Plotting for an early retirement - anyone want to join me?

MallyGirl

MallyGirl wrote: »

My latest boss has today announced that he is dropping to 4 days a week so that will be interesting to watch. I was told I had to be full time for the role (same as boss but he's a 'principal' and I am a 'senior') and so I moved from 4 to 5 days to take it - some years ago.

I sent him congrats and he responded with "a small step towards retirement" so we are sharing a mindset as he turns 50 this year. This might make the last few years more pleasant - no having to pretend that I am still looking to climb the greasy pole when in fact I am happy to just do the current job well and be recognised for that.

shinytop

I just did my last day at work before my holiday and I won't be going back. It was harder than I thought - card, speeches, presents, etc., but I'll get over it . It's the people I'll miss rather than the work and although we don't really socialise much outside work (I live a long way away) you do get to know people after so many years. Retirees do get asked to events at Christmas and other retirements so I'll keep in touch.

I'm not retiring as early as some (58) but it's the right time for me. Next stop Spain for 2 weeks then who knows?

Anonymous101

shinytop wrote: »

I just did my last day at work before my holiday and I won't be going back. It was harder than I thought - card, speeches, presents, etc., but I'll get over it . It's the people I'll miss rather than the work and although we don't really socialise much outside work (I live a long way away) you do get to know people after so many years. Retirees do get asked to events at Christmas and other retirements so I'll keep in touch.

I'm not retiring as early as some (58) but it's the right time for me. Next stop Spain for 2 weeks then who knows?

Great. Enjoy your holidays and retirement!


I changed jobs recently and although I knew I was going to a better job I struggled with the emotional side of parting ties with people I'd worked with for years.
When you think about it many of us spend far more time with colleagues than we do with anyone else.

shinytop

Anonymous101 wrote: »

Great. Enjoy your holidays and retirement!


I changed jobs recently and although I knew I was going to a better job I struggled with the emotional side of parting ties with people I'd worked with for years.
When you think about it many of us spend far more time with colleagues than we do with anyone else.

I can relate to that. One of my direct reports commented yesterdaythat I had been her line manager for 12 years, longer than any of her relationships have lasted:eek:

Anonymous101

shinytop wrote: »

I can relate to that. One of my direct reports commented yesterdaythat I had been her line manager for 12 years, longer than any of her relationships have lasted:eek:

Exactly. On week days I spend 8 hours a day with my colleagues. When I take out sleep I probably spend about half that with my Mrs.

crv1963

shinytop wrote: »

I can relate to that. One of my direct reports commented yesterdaythat I had been her line manager for 12 years, longer than any of her relationships have lasted:eek:

This rings bells for me too. I've had situations where I have worked with people longer than their marriages have lasted!

BoxerfanUK

shinytop wrote: »

I just did my last day at work before my holiday and I won't be going back. It was harder than I thought - card, speeches, presents, etc., but I'll get over it . It's the people I'll miss rather than the work and although we don't really socialise much outside work (I live a long way away) you do get to know people after so many years. Retirees do get asked to events at Christmas and other retirements so I'll keep in touch.

I'm not retiring as early as some (58) but it's the right time for me. Next stop Spain for 2 weeks then who knows?

Best of luck to you shinytop.... enjoy the rest of your (work free) life.

GazHol

crv1963 wrote: »

This rings bells for me too. I've had situations where I have worked with people longer than their marriages have lasted!

Being told by a young colleague a few years that she wasn’t born when I joined the company (IT in the VMS 4.0 days, 6250bpi tapes etc) did make me reflect somewhat!

Just passed 55 and now wishing that the current “restructuring” (to India) had included me as 40% of my co-workers will be leaving with generous packages.

When next round comes, I will have the first world problem of avoiding the excessive tax trap vs. annual allowance limits.

To keep me going, I’ve agreed with my boss (ie told him) that I will take unpaid leave days (not whole weeks). I’ll start with 1 this year to check the system works and do 10 in 2020 and increase from there. 25 days holiday plus BHs is no where near enough!

nigelbb

GazHol wrote: »

Being told by a young colleague a few years that she wasn’t born when I joined the company (IT in the VMS 4.0 days, 6250bpi tapes etc) did make me reflect somewhat!

It was VAX/VMS 3.6 when I started in IT. Do you remember the orange wall of VMS manuals?

GazHol

nigelbb wrote: »

It was VAX/VMS 3.6 when I started in IT. Do you remember the orange wall of VMS manuals?

In my first job (<2 years) they couldn’t talk to me in the first two weeks due to the go-live. So I started with Vol 1 and went most of the way along the “wall”. The Writing Device Drivers manual convinced me to stop reading and get some hands on!

Last time I logged on to a “server” was 1999 (R&D had Xmas shutdown so we spent Dec building NT4 servers ready for the return in Jan 2000).