Feeling nostolgic on the eve of my last day at Boeing

[Hajo]

Rip, when you build your new home make sure the garage isn't next to the kitchen.  If someone is having a bad day and you are tinkering in the garage, you will hear about it.  (experience) 

[Maverick]

Last day expectations. You looked forward to it for years. It arrives and you have butterflies but it still feels great. Then the time you walk out the door for the last time..... You feel as it the weight of the world lifts off your shoulders........ then afterwards you realize, all those folks you used to enjoy seeing and talking to are gone from your life. The page turns, the chapter closes and you fully realize just what the hell that actually means. Life goes on and you see it starting to pass you by.  After a while retirement starts to become comfortable and you miss work less and less. Sounds silly I know but believe me it's true for those of us who were raised to a life of work.

Enjoy Rip. This won't come by again. 

[Mister Fork]

Fork, you speak my language. Well, not my language anymore!

I still do have one MS Project schedule left to complete. Getting our home ready for market.
Start is now, finish is April 20th 2019. It is resource loaded (1) but I don't have to report to a director each week except to my wife who REALLY IS a director at a hospital.

The best part is, status is now over a beer / glass of wine. Perhaps some snuggling after report out.   

lol.  Ahh the life of a project manager....

Having one project to manage is a whole lot easier to manage than 10. You're on Easy Street now... 

[flippz]

Rip I don’t know you but great story. Funny how different the world is now from then. Just in my aspect. Do not know many that follow there desire like that or that would be homeless to get a job. And thank god for those angels that do not want to be seen in that light
Enjoy your days sir

[save]

I came to Seattle (From Minnesota) age 18 on a one way Amtrak train ticket in 1979

Ripsnort, Enjoy you retirement !

I'm the same age as you, but still got 4 years to work before I retire. Planning to spend my winters in SE Asia, get away from the cold here  in Sweden.

[firbal]

Good to hear that you made it out alive. I got layed off from the Everett plant back in '92 and ended up in Ft Worth at Lockheed. If I had not been layed off, I would be at 21 years with Boeing instead of 16 at Lockheed. Enjoy your retirement.

[Grayeagle]

-grin- .. great story Rip. Retirement is an adjustment. (way understatement)

My last 'gig' was 3d artist for 2XL games here in Phx, AZ. 2010.
Laid off after 6mo. due to their decision not to pursue flight sim genre after all (they hired me to do that)


Been -retired- since then. (ie: putting resume's out, no bites and finally filed for Social Security)
Wife and I did a 'Corvette Summer' ..cruised 4400mile road trip, visited Ratbo, a friend from USAF and one of Kathy's internet friends across the USA.
Was a great road trip.

Biggest change: reduced stress so much I only need 4hrs sleep a nite..plus usually take a nap in the afternoon and I am good.
Schedule is such that ..well .. I don't have one. Just as likely to be jamming in Final Fantasy 14 online at 4am as to be asleep at 6pm nappin hard.
Other changes: I can level a character in an MMO to max ..just for laffs ..in not much time at all
Can video game my brains out. (160+hrs in BattleTech, on Steam, f'rinstance (just came out, based on 3025 era..great to see the shapes again

Negatives: Weirdest things as system parameters are eroded away ..gait an balance impaired, vision nowhere what it used to be, some simple things are just beyond my capabilities. I do not believe I could do an Ironman AW/AH convention thing anymore (I would stay up for the entire Con, sleep on the way home

There are times when I miss the capability of being able to build a killer PC ..capabilities these days are mind boggling

Get a huge kick outta people askin how old I am when I am jamming in Final Fantasy

Will be 70 in two years. I remember when I thought that was really old.
I heard once you reach 70 life will be over as you knew it ..er ..heard that about every decade milestone along the way
There are days when I don't feel as young as I used to for sure .. delving into an awesome game helps immeasurably.

Right now I spend my time in Final Fantasy 14, BattleTech, Hearts of Iron IV, IL-2 Battle of Stalingrad, and War Thunder (not very often, just not enough time!) ..and Forza 7 on the PC. (awesome cars and tracks to run on)

Ya..your hobbies will take over and jamming with the family ..nothin else like it. Heck I am even havin fun makin home made chili an stuff

Enjoy the day dood

-Gray Eagle aka Frank

[Ripsnort]

Great post Greyeagle! I've known you for over a decade and I thought you were my age.

It's been 4 weeks since I posted my retirement and left the company.
I went crazy and got another job. 
Okay, just kidding. I'm working for myself now.

After our vacation to MN (one way flight, drove a 5th wheel and truck back) I've been catching up with neglected things I need to get done as our house goes on the market April 15th.

I completely remodeled our laundry room, including tear out of the flooring. I haven't been on my knees that long since I asked my director for a raise a few years ago!

The yard is in outstanding condition now, just have a fence post or two to replace.

I am still waking up early and going to bed early, I have no choice, my colon wakes up before I do! 

Life is good "on the outside". Best move I've ever made is retiring!

Completed and Remaining projects:
Month   Year   Activity   Status
Mar   2017   New Spa Heater   Completed
Nov   2017   Complete crawl space makeover   Completed
Feb   2018   New furnace   Completed
Feb   2018   New water heater   Completed
Mar   2018   Window cleaning   Completed
Mar   2018   Vent cleaning   Completed
June   2018   Remodel Laundry Room   Completed
June   2018   Trim 120 border hedges   Completed
June   2018   Pressure Wash Gutters     Completed
June   2018   15 yards landscape bark   Completed
July   2018   Fence repair   
Aug   2018   House Trim-security bulbs replacement-Security camera cleaning   
Sep   2018   Pack Garage   
Oct   2018   Refinish Hardwood floors   
Sep   2018   Paint Interior   
Jan   2019   "Re-tile Pantry
Steps in garage"   
Feb   2019   Clean Carpets   
Feb   2019   Window cleaning   
March   2019   Clean/pack attached garage   
March   2019   Pressure wash all concrete   
April   2019    Garage Sale   
May 1st   2019   Move   

[Hajo]

Rip I understand your feeling of needing something to do.  After 40 years of directing Iron Making Operations (Blast Furnaces) on a turn and steady daylight job filling in on the Superintendents, Area Operations Manager and such. When I retired I got a job hauling car parts on a part time basis.  I'm a motorhead so this was right up my alley!  One off day however I drove my Challenger up to Geneva on the Lake Ohio, right on Lake Erie.  I have a friend there who I worked with who owns a Bar.  I'm sitting under an umbrella sipping a Corona on a beautiful Sunny day.  While making these observations to myself I asked myself "am I nuts?"  I don't need a schedule, the good lord has provided for me.  What the hell am I doing working????  Next scheduled day I went into work and informed them that at the end of the week I was quitting.  Your need to be useful to no one other then to your family and close friends, your scheduled work life and loyalty to the company urge you to do something.  Once you get settled, look around and notice the beautiful family you have, and everything you've earned for your endeavors. You will finally decide that your retirement was earned.  Take advantage of your family, do what you want ON YOUR TIME and enjoy the leisure you've earned.  I couldn't have made a better decision about quitting my part time job to keep busy. At some point you will do the same.  I hope sooner then later.  Now your schedule is dictated by what you want to do with the family.  Just DO IT!  I'm almost 69 and turned down many jobs in my field after retiring. Now I've been retired 6 years.  I LOVE IT!!

Congrats Rip

[Ripsnort]

Rip I understand your feeling of needing something to do.  After 40 years of directing Iron Making Operations (Blast Furnaces) on a turn and steady daylight job filling in on the Superintendents, Area Operations Manager and such. When I retired I got a job hauling car parts on a part time basis.  I'm a motorhead so this was right up my alley!  One off day however I drove my Challenger up to Geneva on the Lake Ohio, right on Lake Erie.  I have a friend there who I worked with who owns a Bar.  I'm sitting under an umbrella sipping a Corona on a beautiful Sunny day.  While making these observations to myself I asked myself "am I nuts?"  I don't need a schedule, the good lord has provided for me.  What the hell am I doing working????  Next scheduled day I went into work and informed them that at the end of the week I was quitting.  Your need to be useful to no one other then to your family and close friends, your scheduled work life and loyalty to the company urge you to do something.  Once you get settled, look around and notice the beautiful family you have, and everything you've earned for your endeavors. You will finally decide that your retirement was earned.  Take advantage of your family, do what you want ON YOUR TIME and enjoy the leisure you've earned.  I couldn't have made a better decision about quitting my part time job to keep busy. At some point you will do the same.  I hope sooner then later.  Now your schedule is dictated by what you want to do with the family.  Just DO IT!  I'm almost 69 and turned down many jobs in my field after retiring. Now I've been retired 6 years.  I LOVE IT!!

Congrats Rip

Thanks Hajo, and good advice!