Sandhya aka Sandy wrote:
At the brink of yet another huge restructure in my company, I'm beginning
to tire of it. Just a wee bit. Quite a lot, actually. While I no longer
look for logic in the actions of a big company, these restructures and
their ensuing impact are really getting old. And perhaps, so am I. :)
So I had a long hard look at my financials and by overhauling my world,
retiring from corporate life is in the realm of possibility. Not retiring
from productive life - there are a million, zillion things I'd like to do
and I can probably consult as well.
What do you think? Those who've been there, done that. Those who're
considering it and haven't yet taken the plunge. Those with feet planted
firmly on the ground. And any others in between. Thoughts, advice, comments?
It is interesting timing -- I am reading this less than three hours
after the end of last shift -- I retired today after fifteen years with
the same company, the longest I have lasted anywhere by a factor of two.
Money hasn't been an issue for me. I retired in 1998 with a modest
income and almost no debt. Today, improvements in my investments leave
me very comfortable indeed. But financial considerations were not a part
of my decision to retire, just as they had not been reasons to keep working.
When I first retired, I wasn't ready for the additional time, nor were
my spouse and I ready to spend quite so much time in close proximity to
one another. I held out for ten months, then took a part-time job at
Walt Disney World operating their steam trains. After a time I moved to
a hotel where I've spent the last decade, two days per week.
During this time, which I now see as a transition period, I've come up
with a lot more to do with my time. I'm now the head of a non-profit
historical society, am launching a supper club, and I still have the
dreams I retired with (if only I can get rid of enough Stuff to make
room for it).
Fifteen more years has also given me some perspective on the importance
of doing work you believe has enduring value, and of the need for down
time to keep work from being the force driving you. I'm not sure how
reasonable it is to claim I have matured somewhat between 45 and 60, but
I find that my priorities are markedly different today.
It takes great courage to leap into the unknown without a fat bankroll,
and this is perhaps a choice best left to those entrepreneurs who need
that adrenaline kick of having to perform or starve. I ain't one of them.
My "part-time era" turns out to have been a good way for me to
transition to retirement, as I have expanded my "weekends" from two to
five days, I have found ways to structure them to my taste (including
just a bit of chaos). That done, converting those last two days should
be easy. I don't know if this is a path you would find attractive, but
it's not too difficult to give it a try; perhaps even without leaving
your current employer.
I think a key point is to consider retirement in place at first, as
opposed to retirement to some sangria-la or worse, an old-folks home.
Build a post-employment life first, because until you know what shape
and size that life will take, you won't be able to choose the right size
or location for a different abode.
Remember that it's not a one-way lane, and particularly in the early
years, you should be alert to signs you've chosen sub-optimally, and
make adjustments.
You have my best wishes for finding a choice that works for you. I sure
hope I have.
Regards,
Bruce
