[Carl S]

Lucky for you to retire with pension.

I'm one month into it, no pension, 63, retired from a 40 year career as a GM parts manager but stepped down to being a counter guy 3 days a week for the last 7 years. I spent the last 35 years at the same dealership. Great co-workers (except for one of them, wont get into that....), tremendous boss, never had to ask for a raise in 35 years.

The first 2 weeks I scrambled around trying to work hard on old car stuff, then realized if I don't do it today, I can do it tomorrow, every day is the same! I absolutely love retirement except I miss my co-workers and my customers. I worked in a small town and likely greeted about 95% of the people by first name when they walked in the door.

You're gonna love it but it certainly takes some mental adjustments, it's not simple like I thought it would be!

[Jim Zeek]

Congratulations. its great being union with all the benefits. I can retire from the operating engineers in 2 more years. I'll be 55 with 35 years. don't know if i will or not because i love what i do. but it is nice to have that option and security.

[Pecosbill]

I did it in March of 2019 and I can say without hesitation that retirement is vastly UNDERrated! I have so many interests now I have no idea how I ever had time to work!

I’ll tell you what the elder statesman of our company told me when I announced my retirement: When you wake up on that first morning after you retire, something major in your life has changed. For the first time in your adult life, NO ONE is making you do anything you don’t want to do. Well, except for your wife, of course. But YOU are in charge of what you make of the rest of your days. You can lay around in the bed until noon, or you can get up, get after it, and find true satisfaction in what you accomplish. The choice is yours!

Congratulations! Now get up and get after it!

[Judge273]

I decided a few years ago and ramp it up. I took another part time job with the city I live in. Then, two years ago made me full time with benefits. Therefore, I cast off debt with a future pension. Then, my other full time self employed business started to take off after the pandemic started. Been essential and people are remodeling, building, and at 61 next week. Rather work and retire at my terms. That’s just me.

Hope retirement brings you joy and fulfillment!

[Carl S]

Originally Posted by Carl S

Lucky for you to retire with pension.

I'm one month into it, no pension, 63, retired from a 40 year career as a GM parts manager but stepped down to being a counter guy 3 days a week for the last 7 years. I spent the last 35 years at the same dealership. Great co-workers (except for one of them, wont get into that....), tremendous boss, never had to ask for a raise in 35 years.

The first 2 weeks I scrambled around trying to work hard on old car stuff, then realized if I don't do it today, I can do it tomorrow, every day is the same! I absolutely love retirement except I miss my co-workers and my customers. I worked in a small town and likely greeted about 95% of the people by first name when they walked in the door.

You're gonna love it but it certainly takes some mental adjustments, it's not simple like I thought it would be!

And an update on this 4 years later. Retired life is the best ever. I still love having every day off. Most days I spend at least a few hours in the garage, a lot of it doing stuff on my pair of 66 Canadian Pontiacs. I took on a casual part time job, on call 24/7 to guard prisoners at the local jail when the RCMP arrest someone. I can say no to any shifts I don't feel like taking. It's a win/win. I'm allowed to take my laptop to work so most times I'll spend 8-10 hours looking at old car stuff online while I watch the prisoner in the cell on a separate monitor on the desk. Working but not working and getting paid to do it!

You never know what opportunities might be waiting for you (like this one for me) until you retire and find out.

[thebuick]

I pushed my retirement off and did a little more time, I did retire in February 2024. So it’s been almost a year. Make a long story short my Mom needed me and Retiring to be there for her was priority 1. She passed in June 2024. I was lost for months without seeing her daily. As I approach my first year being retired I plan on a vacation in March. I have not had one in years . I am also getting back into the old cars. Currently looking for one Firebird GTO Lemans any big block with Ac will do lol . Tomorrow is never promised so do what you can until you can’t. I’m also thinking of a part time job like Carl 3 days a week sounds good. Enjoy the ride .