As of midnight tonight

[clovishound]

I will officially be retired.

Last work day was Monday. Still feels like my normal days off, and something in the back of my mind says I will have to go to work tomorrow.

Not sure whether to be excited, or scared to death.

I've been working at the same place for over half my life. Maxed out my retirement a few months ago, and decided it was time.

I guess I'd better pick up a hobby, maybe something like hunting, shooting or perhaps woodworking. The Pup and I are taking a 5 week digital photography class starting tonight. BTW that's one class a week for 5 weeks. I used to do a lot of photography during the film days, and even had a home darkroom. Digital is still somewhat new to me. I upgraded the Pup's system for her birthday, and got the hand me downs.

I'm also thinking about making these to sell.

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Picked up some fresh birch logs yesterday and put them in the back yard to spalt. Hopefully they will do well, and not the muddy grey.

Still having a hard time wrapping my mind around my working days being over. Perhaps I need to rethink that as my retirement days just starting.

I guess I need to run a bulldozer through the shop to make room for projects.

[cooperhawk]

Believe or not not everyone retires easy. I've been retired now for 21 years and really enjoy it, but
it still seems like I need to do something useful. Carol says it took me a full year to settle down and
learn to relax.
Here's the thing. For a lot of folks your job or career identifies who you are. Ex. Doctor, welder,
carpenter, truck driver, ect. And then you retire and now who the hell am I? They have to learn all
over who they are. For some folks that is a task they cannot accomplish and they often die young.
It looks like you have hobbies to keep you busy. That is excellent!
I always said that when I retired I was going to put the alarm clock on the balcony outside our bedroom
and when it went off in the morning, blow it away with a shotgun. Good closure.

Course the wife said no to that.

[Rifletom]

Congratulations! Retirement is awesome! Best job I've ever had is this retirement gig. You'll blend right in. Nothing to be nervous about. More time for fishing, handloading, shooting[when its not too hot!] and anything else I want to do. Or, what my wife wants me to do!

[Ernie]

Congratulations on your retirement. Been thinking about it and have talked to work about part time. Hard not to figure on working for income.

[BrokenolMarine]

Try to get engaged in your new life after a short break. (Vacation)
The longer you wait, the easier it would be to become glued to the couch.
I don't see you as the type...

I had an acquaintance who kept saying he just wanted to take some "time off" before he hit his retirement bucket list. Ten years and 100 pounds later he had worn out the couch in the den, bought a new couch, bigger clothes, and a huge tv. His shop, boat, and motorcycle rarely saw use.

Other friends wore out boats, tools, and bikes, and the dens were covered in dust.
Good luck... Pics of your adventures.

[markiver54]

Congratulations!
I, personally think your gonna love it. Nothing like working, on your own schedule, whatever you choose to do.
The time is YOURS now. Vacation anytime you want!

[JEBar]

congrats indeed .... delighted to for you

[Headhog]

Congratulations!!! I've been retired for 9 years and am enjoying every minute. It takes a little while to settle in, but soon you realize there are other thing is life. Sounds like you've got a good start to keep from becoming a couch potato. Enjoy!

Paul

[RanchRoper]

Congrats.

[BigAl52]

Congrats. Even when there is idle days its still better than a good day at work. Its not overrated. Ive been retired now for just over a year.

[fortyshooter]

Many congrats on your retirement!!! Well been retired for a while now and you will find the days go by quick. Being in the machining trade I just continue doing projects for myself and some for other folks. Wife...myself and little Buster have settled down into a nice groove! I love not having to be anyplace ! Between things that need maintaining around the home or my range property....plenty to keep me busy.
Enjoy it all while you can!

[brm4450]

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[Sir Henry]

For he’s a jolly good fellow.

[Centaur]

Enjoy that retirement! I’m as busy now as I ever was when working, but now I get paid for breathing.

[BrokenolMarine]

Yup, I rarely wear a watch, or set an alarm anymore. I even make Doc appts later in the day so I can still wake naturally, without the shock of an alarm.

[markiver54]

Yup, I rarely wear a watch, or set an alarm anymore. I even make Doc appts later in the day so I can still wake naturally, without the shock of an alarm.

EXACTLY!!

[Sir Henry]

I have a fairly good self alarm system. I might set the alarm early for an appointment but almost always will wake up ten minutes before it goes off. I normally get up with the sun. In the summer that’s 5 am and in the winter it’s 9:30 am.

Retirement is a good life.

[daytime dave]

Congratulations on your retirement clovishound!

Everyone is different, but I'm sure you have looked forward to and planned for your retirement. I hope you find it enjoyable. It does take a little bit of getting used to. like that feeling that you need to get to bed because you have to go to work tomorrow, or you need to get ready for work, or you need this or that for work. It will fade away.

Enjoy the digital photography class. I took a crash course digital class once and the instructor was terrific. So much so I went right out and bought the newest Canon digital consumer SLR on the market at the time. I've gone beyond that in equipment now, I'm waiting for my skills to catch up. I have the time now and so do you.

I have retired twice. The last time was just over a month ago. There won't be a third time. Life is short. Enjoy what you have hopefully planned for. Don"t take this next life stage for granted. You worked hard to get here.

Enjoy your retirement amigo!

[Hatchdog]

Congrats to you what a great milestone in your life. It’s been 5.5 years for me and I haven’t had one moment of regret. Conditions allowed me to retire early and I thought I may regret it but not at all. Like you said, stay busy and you like most of us will wonder how the he-double toothpicks did I ever have time to work.

Enjoy!!!

[clovishound]

Well so far the strangest thing that has happened to me is when the Pup and I drove by the plant on the way to the Commissary. I looked over and said to myself, "That's where I USED TO work.". 38 years of my life. I've held a job more or less continuously since I was 14 years old.

When I start feeling weird about that, I just think about how I have felt at work for the last year or so. It was time.

Right now I'm looking for a smoker. Next month I'll be looking for a deer or wild pig to put in it.