I quit...

[Jus Cruisin]

It's getting close to 1 pm. The local news talking heads are warning about going outside. I think it's time to mow the yard. Shoot, I might even break a sweat today.

 

[Mav0810]

I have been thinking about this for a while as well. I could probably retire now, and be okay, but it would feel strange not having income. I guess a paycheck really as retirement funds would be income. My friends who have retired say health insurance and medical expenses are the big ticket items that are getting them. For that reason I started maxing my contribution to a health savings account about 5 years ago.

Hi…I noticed on a post earlier this year you plan to replace your Ray220 vhf. Did you sell it after replacing it? I need the mic…. thanks

 

[Soulshine]

Oh, one big thing. We use the boat on weekdays and skip weekends. No need to deal with the weekend warriors. View attachment 130807

This is exactly what we're thinking.

We've already planned on waking up on the hook on Monday the first of August, which is our anniversary.

I hate to say it, but I love having coffee in the cockpit and watching everyone drive to work.

I used to drive by this cove and wonder who the hell is doing that in the middle of the week?

 

[440 Jim]

Flew to Oshkosh and set the booth up at the Airventure show today, wifey and I are gonna man it 'till Wed when the kids come up. Not really WORK, I guess.

Pretty cool show, first time.

 

[Pirate Lady]

This is exactly what we're thinking.

We've already planned on waking up on the hook on Monday the first of August, which is our anniversary.

I hate to say it, but I love having coffee in the cockpit and watching everyone drive to work.

I used to drive by this cove and wonder who the hell is doing that in the middle of the week?

9/7/22 <——- Me .

 

[440 Jim]

You're getting close PL....

Short story from last week that sent a message to me:

Thursday after a meeting, myself, our Ops mgr and Prod mgr stopped by a local watering hole for a late lunch and a cold beer. As I walked in I heard someone call my name out. I looked up and there was an individual, Jeff, that was my first hire at my last facility build, back in 2013, an 80K ft injection shop w/120-150 employees. 35yrs in processing.

Well, I talked him into coming down to see our injection shop and he was impressed. We had some really good conversation, it's a small world in that biz.

During the conversation I found out that he had worked at three other companies I have worked for, some dating back to the mid 90's.

He told me "Jim, you always took care of us, out on the floor everyday making sure we had the resources we needed to be succesful and getting to know each amd everyone of us on a personal level. When I was at X,X, and X company- they all remembered you and how well you treated everyone".

We batted a bunch if names around and he knew all of 'em.

Later that evening I received a phone call from yet another former employee, Bryson. Bryson was the guy with no direction, when I interviewed him I could tell he was creative and enjoyed working with his hands. I offered him a job in the deco department and he excelled, promoted him to lead. I watched him buy his first car and his first house, a great kid. I was proud to ne somewhat of a mentor to him.

So, he calls and apologizes for not calling me sooner, I left 6 yrs ago and have seen him once since. He also said some good things that I was appreciative of, then he started on his cars. Yep he likes old cars like me, showed me his 77 restored Camaro and his '67 Chevelle that his Dad bought new, he's restoring it now. We talked for a long time and it was good.

Maybe my career did not define who I was, as I stated earlier. But my approach to my career did define who I am to my coworkers and employees.

It really made my heart swell to hear those things from those two guys. (They were not looking for jobs)

I have always tried to be objective, honest, and fair in all dealings and folks remember that I guess.

So maybe my first career was more than working to provide for family with no lasting effects. Maybe I helped a few folks along the way.

That is personally rewarding to me. It was a great day and unsolicited.

I'm still helping my son with the three shops, mostly as an advisor, but I have taken a few projects on. But only 2-3 days/week and never a ful day. This new life is still quite wierd to me.....but nice to know I made a positive impact along the way.

 

[440 Jim]

Let us know how that "first day with no "work" to do" goes. I didn't know what the hell to do when I woke up that first Monday.

Still don't half the time, but learning.

 

[highslice]

My wife retired earlier this year after 33 years at a business her Grandfather started and her Dad ran when Grandpa retired. About 15 years ago her brothers took over the business and things went bad. We don't even speak to them any longer, and one of them I considered to be a close friend. They paid themselves exorbitant salaries while reducing her salary. They were trying very had to make her quit so they would be the only family left in the business. They are just greedy. So she sold her stock back to the company and quit. She was a live to work person. I am very much a work to live person. She has managed to keep herself quite busy and is happier and more relaxed than she has been in the last 15 years.

I don't see myself retiring anytime soon. I have enough money to, but I enjoy what I am doing now. I have a good group of clients, a very flexible schedule and my salary tells me that my employer values my services. And I am by no means killing myself. At this point I have no desire to be a partner in my firm, which is the only promotion left to me, so I am not in competition with anyone. Plus, we always had free health insurance through her company. My employer has great benefits at very reasonable cost and I am going to have to avail myself of the health insurance. My dad's biggest goal was to retire before 60. He retired at 59 and never looked back. He made a list every day of what he needed to accomplish and he would work on it until he finished the list for the day. Then he would make a Manhattan and watch sports until dinner.