makes a day with little to do difficult.
I still wake before 6.00
I still get up before 7.00 and check the internet.
I read
Around midday I have lunch.
Then an afternoon nap
Then some exercise
At 5.00 I shop for dinner
At 7.00 I have a beer and then a few more
At 9.00 bed.

In Sydney I feel like I'm practicing to be 90. On the farm, I'm 40 again

So.....
Be careful, I hope you have plenty to do.

Greg

[BobL]

Cheers Greg,

Just got a 8 week old Border Collie pup, already have 15 month BC, so I'll be getting up at the same time I do now (5:45am) at least in spring/summer and autumn to walk the dog(s). Why so early, well beat the heat and on some days to beat the workday traffic to get the dawg beach - have to cross the city to get to dog beach (23 minutes versus an hour at peak traffic time). Plus we take the big one to agility and sheep herding and will need to start the other through the same.

SWMBO has a a TODO list for me that has about 30 items on it.

Also have woodie friends that live on a 300 acre farm about 400 kms down south. The have two houses plus a dormitory type shed that sleeps 10 - can stay indefinitely there.
The farm has an unending supply of logs for timber milling, we're about to set up a complete woodwork workshop for them (DC, BS, TS, Thicknesser and Planer etc).

At home I have my own newly set up workshop with wood and metal working areas.

At a treeloppers yard about 30 minutes from home I have about 100 milled logs to play with - also setting up timber processing area there.

I am going to retain some professional international commitments which provides me with international travel to interesting places (This year am going to at least Germany and Turkey)

But honestly I can't wait to have some lazy days; take dogs to beach and have breakfast down there, lazy mornings reading, and afternoon naps!

Also planning to take some WW classes and do some part time teaching next year.

Currently SWMBO also wants to plan some travel whereas I want to play shed.

Ithink I have it covered?

Cheers
BobL

[AlexS]

Retirement - the best career move I ever made!
The only difference between early rising when you're working and after you've retired is that it's easier to do when you don't have to.

Enjoy yourself!

[BobL]

Retirement - the best career move I ever made!
The only difference between early rising when you're working and after you've retired is that it's easier to do when you don't have to.

Enjoy yourself!

Cheers AlexS,

I've just 8 weeks of holidays so it was sort of like a practice run - although I was crook for about half the time which was a bit frustrating - I came through it very easily and had a very relaxing time - most relaxed I have been in decades.

[BobL]

15 working days to go.

This morning my line manager said he does not want me to initiate or do anything at work that my replacements should be doing and to just watch out they do it right. This has left me twiddling my thumbs a bit but I don't mind doing this for the next few weeks.

I started cleaning up my office last december and have got rid of about 2 wheelie bins of paper.
I'm organizing to give all of my old editions of textbooks to Rotary who send them to third world countries.
SO far have five boxes of book to donate and two other staff have given me a box each as well.

Kinda weird being asked to comment on stuff that won't affect me at all.

The best thing is being able to delete all the corporate email and sever connections with all the folk and units that have given me the whoops over the years.

[Dengue]

The problem with retirement is that all the days seem the same, and there are no public holidays :rolleyes: Our life was previously determined by the 5 working day, 2 day weekend cycle and sometimes the long weekend if there was a public holiday. Wednesday was the middle of the week, on the winding down slope to the weekend.

I still get caught on "what day is it?" Often I don't just know - there is no reference point.

Sounds like you have a good plan for being active - that is the secret to a happy retirement. I hope it works out for you.

[AlexS]

Retirement - the best career move I ever made.:2tsup:

[Bob38S]

BobL - go for it!

True there are no public holidays, but you can do what you like, when you like and how you like and as a bonus - if you don't feel like then there is always tomorrow.

Tell 'em you'll work 3 days when it suits - yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Like most you'll probably have a great list of things you want to get done - could I suggest that you "hasten slowly" now there is no pressure to get it done before you have to go back to work - enjoy it.

Since I retired - I don't really know how I actually had time to go to work :D.

[BobL]

The problem with retirement is that all the days seem the same, and there are no public holidays :rolleyes: Our life was previously determined by the 5 working day, 2 day weekend cycle and sometimes the long weekend if there was a public holiday. Wednesday was the middle of the week, on the winding down slope to the weekend.

Not in my job, up until the last few years I worked on the majority of public holidays and even some days when I was supposed to be on holiday. I also only took about 80% of my allocated holidays so I have a nice little payout coming to me when I finally leave. It would be tempting to blow some of that on a few toys but SWMBO needs a car so it will be going towards that


I still get caught on "what day is it?" Often I don't just know - there is no reference point.
That's exactly the situation I want to find myself in


Sounds like you have a good plan for being active - that is the secret to a happy retirement. I hope it works out for you.
Thanks

[Chesand]

BobL - go for it!

Since I retired - I don't really know how I actually had time to go to work :D.

Meeting of an historical group of which I am chairman this morning, watching cricket this afternoon. Hopefully some time in the shed tomorrow if nothing else comes up then off to a concert at the Zoo tomorrow evening.
Two meetings and a funeral next week.

Life gets tedious.:D:D

[The Bleeder]

I still get caught on "what day is it?" Often I don't just know - there is no reference point.

Do you really care...there's always tomorrow...if not then then the next day....

Got a few years to go..but the way things are it might be tomorrow or the next....

Here's to retirement :2tsup:

[Handyjack]

and a funeral next week.



Hopefully not to many funerals.

[Dengue]

I check the local paper each day to see if my name is in the death notices

[Chesand]

Hopefully not to many funerals.

I hope so too. This one is an aunt aged 91 - the second last on my fathers side. The passing of that generation certainly marks the end of an era never to be seen again.
As my son remarks "they just don't make them like that anymore".

[BobL]

As a line manager for ~65 people for nearly 10 years I found myself attending quite a few funerals, mainly for former and retired staff. One former staff member retired when he was 67 and had only been retired for 5 months when he became very ill and passed away a few months later - this was one of the things that got me thinking about retiring early. Of course one could always be run over by a truck this afternoon.

[BobL]

I spent a while yesterday afternoon discussing my wrap up at work with my line manager ie retirement party. The plan is to have 2 official retirement parties - a personal one for a small select group of people, and a larger gathering for the whole department plus people from outside the department, could be something like maybe 100 people :oo:. The later will include some hangers on and suits, which I am not really that enthusiastic about, but I will be gracious about it and use that opportunity to publicly thank a bunch of people that have helped me over the years.

I will also be holding a private party with a few friends down by the Swan river with a few beers.

The good news is the boss has agreed to give me a 3 year "Adjunct" position in the Department. This is a no obligation, no specific workload, unpaid position on staff. The advantage for the Department is that I agree to provide ongoing advice, or if I undertake any research I acknowledge the Department. In return I get official access to all staff facilities in the Department like email, library, labs and even workshops etc and I am legally covered for academic activities just like other staff. It does not prevent me from doing other part time paid work for the department which I may think about doing in the future.

[John Saxton]

All the best in your forthcoming retirement Bob.Having more time to engage in the pursuits of your at home activities is undoubtedly a plus with retirement.:2tsup:

Having the new pup in your household will be a source of delight for you as will the challenges of the training involved with the older dog.

Best Regards.

Cheers:)

[BobL]

All the best in your forthcoming retirement Bob.Having more time to engage in the pursuits of your at home activities is undoubtedly a plus with retirement.:2tsup:

Having the new pup in your household will be a source of delight for you as will the challenges of the training involved with the older dog.


Thanks John, the new pup is indeed a source of much amusement. New and older pups are constantly play tug-o-war, chasey, and what I call Pirate (lots of wrestling, biting and arrgh - arrgh - arrgh) a fair bit, which is good as this means they wear each other out and don't bug us anywhere near as much as when there is just one dog.

[BobL]

11 working days to go!

Although I still have ongoing paperwork to do, today was very quiet in terms of enquiries etc so I spent a hour or so in the workshop doing a bit of ally turning and then most of lunch dumpster diving as there are some major rennos going on in our building - see also here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/f200/dumpster-score-166267/#post1610793).

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=254156&stc=1

One thing I realize I will miss are the work dumpsters although I have my moles well installed and a standing arrangement whereby I will drop everything and come out with my van to pick up as required. The deal is we share stuff and I deliver as required.

[jhovel]

Only just spotted this thread....
I have 6 working days left myself.... beating you to it maybe? Last day 22/2/2013.
Yippee!

[FenceFurniture]

One thing I realize I will miss are the work dumpsters although I have my moles well installed and a standing arrangement whereby I will drop everything and come out with my van to pick up as required. The deal is we share stuff and I deliver as required.

Hmmm, are you sure about that Bob? I seem to remember reading often enough "....so I knocked it up at work.....". Some pretty nice (and no doubt vastly underused) machines tend to hang around Unis. Just duck over to Engineering, and call in a favour. Or of course take a 6pack with you. As I understand it, that is the currency of favour amongst Es, or is that just when they are students?

Cheers
Brett

[BobL]

Only just spotted this thread....
I have 6 working days left myself.... beating you to it maybe? Last day 22/2/2013.
Yippee!

Excellent but as I'm 3 years younger than you, maybe that kinda puts me in front? :D
What are your plans - other than play in your shed?


Hmmm, are you sure about that Bob? I seem to remember reading often enough "....so I knocked it up at work.....". Some pretty nice (and no doubt vastly underused) machines tend to hang around Unis. Just duck over to Engineering, and call in a favour. Or of course take a 6pack with you. As I understand it, that is the currency of favour amongst Es, or is that just when they are students?

I wish I could even look into our unis very fancy engineering workshops with their CNCs etc. If I want anything done by them they charge full commercial rates. Our very small (by Oz uni standards) science workshop consists mainly of 1960s era machinery and is run by a very talented techo. While the techo says he is happy to do stuff for me I always do it myself with his advice thrown in from time to time. The facilities are allowed to be used for private work by staff but there are rules of engagement like; competent with the use of the machinery, follow OHS rules, unless something is in the scarp bin provide your own materials, leave the workshop and machine at least as clean as when was found - preferably cleaner. Over the years I have also contributed to the general maintenance of the facility in my own time, e.g. fixed the headstock on the big lathe, cleaned out the coolant sumps on the big lathe, mill and hack saw - not the most attractive job. Most of the materials (eg 6 and 8 m long lengths of steel and ally) I have brought in for use I have left the remainders of behind. As well as providing a useful source of materials for the techo to do other jobs with, the bonus for me is I don't need to find a place to store it at home. If someone uses it all up then that is the cost of accessing the facility. The nice thing is that even though I am retiring I will not lose workshop access provided it is for private use - if I want to do commercial work I will have to pay for access.


. . . . the boss has agreed to give me a 3 year "Adjunct" position in the Department. This is a no obligation, no specific workload, unpaid position on staff. The advantage for the Department is that I agree to provide ongoing advice, or if I undertake any research I acknowledge the Department. In return I get official access to all staff facilities in the Department like email, library, labs and even the workshops etc and I am legally covered for academic activities just like other staff. It also does not prevent me from doing other part-time paid work for the department which I may think about doing in the future.


,

[FenceFurniture]

:2tsup: Pretty set then.

[rsser]

Good luck Bob.

....

I used to teach stuff on the meaning of work and I think it's transferable to retirement. Look for:

* time structuring
* social relationships
* social status
* a sense of purpose/being able to contribute

People's needs in these respects vary of course so it's just a check-list.

What is striking is the number of guys who've worked hard over a lifetime who cark it within several years of retiring (and not due to pre-existing conditions).

[BobL]

Good luck Bob.
....
I used to teach stuff on the meaning of work and I think it's transferable to retirement. Look for:
* time structuring
* social relationships
* social status
* a sense of purpose/being able to contribute
People's needs in these respect vary of course so it's just a check-list.


All good points you mention. My worst failing is probably the social stuff as I tend to be a bit of recluse.
Currently I'm racking up things to do that already indicates I will need more than one retirement to handle it.
About half of these will get me out of the shed (BHAWHA ..... :bigcry:) but I know they are good for me.


What is striking is the number of guys who've worked hard over a lifetime who cark it within several years of retiring (and not due to pre-existing conditions).
My PhD supervisor was one. Retired in August and passed away the following March.

[snowyskiesau]

Best of luck to you Bob.
Do you have a list of projects to tackle or is it going to be a case of whatever looks interesting on the day?

I didn't retire so much as relocate to somewhere there's no work for me. It amounts to pretty much the same thing but requires less planning :)

[BobL]

Best of luck to you Bob.
Do you have a list of projects to tackle or is it going to be a case of whatever looks interesting on the day?

Cheers.

My list of to do projects includes - in no particular order

Woodwork:
New WW Bench
Picture frames
Coffee tables
Book cases
Dining Table
Double bed

Machinery/Tools
Belt sander
Another grinder stand
Woodworking Planes
Install VSDs on a few more machines
Attend some Blacksmithing courses - well you know what happens after that :2tsup:

Home Maintenance
Theres heaps of these but the two biggies are
Painting of external gables, family room
Renovate Kitchen

Milling Yard
Mill more logs
Set up timber processing facility, docking saw, rip saw and stroke sander
Set up some slab racks

Plus I still have some professional commitments through to 2015 and my interest in Dust research I would like to keep going.

[Chesand]

Bob

I make a list of all the jobs that need doing then if the job at the top of the list is not done in 3 months it goes down to the bottom.

It works well.:D:D

[Robson Valley]

I walked away from my Biology/Wood Science Prof job after 31 years.
I don't miss it one dang bit. I did enough of that. Was a very, very good job.
The irony is that I don't do 20% of the things on my preretirement list. Oh well.
So, I tossed a lot in the tip.
Instead, I came to realize that for the very first time in my life, nobody was yanking on my chain to do anything. For the first time in my life, I am in charge. There's a BS rumor that retired people have all the time in the world to do stuff for you because they have nothing to do. Sadly there are a few like that. Me? Im so busy, I don't know how I ever found the time to work.

Of course, there's the day-to-day living rubbish that spoils everyone's fun.
Today was a perfect example. Several wood carvings, staring at me from the bench. I was so dang busy doing house-crap that here it's supper time again.

To all of you about to walk off down the track, I'll meet you somewhere along the way. Good luck to you all.

[rod1949]

So Bob where are you going to find the time to go out meteorite hunting?

[BobL]

So Bob where are you going to find the time to go out meteorite hunting?

Thats a couple of weeks in a year I'm sure I can squeeze that in somewhere.

[powderpost]

Hi Bob,
I retired in 1994 after trade teaching for 25 years. I panicked, I had killed the golden goose and lost my "power" base. Took a while to settle, until my health started to settle down.
Now, and for the past 12 or so years, the alarm goes off at 7.00am, it is ignored. Breakfast about 8.00am, smoko at 10.00am, lunch at 12 noon, smoko at 3.00pm, "work" ceases at 5.00pm. Then it is a two km walk up a hill, a ginger beer and dinner about 6.00pm. In between compulsory tea breaks, there is shed time, grass cutting, shed time, some house repairs, shed time, some vegie gardening, shed time, and so it goes on.
We have done four overseas trips, "done" the Indian Pacific, spent time in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Darwin is next. Later this year a trip to the west coast of USA and Canada could happen.
Woodturning has opened new doors and I have met some wonderful people because of it.
Amongst all this we now have three grand kids from 17 to 11 months to spoil. :2tsup:
Where was I? Oh yes, retirement is bludy good, but there must be some structure to give it meaning.
I am sure you will settle into a routine, and I hope you thoroughly enjoy you new career.
Jim

[BobL]

Hi Jim,
Thanks for your insights they do sound terrific.



I retired in 1994 after trade teaching for 25 years. I panicked, I had killed the golden goose and lost my "power" base. Took a while to settle, until my health started to settle down.

Well, I can't wait to completely lose my power base, I've had it up to dolly's wax with being the one calling the shots and am well and truly over it. Maybe I will miss it when it finally disappears but I didn't miss it at all while I was on extended leave in Dec and Jan. It's not like I will be completely away from the workplace either as I will have access to most of the good things but not have to worry about all the compliance, deadlines, HR issues, budgets, quotas, appeals, yadda yadda.


Now, and for the past 12 or so years, the alarm goes off at 7.00am, it is ignored. Breakfast about 8.00am, smoko at 10.00am, lunch at 12 noon, smoko at 3.00pm, "work" ceases at 5.00pm. Then it is a two km walk up a hill, a ginger beer and dinner about 6.00pm. In between compulsory tea breaks, there is shed time, grass cutting, shed time, some house repairs, shed time, some vegie gardening, shed time, and so it goes on.
Sounds good enough for me.


We have done four overseas trips, "done" the Indian Pacific, spent time in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Darwin is next. Later this year a trip to the west coast of USA and Canada could happen.
That sounds pretty good. I'm done with overseas travelling because I have done so much of it at work and still have 4 more confirmed trips to undertake as part of my professional interest which I am maintaining,. Of course there are a many places I have never been but I currently see travel as time away from the shed so I will keep that to a minimum for a while . One thing we plan on doing when SWMBO pulls up stumps in a year or 2 is seeing more of Australia - I have never been north of Kalbari in WA, Only see tiny bits of QLD and NSW and really would like to spend a bit of time in Tassie again.

[rsser]

Yeah, freedom to travel is a big plus for me though I keep on with some part-time teaching. I like the contact with the kids (well, first years) - they're bright and good hearted and keep me on my toes.

We've done a few outback trips now and the experience has been great. And this winter for the 3rd time I'll rent a bungalow at the foot of the Vic alps and do day and overnight cross-country skiing. Best recipe I know to keep muscles and joints working.

You look at all the studies and the motto 'exercise is medicine' is dead right. Or should that be 'live' right.

[BobL]

I hope I am not labouring this too much?

It's now down to 5 working days.

My office is looking very bare.
All my text and reference books are gone - I took < 1/4 of them home and gave some to other staff.
The rest went into a general collection of old textbooks from around the Department.
I ended up collecting 30 boxes of text books which I delivered to a local member of Rotary that ships them to Africa.
The filing cabinets are empty.
There's just an old geiger counter, a few nicknacks, my CD/DVDs backup, and my computer and peripherals remaining.
The Department is hosting a small lunch for me on Tuesday and a bigger wind up on the day after my last day which is next thursday.

I can hear the fat lady warming up in the distance.

[rsser]

These processes and rituals of ending are important in my book.

I wish I had somewhere to donate my eclectic collection of scholarly works; not ready to let them go without a worthwhile destination and given my patches that's not easy to find.

But I have just emptied for paper recyling my home filing cabinet of article photocopies, saving only a few that continue to speak to me and of which I might want to be reminded when the grey matter goes greyer.

...

Bob, you sound like you're getting a good farewell. It's a great thing when the fat lady performs and it feels right.

[BobL]

These processes and rituals of ending are important in my book.
Cheers Ern, I do feel a bit on the outer over this. The rest of my workmates are super busy getting ready for the start of semester, my out of work mates are not retiring for a few years and I don't really want to gloat it over them that I'm leaving earlier than them so these forums and my other woodie connections are about the only places I feel some empathy.


I wish I had somewhere to donate my eclectic collection of scholarly works; not ready to let them go without a worthwhile destination and given my patches that's not easy to find.

But I have just emptied for paper recyling my home filing cabinet of article photocopies, saving only a few that continue to speak to me and of which I might want to be reminded when the grey matter goes greyer.
Apart from 4 boxes of books, the amount of paper I am bringing home fits in one slimline box file as I have been operating electronically for nearly 20 years.


Bob, you sound like you're getting a good farewell. It's a great thing when the fat lady performs and it feels right.
Yeah the people at work that count are being real nice to me and it feels about right.

[rsser]

Yeah Bob. You are stepping out of the big stream.

Preparing for the future is what you've been doing and that's important (and you are now free to write your own role on the stage and that prospect can be daunting).

My two bob's worth (OK one Bob!) is that we leave work with a lot of experience and nous and it's also important to do something that captures that in some way, any way, just for yourself first off.

Does that make sense?

[Greg Ward]

Post retirement benefit No.1
After years and years of leaving home at around 6.30..... I now get to sleep in with my wife and am enjoying the benefits.

So much for years of being an early bird......
Greg

[Phil Spencer]

Best thing I have ever done, down side is you will miss out on all the public holidays.:D

[BobL]

Cheers Guys, I do very much appreciate the comments.


. . . . down side is you will miss out on all the public holidays.:D
Like I posted In another thread, the Uni didn't acknowledge 3 public holidays and for that matter I found I was often working on the ones it did acknowledge so I won't be missing much.

[Northstar]

I'm in my sixth year now and I love telling them to just send the check to the house. I have so much to do I can't wait for every day to start. Next project is a Goat Island Skiff. I should start lofting soon. Never done it before and I love learning so hope to be on the water by late summer. We are upside down here on weather.

Retirement? :D:D:D

Jerry

[rsser]

I'm a dissenting note. In my book retirement is not a holiday; it's a challenge.

You have income and time. You have the freedom to say what you've always wanted to, without fear or favour. And to explore stuff that was always lurking in the back of the mind.

It's your third age. A new opportunity for change, development and growth.

Your mileage may vary.

For me, this has been the hardest of my career transitions.

[BobL]

I'm a dissenting note. In my book retirement is not a holiday; it's a challenge.. . .. .

Yes I have definitely seen this happening. A friend of ours retired when he was 65, lasted 2 months, it nearly drove him made so he went back to work. Has since retired and gone back twice more. Now he's 77 and still terrified of retiring.

This morning a couple of email from the bosses came out that reminded me why I'm not unhappy about leaving. They're the same old emails that come out every year (please explain and justify this, this and this etc) to which I trawl thru and find last year's email and send off more or less the same response. It's trivial administratium of the worst kind that I can't wait to get rid of.

[rsser]

LOL. Yeah, I know. We share similar work cultures.

The blessing of decent super is that it gives us choices.

[TheNutter]

hi Bob
The retirement plans sound great, I am in another corner of the same industry as you and have made several retirement speeches for friends and colleagues in the last little while. I enjoy doing it when they have ideas about what they are going to do but dread it when I hear the have a rest and travel story...Killed my father in law.

I will be able to start a countdown soon myself. I have lots of plans!

Enjoy.

Ian

[BobL]

hi Bob
The retirement plans sound great, I am in another corner of the same industry as you and have made several retirement speeches for friends and colleagues in the last little while. I enjoy doing it when they have ideas about what they are going to do but dread it when I hear the have a rest and travel story...Killed my father in law.

I will be able to start a countdown soon myself. I have lots of plans!

I have lots of plans but I get a lot of satisfaction of doing things with no specific pathway. I might start out making X and then realize I need a Y but I convince myself I'm not paying the big green warehouse for it so I start making Y and then realize I need a Z and then work on that for a while, meanwhile A has rears its head again and that needs a B and while I'm at it I might as well make a C etc . . . . Before I know it I'm making a D and have completely forgotten about X.

[jhovel]

Well, I worked my final shift today.
Thank Chr^st it's over.
Now I have to get used to the idea of doing what I want to ALL the time :)

[Big Shed]

Well, I worked my final shift roday.
Thank Chr^st it's over.
Now I have to get use to the idea of doing what I want to ALL the time :)

Keep on dreamin':rolleyes:

[BobL]

Today the staff held a lunch where some nice things were said about me.

There is also a tradition of giving crazy gifts to long terms staff members and having done it to others I had to suffer, but it was not too painful.

The gifts were;
- a "4 kb magnetic core USB memory stick" from the first (1966) Departmental computer. Thousands of little ferrite cores threaded with fine wires.
- the keys to the Department Mechanical workshop on a giant key fob (I have a habit of losing keys) made out of a Kingswood hubcap and some chain.
The other guy in the photo is Glen, the lab manager - top bloke.

255804

[A Duke]

Freeze a jolly good fellow
etc etc.

[ian]

Today the staff held a lunch where some nice things were said about me.


2
days to go


or


2
days to GOLF


Enjoy the winding down


So who actually owns the BCs?
you? the missus? one of the kids?
or are they to entertain the grandkids?

[BobL]

Yep two days to go!

RE: GOLF
Each to their own I guess but not really my scene at all - personally I think of doing any "sport" as lost shed time :)

I've basically wound things up at work and am down to just answering a few questions each day and packing up my office.

The BCs are "ours" but I take the older one, "Willow", for her walks and sheep dog training - Skye has just turned 13 weeks so can't go for walks yet. I also feed both of them, and pick up the doggy doos. SWMBO does the vet and buys the pet food. Last year we did Willow's agility training together and will probably do the same again this year - not a very even split of duties from what I can see, but I don't mind because they keep me active.

[Sawdust Maker]

2 days
I remember being where you are now, was about two and a half years ago now
all these trepidations about leaving a workforce where you like and get on with most people
Management was a pain and fairly instrumental in me deciding to go. The stress of dealing with them was not good for for my blood pressure.
That along with a life threatening illness in a close colleague the same age as me. Made me consider mortality

I still see some of my ex collegues for lunch etc which is good.

Free time
hmm wonder what that is but than I've a youngish family who need me to take them places - retirement has allowed me to do that.
Has been good and my friends say I'm more relaxed than they can remember.

SWMBO decided that I needed something other than the radio to talk with and got me a job. So now I'm on contract and do about 5 hours a week. I can just bear it!

Enjoy your retirement Bob, and see you in a couple of weeks.

[ian]

Yep two days to go!

The BCs are "ours" but I take the older one, "Willow", for her walks and sheep dog training - Skye has just turned 13 weeks so can't go for walks yet. I also feed both of them, and pick up the doggy doos. SWMBO does the vet and buys the pet food. Last year we did Willow's agility training together and will probably do the same again this year - not a very even split of duties from what I can see, but I don't mind because they keep me active.Here Bob
something for you to stare at tomorrow
:D

[rsser]

LOL.

In my case my managers undermined me twice in 6 months, and I was managing a unit set up by them and the undermining was right under a core part of its purpose.

So I went to them with a proposal ready for another role cos what staff member is going to believe what you say when your boss folds on a critical issue. And lordy, there was a budget deficit looming overall and they offered me a package. Didn't have to think twice.

Went freelance consulting in the same area; quadrupled my hourly rate, got to do projects I cared about and clients who backed me up.

[Bob38S]

Thought I would get in early.


:yippy:


:cheers:


:Party:

[BobL]

Thanks Guys - much appreciated.

I had a few small lingering regrets developing but the big boss just gave "state of the nation address", which I was too busy to attend, sorting out all those paperclips and fasteners is a big job. One my colleagues just returned from the address with a very blanched face he stopped by my office to give me the 30 second version of what was next on the workplace agenda and all my regrets vanished

[rsser]

Good to go out on your timing Bob.

[enelef]

Enjoy your life in the shed - but don't get shedbound
:2tsup:

[Scally]

Enjoy it all Bob.
You earned it.

[jhovel]

Congratulations Bob!
How was your first 'unemployed' day?
I'm still catching myself out thinking about work.... but it's slowly getting less often.
Spent a couple of great days with the grandkids - MIDWEEK! Sweet!
All the best.

[BobL]

Congratulations Bob!
How was your first 'unemployed' day?
I'm still catching myself out thinking about work.... but it's slowly getting less often.
Spent a couple of great days with the grandkids - MIDWEEK! Sweet!
All the best.

Thanks Joe.
My first unemployed day will actually be tomorrow. I know I told everyone that I would be retiring on the 28 Feb but that is my last day at work. 1st March is my first unemployed day.
Its 4:15am in the morning here and I just woke up to let the dogs out for a wizz, I was a bit anxious about the last day but now that it is here it feels OK. Apart from going for a coffee with a few of my work mates I can't even think about what I am going to do at work today. My office is empty of all my stuff, no specific tasks to do apart from hand in my keys.

Tomorrow is already full up and all of next week/month is looking fairly busy.

[Chesand]

1st March is my first unemployed day.

Tomorrow is already full up and all of next week/month is looking fairly busy.

And that is how it will be from now on. Enjoy it.

[AlexS]

On my last day at work, with about half an hour to go, farewells said, gear packed up etc. a person came to my office looking for some help understanding some data he'd bought from us. He'd been shunted all round the place with no success, but I was able to help him. "Great", he says, "can I come in and see you on Monday?"
When I explained the situation to him, I was immediately offered a contract (which I took) to start as soon as I returned from my holiday.

[ian]

On my last day at work, with about half an hour to go, farewells said, gear packed up etc. a person came to my office looking for some help understanding some data he'd bought from us. He'd been shunted all round the place with no success, but I was able to help him. "Great", he says, "can I come in and see you on Monday?"
When I explained the situation to him, I was immediately offered a contract (which I took) to start as soon as I returned from my holiday.I love these types of stories


by the way, I like your dovetail entry
http://woodreview.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/700_springall.jpg

[AlexS]

Thanks Ian.

[ian]

255980
1st March is my first unemployed day.Hi Bob, we had a whip around and put together a TO DO list for your first day

[Sawdust Maker]

Nobody look to the west ... :biggrin2:

the cheshire cat grin will light up the horizon and could be damaging to your eyesight.

hope your last day went well!:hpydans2:

[BobL]

Thanks Nick - yes my face muscles are starting to get pretty sore :D:D:D

Well, it's all over, just the corporate farewell party tomorrow.

Just for old times sake I decided to walk to work today, it's only 4 km and I used to do that every day till I got the corporate parking space right next to my office. I used to do it rain/hail/shine and found it quite therapeutic and it was so again today. I had very little to do today and spent the last hour or so going around and farewelling a few people. Shut the office door and handed back all my keys - my key ring contents went down 50% which is a good thing.

Walk home was a warm one (34º) but I just felt all my worries and cares finally slipping away. It's a good feeling so far. So what about at home, a warm welcome, a beer and and a home cooked meal???? No, . . . . SWMBO has gone horse riding so it's me and the dawgs and I'm cooking dinner!!!! No different to every other thursday night really.

[shedbound]

Congratulations Bob, looking forward too seeing what you make with the spare time:welldone:

[BobL]

Well it's all over.

The corporate farewell was pretty painless, and the staff gave me a big stack of gift certificates to a well known woodworkers store as farewell gift that will come in handy over the next year or so.

Thanks to all who expressed their best wishes.
Cheers
Bob

[chambezio]

Bob I'm really pleased for you!!!

My "send off" was something I don't even want to remember,due to me being crook at the time. I just wanted out.

But I do remember my last day at High School. Probably as far as your work was. Finished just after lunch and walked home in the rain. No rain coat. It was just so pleasant!! I even turned down a lift from someone I knew. I remember the rain was warm. Very pleasant.

[BobL]

Bob I'm really pleased for you!!!

My "send off" was something I don't even want to remember,due to me being crook at the time. I just wanted out.

But I do remember my last day at High School. Probably as far as your work was. Finished just after lunch and walked home in the rain. No rain coat. It was just so pleasant!! I even turned down a lift from someone I knew. I remember the rain was warm. Very pleasant.

Thanks.

I also remember my last day at school. I'd only got my car licence a few weeks before and for the first time dad let me take the Holden station wagon to school with the usual "drive carefully" lecture. After my last exam all of my mates had another exam so I just drove home. A couple of the mates came out to the school car park to see me off and leaving the car park I squealed the tyres and did a small fishtail up the street. Look backwards at my mates smiling and giving me their middle fingers I did not see the cop about 50m down the road standing next to his car booking someone - he looked straight at me and waved his pointed finger and head in a no-no-no fashion - for a moment I thought he wanted me to stop or maybe he took my number plate but I kept going. Of course I then lived in fear for a few months that Dad would get a letter or something. Any way that sure did slow me right down, well at least for a while. :D

[rsser]

I got booked for speeding while on the L plates on the motorbike. Didn't hear anything for months so went ahead and got bike and car license.

Then got the summons and lost them both. Argh!

Had to resit the tests and was in the country at the time. The cop just watched me on the bike and then took my money and asked me to drive him to the bank to deposit the week's takings.

[Sawdust Maker]

The country ...

A couple of years ago (ok quite a few)

My step grandfather and I stopped and had a yarn with the local copper.
They were discussing pig shooting, if I recall correctly

anyway
the copper looked my way and said "Nick, about time you came in for your truck licence isn't it"
I said "Thought I might get my car licence first!"

He looked at me for a bit and then nodded to himself
I had just turned 16

but had been driving the old man home from the pub for a couple of years (don't tell my son, this)

Life were different then

[artme]

Well Bob, several days in and how does it feel?

I was retired on medical grounds after a report from my cardiologist.
I was a bit miffed at first because I had a couple more years planned
to get some extra grunt into the savings. Wasn't a bad thing as it's
turned out. It was not so much my heart that that the cardio was
concerned about as my mental state. He thought I would have serious
problems because of the black dog and that in turn would most certainly
effect the ticker.

Bloody glad I'm out. I was sick of the BS associated with teaching.

Nowadays I can basically please myself what and when I do. Of course
SWMBO has a lot - too much - influence on the agenda so I can't simply
freelance ( a la you Bob ) and that causes some griping; now that I'm away
from structure I want to follow my natural disorganised and slothful instincts.
It matters not a wit to me that I hadn't put the toilet roll holder up in the
reorganised toilet until today. Truth be known I only did it to stop the nagging!:oo:

I've gradually been getting the shed organised. I'm recycling and re-using to save
the pennies so that spreads the time out a bit. Then the boss lumbers me with another
""want" so we take a trip around and find some 2nd hand furnitur that I'm converting
into storage space.Mind you we need it, but it could have waited. Trouble is bosswoman
fails to understand that getting the shed sorted out means other things will happen with
fewer hassles.

Enough already!!

Enjoy your retirement mate!!!:2tsup::2tsup::2tsup:

[BobL]

Well Bob, several days in and how does it feel?

.
.


It feels bloody good.
It will feel even better tomorrow.
First Monday in March is a Pub Hol in WA
BUT
for a number of years my Uni has not recognized it (and 2 other s during the year) and all my colleagues will be hard at it - but I will be in the shed :D:D:D



Cheers

[Sawdust Maker]

Gees Artme, that sounds a lot like my life :wink:

[BobL]

It's just turned 9 am on the first monday of my retirement - just taken the dog for a walk and having a coffee, doing a little jig around the kitchen and LOL! :U

I still get work related email but I am re-directing it to a special email box called IGNORE!

[ian]

Hi Bob

So, you're one week in


how does it feel

how many hours have you spent in the shed?

how much extra time have you spent with the dogs?

[BobL]

Hi Bob
So, you're one week in
how does it feel
frustrating!


how many hours have you spent in the shed?
WAY less than when I was working!


how much extra time have you spent with the dogs?
None but have had a couple of afternoon naps.

The reason I'm a bit frustrated is because all I seem to have been doing is driving around in congested traffic looking/pricing/picking up stuff.
It has mostly been a heap of things that I had put off doing for months until the first week of retirement.

Bunnings at least 5 times,
Masters twice
Searles speciality fastenings store twice
Hare and Forbes twice
Timbecon twice
Motor vehicle registration and transfer (that's a quick way to waste a morning)
Picking up MIL at the airport - spent an hour looking for her walking frame!
Picking up a welder from BIL
Picking up empty gas canisters
Picking up a 3 phase motor
Aluminium Store
Steel shop twice
Galv Pipe store
Plus
Plus

I have absolutely nothing to show for the week - hopefully now that I have laid in a stash of stuff things should slowly start coming together.

[jmk89]

Bob

One trick that I learned from my Dad during his retirement (and that I'm looking forward to adopting myself in a few years) is to try to ensure that you keep every task down to the same time that it took you when you were working fulltime. He said (and I see it in lots of others) that when you don't have the structure of limited time, Parkinson's Law will apply and the job will expand to fill the available time.
Dad's view was that retirement was a time to get things done, not a time to get through, so make sure that you set a goal and stick to the timing.

I look forward to seeing the results of your labours, now that you've laid in all the supplies!

All the best

[BobL]

I think I have put too many projects off until retirement and now I seem to be running around not achieving any of them. Some priority system needs to be put into place.

Cheers
Bob

[Bob38S]

BobL - go for it!

True there are no public holidays, but you can do what you like, when you like and how you like and as a bonus - if you don't feel like then there is always tomorrow.

Tell 'em you'll work 3 days when it suits - yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Like most you'll probably have a great list of things you want to get done - could I suggest that you "hasten slowly" now there is no pressure to get it done before you have to go back to work - enjoy it.

Since I retired - I don't really know how I actually had time to go to work :D.

Bob, as I have said before [read above to save you hunting for it] - particularly paragraph 3 :B

[BobL]

Bob, as I have said before [read above to save you hunting for it] - particularly paragraph 3 :B

Yeah - hasten s l o w l y is a good motto.

Finally got some shed time today and swapped the 1/2 HP Hercus motor over for a 1 HP unit - also properly wired as delta rather than Wye - really good low rev torque now.

[Larry M]

G'day Bob

First of all I must apologise. I have been reading your post retirement posts all week and it struck me that while I have been at work coping with meetings, bureaucracy, idiots, incompetence and even incompetent idiots, I realised that not once have I stopped to think about the horrendous week you must have had, coping with lots of time to do lots of things, and not having the benefit of the rigour imposed on your time with commitments that I have enjoyed. Sorry mate, it must have been a nightmare. I will be more thoughtful next week.:U
See you Monday

Cheers Larry

PS 16 week to go

[BobL]

Thanks Larry I knew I could get a word of sympathy and comfort from you. :D

[Chesand]

I think I have put too many projects off until retirement and now I seem to be running around not achieving any of them. Some priority system needs to be put into place.

Cheers
Bob

See Post #29. :D

[chambezio]

BobL. When you get the prioritizing scheme done please give me a copy
I have the time, the machinery/shed, projects, and most of the gear to get a result. BUT inclination is in short supply. and that breeds frustration.
Yes structure is what I am lacking. With the black dog even a small result has a lack luster result. Its probably got a coating of frustration stuck to it.

[BobL]

Well it's been 9 weeks since I retired and I FINALLY got one of my jobs off the SWMBO list. The jobs was a simple one, purchase/make and fit two insect screen doors to the the two back doors. At the end of March I scored two decorative wooden doors from the kerbside pickup (complete with brass handles and hinges) that looked like they would really suit our older place. SInce then I have been phaphing about to get them to fit as they were 16 mm too narrow and 30 mm short - plus inserting a doggie door in one of them and replacing the insect screening material with strong ally Expanda mesh that the dogs can't damage. Anyway, I can't believe how long it has taken me to do this. Even when I was working I reckon this would not have taken me so long. Admittedly I have been distracted with a blacksmithing course, making a forge and going to Germany for a week. Also I sleep in most mornings, slow paced breakfast, walk the dogs, another coffee and check out the forums way too many times during the day - I'm lucky if I get to the shed by 10:30am. Most afternoons I'm having a short nap so I can't complain too much.

SWMBO is very happy and I'm happy she is happy. The price was very reasonable - basically the cost of the mesh and also put a decent door closer on the one that will get used most often.

Next job is kitchen reno - not a complete reno. We're just changing the oven and cooktop and fixing and repainting the cupboards, might replace the cupboard doors. Bench top will be sanded back to raw wood and two pack epoxy coated - not looking forward to that.

[MBM888]

[QUOTE=BobL;1645084]SWMBO is very happy and I'm happy she is happy.

Happy wife...happy life......'on ya Bob:saythat:

[Bob38S]

...... Anyway, I can't believe how long it has taken me to do this. Even when I was working I reckon this would not have taken me so long. Admittedly I have been distracted with a blacksmithing course, making a forge and going to Germany for a week. Also I sleep in most mornings, slow paced breakfast, walk the dogs, another coffee and check out the forums way too many times during the day - I'm lucky if I get to the shed by 10:30am. Most afternoons I'm having a short nap so I can't complain too much.

....

Not a problem - you are retired - enjoy it - you have worked long enough,now is the time to enjoy it.

Remember you now can work 3 days - yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Life is too short and there aint no dress rehearsal.

[rsser]

LOL.

Just a crude observation about Bob, from his posts. He's an achiever.

So can he find scope to continue that outside of his profession? Does he have the will? Are shed and house tasks going to meet that bill?

In his shoes, I'd give myself a year's sabbatical and then review.

[BobL]

LOL.
Just a crude observation about Bob, from his posts. He's an achiever.

Depends who you ask. My mum thinks I'm a slack #### because I don't go round and fix her dripping taps the day after she asks, and that I should have had more grandkids and yadda, yadda. . . . . ., and SWMBO reckons I could move on "the list" a little quicker. After some initial frustration with lack of progress or achievement, I'm slowly learning that achievement is not everything. I'm really enjoying just hanging out with the dogs, they make me laugh which is what I really need, and getting into the swing of the the odd afternoon nap.


So can he find scope to continue that outside of his profession? Does he have the will? Are shed and house tasks going to meet that bill? I visited the place where I used to work 3 times since I left. The place has even less appeal to me than when I left and it's getting less appealing every time I visit.


In his shoes, I'd give myself a year's sabbatical and then review.
That's the plan, but that's all it is.

[Sawdust Maker]

...

I visited the place where I used to work 3 times since I left. The place has even less appeal to me than when I left and it's getting less appealing every time I visit.

...

Interesting, I found that as well - now I just don't give a rats ... about it
the people are nice though

[damian]

Retirement is tricky. I'm on my second go round. Last time after 2 1/2 years I got into a rut and went back to work to get out of it. This time I'm trying to manage better.

Any day or any week where you actually achieve something should be regarded as a big win. Be proud. Those occasions won't come around nearly as often as you might imagine.

Remember to have days off, and proper holidays. Sounds mad but it truly helps.

[Burnsy]

Coming up to a year mate, hope it has been a good one and the list has got a little shorter.

Cheers,
Mike

[BobL]

Coming up to a year mate, hope it has been a good one and the list has got a little shorter.

Cheers,
Mike

Thanks Mike.
Things kind of stalled around August with a series of minor health issues that by and large kept me out of the shed. Thing are slowly resolving themselves and am looking forward to a better year in 2014.