I'm so glad to be retired........

[Ops]

Pulled the pin almost 17 years ago.

I was on a computer course (second day of 4th newest upgrade whilst in service) when the instructor had moved onto 3-4 screens ahead of where I was. That's when I recalculated the "numbers" at my desk...which started with my asking myself "...why am I suffering through this stuff again, what am I gaining?".

I realized there was nothing to gain, and left the classroom to go visit Human Resources to get the hard numbers on paper. My Dad had died 6 years previous, my Mom earlier that year, so parental needs weren't a factor. I had 6 months of holidays to burn off, and walked out of the office that spring.

A year later we built a new home, my wife was still teaching and helping with her parents and I started a light landscaping business with the purchase of a small tractor (didn't want to hump topsoil with a wheelbarrow). Then added snow clearing to the mix. More family needs moved us to BC, and we've never looked back.

Turned 70 last year. Had 33.5 years in policing and enjoyed the opportunity and variety of postings throughout Canada from sea to sea to sea and internationally with the United Nations. Lots of memories.

Escaping with JoMoE, our 21NE and exploring BC has been the best choice we've made since moving here. Now if this Covid thing would fade away...

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by nepaweb

At age 96 my father in law is in his 38th year of retirement. He took an early retirement package offered by his employer after 30 years on that job. He hasn't earned a paycheck since that time but has found plenty to do to keep busy ever since.

Not only did he beat the system on retirement but he is also one of the few, if not the only person to have survived both the Battle of the Bulge and the delta variant.

If we could all be so fortunate.

Your dad is no doubt a genuine treasure. As I read your post I thought about this perspective:
My dad was born in 1917 and survived the Spanish Flu pandemic as a baby. Then in 1942 enlisted in the Army and fought in the Battle of the Ardennes ( The Bulge) and 4 other WW2 battles. He was 1sr Army, 3rd Armored Division (Spearhead) 32nd Armored Regiment,
Company B (Oriole). Motto “Victory or Death”.
Came back home, had three boys and lived another 16 years. Passed away at 49. Amazing to think of paths that could have and sometimes did cross in opposite directions of life.
Iowa Dave

[Fox hunt]

i am retiring in April. I'm afraid but also excited. Working in health care the last few years has been unbearable i am very tired of the responsibility for my patients, workers , families , company.....the work is ok I'm just tired. Its hard to give up the pay check. Although i have saved for retirement i will be living on far less then I'm used to. But i too have seen many people retire and then become sick unable to live their retirement dreams. that scares me too! my first retirement trip will be to the Escape rally so maybe we can celebrate a bit!!!! then up to Alaska and next winter its down to Mexico- isn't that a song?

[sofmerc]

Originally Posted by Fox hunt

i am retiring in April. I'm afraid but also excited. Working in health care the last few years has been unbearable i am very tired of the responsibility for my patients, workers , families , company.....the work is ok I'm just tired. Its hard to give up the pay check. Although i have saved for retirement i will be living on far less then I'm used to. But i too have seen many people retire and then become sick unable to live their retirement dreams. that scares me too! my first retirement trip will be to the Escape rally so maybe we can celebrate a bit!!!! then up to Alaska and next winter its down to Mexico- isn't that a song?

very cool plan!

[johnp271]

The I-95 nightmare scenario with 12+ hours in sub-freezing weather brought up a new issue with electric vehicles. Batteries run out faster in cold and EVs use the electric to both generate the heat and run the fan, a big battery drain. Finally, if your battery does die in the middle of the road, one can't bring you a jerry can of electrons. Yes you can run out of gas too but the gas efficiency for heat only when sitting still is much better.

[Ops]

Originally Posted by johnp271

The I-95 nightmare scenario with 12+ hours in sub-freezing weather brought up a new issue with electric vehicles. Batteries run out faster in cold and EVs use the electric to both generate the heat and run the fan, a big battery drain. Finally, if your battery does die in the middle of the road, one can't bring you a jerry can of electrons. Yes you can run out of gas too but the gas efficiency for heat only when sitting still is much better.

I couldn't pass up the opportunity...

[GeorgeB]

Just FYI: YouTube has several real world videos of electric cars lasting 24 to 36 hours with heaters on in the cold. It all depends on how high you have the heater on, cold outside, size of the battery, and charge at the time of stopping. I'm glad that some people are using electric cars to cut down smog in the city. My coworker just added a large solar panel assembly to her house and bought an electric car this winter. So far so good...except she finds herself speeding do to the quiet smooth power.