Retirement

[alabama mike1]

After 38 years in education as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal, I turned in my official notice of retirement this morning. 1984-1985 was my first year teaching a 4th grade class at a private school in Alabama. I was not sure I wanted to stay in education so I worked in a factory for 2 years before going back into the classroom in TN. for 3 years. In 1990, my wife, 2 kids and I moved to her hometown in Ohio and that is where I have spent the last 34 years. Bittersweet feelings this morning and yes I have shed a few tears. I love my kids and will miss them terribly. Most of the staff I will miss, all but a few are a great group of people. Finally, I will miss some of the parents that I have had the pleasure to work with, others not so much. Now it is time to start packing boxes and memories.

 

[Bubbaloo]

After 38 years in education as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal, I turned in my official notice of retirement this morning. 1984-1985 was my first year teaching a 4th grade class at a private school in Alabama. I was not sure I wanted to stay in education so I worked in a factory for 2 years before going back into the classroom in TN. for 3 years. In 1990, my wife, 2 kids and I moved to her hometown in Ohio and that is where I have spent the last 34 years. Bittersweet feelings this morning and yes I have shed a few tears. I love my kids and will miss them terribly. Most of the staff I will miss, all but a few are a great group of people. Finally, I will miss some of the parents that I have had the pleasure to work with, others not so much. Now it is time to start packing boxes and memories.

Congratulations on the retirement!

 

[DzynKingRTR]

Congrats and enjoy your retirement.

 

[Bamaatthebeach]

Congrats to you. I sent my letter last Tuesday. 37 years in higher education for me. I can't wait, honestly. Cheers!!

 

[Ole Man Dan]

After 38 years in education as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal, I turned in my official notice of retirement this morning. 1984-1985 was my first year teaching a 4th grade class at a private school in Alabama. I was not sure I wanted to stay in education so I worked in a factory for 2 years before going back into the classroom in TN. for 3 years. In 1990, my wife, 2 kids and I moved to her hometown in Ohio and that is where I have spent the last 34 years. Bittersweet feelings this morning and yes I have shed a few tears. I love my kids and will miss them terribly. Most of the staff I will miss, all but a few are a great group of people. Finally, I will miss some of the parents that I have had the pleasure to work with, others not so much. Now it is time to start packing boxes and memories.

Enjoy retirement. I retired in 2008.
I do miss my association with some people, others, not so much.
You are opening a new chapter in your life. Enjoy.
Retirement is what you make of it...

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

Congrats on the longevity and service that you provided!

 

[alabama mike1]

T minus 5 days and its all over.

 

[CB4]

T minus 5 days and its all over.

Congrats to you. I’m 63 and soon to be 64. I had set a goal of working to my “full” social security retirement at 67. Recent health issues have changed that. I’m going to be done with it by no later than December, maybe even earlier in August or September.

I’ve been working in some form or fashion since I was 15 years old. It is time.

Once again, congratulations to making it to “the land of critical mass” as Bob Brinker of Money Talk use to say.

 

[AlexanderFan]

T minus 5 days and its all over.

38 years as a teacher?!? Congratulations on making it through.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

I retired a little over 5 years ago, and haven't missed work for one nanosecond.

I do miss some of the people I used to work with, and have stayed in touch with them.

My suggestion would be to do nothing for 3-6 months. Then pick up something you like to do. For me, it's wine, and I work in a wine shop 10 hours a week (mainly for the employee discount!). I also teach a non-credit wine class through UA's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and Mrs. Basket Case and I like to travel.

It really doesn't matter what you do, so long as you enjoy it and are mentally challenged. Also helps to have a circle of friends -- a couple of other guys and I have coffee every Wednesday AM, and we see each other occasionally otherwise. You may have a golf group or something similar that would provide the same social connection.

The one thing I would recommend against is sitting home and watching TV all day -- you deteriorate pretty quickly doing that.

 

[Bazza]

^^^ great advice!

How about a once a week mini-triathlon with a couple friends of yours?

1/2 mile swim, 5K run, and 12 miles on the bike.

I can't think of a better way to spend some of your retirement time!

 

[alabama mike1]

38 years as a teacher?!? Congratulations on making it through.

Teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal.

 

[alabama mike1]

I retired a little over 5 years ago, and haven't missed work for one nanosecond.

I do miss some of the people I used to work with, and have stayed in touch with them.

My suggestion would be to do nothing for 3-6 months. Then pick up something you like to do. For me, it's wine, and I work in a wine shop 10 hours a week (mainly for the employee discount!). I also teach a non-credit wine class through UA's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and Mrs. Basket Case and I like to travel.

It really doesn't matter what you do, so long as you enjoy it and are mentally challenged. Also helps to have a circle of friends -- a couple of other guys and I have coffee every Wednesday AM, and we see each other occasionally otherwise. You may have a golf group or something similar that would provide the same social connection.

The one thing I would recommend against is sitting home and watching TV all day -- you deteriorate pretty quickly doing that.

We spend more time with the people we work with than our own families. The main reason I am retiring is bc of my elderly parents in Alabama. Dad will be 92 in Oct. and mom will be 90 next month. I will be able to go home and stay for longer periods of time instead of a quick weekend trip. I could also stay if needed.

Mrs. Bama still has 3 years left to work, she is a superintendents secretary.

As far as traveling, we visit our son, daughter in law and grand daughter in Mt. Juliet, TN. Sone number 1 lives about a mile from us with his family.

I do not have any close friends bc I have spent the last 18 years covering school events in the evenings. Hope to change that soon.

 

[Bazza]

The main reason I am retiring is bc of my elderly parents in Alabama. Dad will be 92 in Oct. and mom will be 90 next month.

Bless you Mike....you're a GOOD son!

Take care of your parents because they took care of you when you needed it the most! Wish more kids understood this!

 

[Bamaatthebeach]

We spend more time with the people we work with than our own families. The main reason I am retiring is bc of my elderly parents in Alabama. Dad will be 92 in Oct. and mom will be 90 next month. I will be able to go home and stay for longer periods of time instead of a quick weekend trip. I could also stay if needed.

Mrs. Bama still has 3 years left to work, she is a superintendents secretary.

As far as traveling, we visit our son, daughter in law and grand daughter in Mt. Juliet, TN. Sone number 1 lives about a mile from us with his family.

I do not have any close friends bc I have spent the last 18 years covering school events in the evenings. Hope to change that soon.

There is no instruction booklet for caring for elderly parents. You just "roll with the punches" sometimes. Finding qualified help to assist when you cannot be there or don't know what to do is another story in itself. But my sister and I were determined that our mother would not have to enter a nursing home since we had seen how the local one operated when our sister was a patient there. It was often tough and sometimes immensely challenging, but I'll never regret everything we did to ensure that my mother passed away in her own home. Best wishes to you and your family.

 

[alabama mike1]

There is no instruction booklet for caring for elderly parents. You just "roll with the punches" sometimes. Finding qualified help to assist when you cannot be there or don't know what to do is another story in itself. But my sister and I were determined that our mother would not have to enter a nursing home since we had seen how the local one operated when our sister was a patient there. It was often tough and sometimes immensely challenging, but I'll never regret everything we did to ensure that my mother passed away in her own home. Best wishes to you and your family.

I am not planning on my parents spending a day in a nursing home if I am physically able to care for them. They have been married almost 71 years and have lived in two houses during that time. There is no way they are moving to Ohio and I do not blame them one bit.

 

[saturdaysarebet]

If I knew retirement was this great, I'd have done it 40 years ago.

 

[Tidewater]

I semi-retired two months ago. Now I have only one job (with the possibilty of an additional one come September).
One thing to watch out for is to make sure you are financially ready because once you start Social Security, the cap on your monthly earnings is $1850/month. Earn more than that and Uncle Same takes 50 cents on every dollar beyond $1850 (by reducing the SS pay out by 50 cents).
If a person currently taking social security earns $2000 in a month, the net will only be $1925 because for every dollar over $1850 ($150 in this case) US reduces SS by 50 cents ($75 in this case).

 

[B1GTide]

I semi-retired two months ago. Now I have only one job (with the possibilty of an additional one come September).
One thing to watch out for is to make sure you are financially ready because once you start Social Security, the cap on your monthly earnings is $1850/month. Earn more than that and Uncle Same takes 50 cents on every dollar beyond $1850 (by reducing the SS pay out by 50 cents).
If a person currently taking social security earns $2000 in a month, the net will only be $1925 because for every dollar over $1850 ($150 in this case) US reduces SS by 50 cents ($75 in this case).

This is only true if you are collecting before you full retirement age, and it results in a recalculation of your benefits due when you do reach that age - meaning that you will get more from that point forward. In other words, it is a net positive, so earn as much as you wish.

Benefits Planner: Retirement | Receiving Benefits While Working | SSA

You can receive Social Security retirement or survivors benefits and work at the same time. However, if you are younger than full retirement age and earn more than certain amounts, your benefits will be reduced.

www.ssa.gov

.

 

[CB4]

This is only true if you are collecting before you full retirement age, and it results in a recalculation of your benefits due when you do reach that age - meaning that you will get more from that point forward. In other words, it is a net positive, so earn as much as you wish.

Benefits Planner: Retirement | Receiving Benefits While Working | SSA

You can receive Social Security retirement or survivors benefits and work at the same time. However, if you are younger than full retirement age and earn more than certain amounts, your benefits will be reduced.

www.ssa.gov

.

It was the reason I was planning to go another three years to “full retirement” at age 67. But after this second heart attack and taking into consideration my family medical history, there was very real possibility my life expectancy was significantly impacted. I decided I wanted those three years to do what is important to me.

Besides, at this point all I’m doing making more money for the government and my kids to fight over when I gone.