Howdy

[Varmintmist]

Just retired. Pulled the plug 3 Mar at 0900. Took 7 weeks vacation this year and out. 37 years, 6 different jobs or locations, 9 company names, same tool belt and exactly zero faith in what the current plan is, whatever the hell it is. My opinion, its to sell. They have been cranking on more work with less people and I was on call waaaayyy to often. I figure I have missed a lot of life being on call and that was enough, so I took the pension as a lump sum. Been debt free for years and I can cover all of our expenses save major catastrophies from SS, so the investments are gravy that we dont need to tap if there is a downturn. If there isnt, I will be living on more than I grossed. And every time I went the the financial guy he said "yes you can" and I was told that when you win the race, stop running. So at 60.5, I am out the door. Wife is going to be covering heath care until I get to SS at 62 and some after, after which we will use investments and SS.

Just in time for maple season. I had over 40 taps in made over 3 gal. Tough year, tapped mid Feb got a good run then everything froze up until 2 weeks ago then it hit 60. So about a week and a half of sap run and it was light in sugar. Sugar maple are about 3% at the tree, red are about 1.5% I have all red and I was getting about 1% or less during the warm up.

and to make sure I dont sleep in... Got me a Lilly Munchter she and Elvira, Mistress of the Bark get along fine. Its bed at midnight and dogs out at 630 fed then back out. Worked good while sap was running.

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[Diver43]

Congratulations
Don't know if you will find the same, but I discovered it cost me a lot of money to go to work
Enjoy

[Varmintmist]

So far, even with a company vehicle, I was spending money. The "Oh, I forgot to get..." was always more than the one thing, and may have included a lottery ticket. I cant go grocery shopping w/o dropping a 300.00 bill, but I am putting up a pantry that will hold over time and doing the cooking so we are eating better.
I did order a Shotmarker and MyPillow dog bed, so I am still spending online. I figure the Shotmarker is my retirement gift. The company sent me an empty box..... for the phone I had turned in 5 days prior.

[GrapeApe]

Congrats. Enjoy your "golden years"

[CPJ 2.0]

Congrats!

Through working maintenance on Death Star buildings, I can see and overhear the general downfall of Ma-Bell type operations. From “retiring” (“we REALLY think you should retire, SOON”) older guys who know where to hit parts with a hammer to keep long obsolete equipment going, to moving to maintenance contractors to replace the in house jobs that should NOT be contracted, it’s a downward spiral driven by the dollars.

[Wambli Ska]

Congratulations! Your good planning paid off

[Chiro1989]

Congratulations hey, make sure you find something to do at least part time or the wife will hand you the "Honey-Do" list. Be careful, once folks figure out you are retired, the phone will ring offering part time jobs that turn into full time jobs for responsible folks that show up and work, charge appropriately

[Wambli Ska]

[bullsi1911]

.

Just in time for maple season. I had over 40 taps in made over 3 gal. Tough year, tapped mid Feb got a good run then everything froze up until 2 weeks ago then it hit 60. So about a week and a half of sap run and it was light in sugar. Sugar maple are about 3% at the tree, red are about 1.5% I have all red and I was getting about 1% or less during the warm up.

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Congrats on the retirement and the dog!

[Varmintmist]

I not only stab trees, I put a pump on to suck the blood out.

[Varmintmist]

Congrats!

Through working maintenance on Death Star buildings, I can see and overhear the general downfall of Ma-Bell type operations. From “retiring” (“we REALLY think you should retire, SOON”) older guys who know where to hit parts with a hammer to keep long obsolete equipment going, to moving to maintenance contractors to replace the in house jobs that should NOT be contracted, it’s a downward spiral driven by the dollars.

Its an interesting time in telco. The co is doing a massive fiber to the home and everything I have seen in good meaning kicks the CATVs butt in quality and speed. I question their maint objectives, or lack thereof and focus on the homeowner when there are some contracts with major cell providers. The co literally dropped a state contract because.... who DF knows. Millions. I really could have done the job until I was 90, and I liked the work. The company provided roadblocks OTOH felt that they were written by someone with a DEI degree. I wanted out so that I could pull my pension lump sum before they decided to sell and XX co has control of it. Its fully funded although it ended decades ago, its a chunk of change that someone could take if they bought the co.

[Varmintmist]

Congratulations! Your good planning paid off

7 P rule
Prior proper planning prevents pee poor performance.

Although as a planner who did the right thing my SS gets taxed..... That would be Biden who voted twice for reducing my SS.

[Orchidman]

Excellent news. Hope your retirement goes well.
Follow Chiro's advice above....once people find out you are retired you fall into the category of " Who can we get to do this, OH, I know, get ........(insert your name).......He's retired, it will give him something to do"
It helps if you name things like m/cycles, quadbikes, boats etc " Callout" then your wife can deflect by saying "He's on call out at the moment"
Cars and trucks can be named 'Disposed'......"He is in Disposed at the moment" can deflect calls also....

Good luck

[Varmintmist]

Excellent news. Hope your retirement goes well.
Follow Chiro's advice above....once people find out you are retired you fall into the category of " Who can we get to do this, OH, I know, get ........(insert your name).......He's retired, it will give him something to do"
It helps if you name things like m/cycles, quadbikes, boats etc " Callout" then your wife can deflect by saying "He's on call out at the moment"
Cars and trucks can be named 'Disposed'......"He is in Disposed at the moment" can deflect calls also....

Good luck

I understand that "No" is a complete sentence and am generally nice and will help, if it works for me. However someone else's poor planning and assuming I will do XX, has never worked out for them.

Got the last direct deposit yesterday... That was weird. Employed since 12, before that off and on. Was unemployed for 2 weeks, once. First checks are set to arrive next month from retirement so its not financial, but its just weird.