8 work days left, lots Sept vacation, won't make OK rally...

[lucydad]

All,

I have 8 work days left before my retirement on October 5th.  Work is dead as a morgue: no spending, no activity due to the oil crash. I am leaving on my own terms before they start cutting staff.
I have lots of September vacation to use (company does not pay for unused days), and we are making a family trip to the Big Island of Hawaii mid-September.

All finances and medical are set up for switches to be thrown, no problems.

After my retirement I am going home to Durango, CO, and our cabin for about a week.  That means I miss the OK rally.  Apologies for that.
My 94 year old mom is having balance issues and has fallen several times.  So, it is time for a face to face, see her doctor, talk to the assisted living admin/nurse and see what is going on.  So far she has not injured herself, but this is a new change.

I will get to see close Durango friends, spend 3 nights at our cabin near Purgatory ski area, and see fall in Colorado for the first time in over 40 years. 

I did NOT have to ask some boss-man for permission to take a vacation, nor did I have to count days carefully.  Hell of a deal.

Hope to get a Guzzi ride in this long weekend.  We are having house re-carpeted, and Grandpa Larry's Alzheimer's clinic is still open until Saturday or Sunday.  Carpet guys did not show this morning, but are supposed to be here 8 AM Saturday.  Expensive, but a good investment as we are selling this house next Spring and our new house now features the beginnings of a foundation.

Apologies again, I wanted to come, but the fickle finger of fate said:  go to Durango and see mom.  My future will be much more flexible, and I promise to ride here and there for group events.

[SmithSwede]

Too bad--was looking forward to meeting you.   On the other hand, you will be fully retired in time for the 2016 Okie rally. 

[clubman]

Congratulations on your soon to be retirement. I baled on Aug 1st and the first month has been good. You might want to take your blood pressure now and again about 6 wks from now. Mine went down about 10 pts. and falling. I work about 4hrs a day on my Velocette restoration and spend the rest of the day in the AC , cooking, online, goofing off - waiting for fall weather. Don't forget to exercise.

[davedel44]

Take care of your Mom Man but think about something at Brazos.Bend in early Spring.

Dave
Galveston

[Gliderjohn]

Enjoy your retirement! I just did this summer and so far it is wonderful.
GliderJohn

[lucydad]

Swede,

Want to also meet you, and that is no bull.  Same with many others here:  turn the electronic forum into real friendships, face to face.

I even have started formulating a "geology of NE OK" lecture, with wanderings into the petroleum geology of OK, the new frack plays and earthquakes, and perhaps a small field trip to talk about outcrops, various structural and stratigraphic features and a bit of rock and mineral identification, who knows even a fossil or two.  Oh well. 

What really swung me (sssh don't tell anyone), Mom told me on the phone about her falls and balance issues, but she has not told the Sunshine Gardens staff "officially".  So I need to go find out what is really happening.  Policy says those that can't walk are "out" and any injurious fall also results in "out", just like incontinence. 

Difficult decision.  Also need to talk to mom about my brother, but that is another long story.

Hope to get the Guzzi out tomorrow and not spend the whole day with carpet install and Alzheimer's care.  Been rainy in afternoons and very hot and humid. 

[John Ulrich]

 Congrats on retiring.   
I'm close to a decision myself.....kinda scary walking away from a paycheck. 
I have yet to find any friends who have regretted it.

[Shorty]

Congrats! I will be heading to Colorado almost right away after my own retirement, but for a different reason....

[lucydad]

All,

Thanks for understanding.  The Hawaii trip will decompress me.  Last day with Flubdub Energy could be unpredictable, loud and full of conflict.
I plan on a simple professional exit.  Others may not make my exit very pleasant.

Mr. Boss, Mr. VP and Mr. CEO will be blindsided though:  and their track record is a tale of ego, anger and posturing, snark, and name calling.  I need one thing:  medical proof of insurability on company letter head.  However Marathon (company I earned medical coverage upon retirement in 2008) says they have a work around if FE craps on me.  If FE does, I just might find an employment lawyer....

The Durango trip, besides family obligations, will give me some personal closure and space after the retirement.  At least for me, this is quite an emotional road closing out a long career and moving to a totally different lifestyle.  I also plan on interviewing mom for memories for data on my book (to be written, major retirement project).

[Muzz]

All the best LD.  Hope the last day goes against your expectations and is actually filled with fun, food and laughter.

I have 15 weeks and 3 days to go; I however work for a great firm that have been really good to me and I enjoy my job.. just that my body is letting me down a bit.  Walking away from a regular pay check is a bit daunting though,  especially seeing the effect that the ferschluginer economy is having on my superannuation fund!

[kevdog3019]

All,

I have 8 work days left before my retirement on October 5th.  Work is dead as a morgue: no spending, no activity due to the oil crash. I am leaving on my own terms before they start cutting staff.
I have lots of September vacation to use (company does not pay for unused days), and we are making a family trip to the Big Island of Hawaii mid-September.

All finances and medical are set up for switches to be thrown, no problems.

After my retirement I am going home to Durango, CO, and our cabin for about a week.  That means I miss the OK rally.  Apologies for that.
My 94 year old mom is having balance issues and has fallen several times.  So, it is time for a face to face, see her doctor, talk to the assisted living admin/nurse and see what is going on.  So far she has not injured herself, but this is a new change.

I will get to see close Durango friends, spend 3 nights at our cabin near Purgatory ski area, and see fall in Colorado for the first time in over 40 years. 

I did NOT have to ask some boss-man for permission to take a vacation, nor did I have to count days carefully.  Hell of a deal.

Hope to get a Guzzi ride in this long weekend.  We are having house re-carpeted, and Grandpa Larry's Alzheimer's clinic is still open until Saturday or Sunday.  Carpet guys did not show this morning, but are supposed to be here 8 AM Saturday.  Expensive, but a good investment as we are selling this house next Spring and our new house now features the beginnings of a foundation.

Apologies again, I wanted to come, but the fickle finger of fate said:  go to Durango and see mom.  My future will be much more flexible, and I promise to ride here and there for group events.

Sounds like you were in a good situation to collect severance (and unemployment) in your near future.  Leaving on their terms may not have been so bad?  If things improved and you survived cutbacks, say goodbye on your terms.  I'm sure you know more about how that situation works at that institution than I.

[wymple]

Congratulations on your soon to be retirement. I baled on Aug 1st and the first month has been good. You might want to take your blood pressure now and again about 6 wks from now. Mine went down about 10 pts. and falling. I work about 4hrs a day on my Velocette restoration and spend the rest of the day in the AC , cooking, online, goofing off - waiting for fall weather. Don't forget to exercise.

Velocette, there's a name you don't hear much. Someday I'll tell you a good Velocette barn find story. Are you going to Mo-Kan?

[PJPR01]

Greg...greetings from Telluride...just up the road from your town of Durango.  By the way, did you know that the bakery Jean-Pierre's in Durango was founded by a guy from Houston?  I stop in there every time as it's my middle name and to joke with him a bit! Good fare, fun place to unwind after riding 550 up to Silverton and Ouray and back!

At any rate...why not hit the GRIT rally before heading to Durango...easy day's ride up, and a nice transition from work to relaxation.  An easy 200 miler winding thru the trees...super easy ride.

Cheers,
Paul