[lizardlady]

I gave notice at work yesterday. I've been getting my ducks in a row over the last year. Yesterday I gave notice that I'm quitting. Actually, I'm not quitting, I'm retiring. I started to get cold feet over the weekend, but they warmed back up after I made it official. This is the right thing to do. I am mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted. Time to take time for me.

[Nammu]

Oh, Liz Congratulations 🎈🎉🎊 you stuck it out the school year, that’s huge. It will be hard not to worry any more about the kids but you earned a rest. Are you taking any time off before you volunteer?

[lizardlady]

Am going to take some time to veg once I'm actually retired. At least two weeks, maybe months not sure.

[Nammu]

Good for you. I’m guessing it will take some time to stop carrying the burden of responsibility. Not that there’s no responsibility to living it’s just a different kind.

[unaluna]

Good for you! Happy for you

[SlumberKitty]

Congratulations!

[divine1966]

Awesome. Enjoy your retirement

[MuseumGhost]

I was thinking about your situation recently, and wondering how everything was going. Congrats on getting through the last 12 months. You definitely DO deserve some 'me' time. Enjoy!

[downandlonely]

Congratulations on retirement!

[eskielover]

Congratulations I was wondering when you would make the break. Seeing it through the school year makes for a perfect ending time.

Oh yes, time to veg, but also time to get things done you have been wanting/needing to do at home /for yourself.

I personally love being retired. I can work when I want with a totally different skill set than my career. For me personally I volunteer BUT it is not a constant position. That leaves me open to do volunteer work when it comes up without it feeling like a job & gives me a variety of things to do. One volunteer thing I do is with flowers at the Horse park, another is volunteer work at the dressage shows like ring steward, score running always good exercise, help with rescued horses, & just to farm check-ins for my friends who are away. Left me open for that exciting job this foaling season of doing foal watch, then I did it for a friend who still had 2 pregnant mares after foaling season at the TB farm was over. I love being able to be flexible to just take day trips when I want to also. Didn't want to get tied down to a volunteer position that made me feel like I was working again on a permanent basis. Guess I am a free spirit at heart. Hope after verging you can settle into the retirement life that fits what you love & your passions

[splitimage]

Congratulations. You definitely deserve it, particularly after this past year. Enjoy the freedom.

[lizardlady]

HR contacted my boss to see if I will stay on part-time. I'm waffling about what to tell them. One of my concerns about retiring is that I know if I just sit at home I'll get depressed. But HR is not giving specifics of what they would want me to do. I don't trust these people. I want specifics of what they want in writing before I agree to staying.

Thoughts anyone?

[downandlonely]

I agree that you should get specifics in writing.

I wouldn't like just sitting at home either, but there are probably volunteer activities you could do to fill your time.

[eskielover]

Originally Posted by lizardlady

HR contacted my boss to see if I will stay on part-time. I'm waffling about what to tell them. One of my concerns about retiring is that I know if I just sit at home I'll get depressed. But HR is not giving specifics of what they would want me to do. I don't trust these people. I want specifics of what they want in writing before I agree to staying.

Thoughts anyone?

Specifics in writing for sure.

Wow, my farm could be (& is) full time effort. Never have just sat around here in 15 years.

[Nammu]

Definitely get it in writing. Especially the number of kids and hours cause from what you’ve said about them when they sold out they will take advantage of your soft spot for the kids.

[unaluna]

Since i retired, i do absolutely nothing, and yet it takes me all day!

[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by unaluna

Since i retired, i do absolutely nothing, and yet it takes me all day!

[lizardlady]

Thanks everyone, especially Una for giving me a laugh out loud moment.

I told my boss I want some time to think it over. She is on vacation this week. We'll talk Monday.

I'm suspicious that HR asked if I would stay on part-time, but aren't offering details of what they want me to do.

Right now I'm leaning towards telling them no.

Eskie, you are right. I have enough to do around the farm and the house to keep me busy for the rest of my life. My concern about being home is two-fold. I need to have some human interaction or I get depressed. It's that wicked cycle of if I don't interact with others I get depressed. Being depressed makes me want to isolate. Isolating makes me more depressed and around we go. Seems the solution to that would be to get out and be around people. I already picked a couple of places to volunteer.

Other concern came up over the weekend. I spent a large part of the weekend vegging and playing games on my phone. I was/am afraid of sliding into that after I retire. I'm reminding myself of two things. First, I end up vegging on the weekends because I'm exhausted from working while dealing with fibro and CFS. Second, I will just have to force myself to get off my arse and do things.

[downandlonely]

I'm glad you are looking into volunteer organizations. There are ways to be around people without working for money.

[lizardlady]

I told HR no about working part time. They would not give specifics of what they wanted me to do. I don't trust senior management at the agency. I've seen them screw too many people.

So, June 30 is my last day. I installed a count down clock on my phone. It says I have 15 days, 12 hours and 19 minutes until I'm retired.

[Nammu]

I think it was the right call. From what you said about them they would have had you working full time for part time pay and made you feel guilty for resenting it. I loved it when I volunteered for the animal shelter. It was vital and everybody else was happy to do it. At the library it was quieter and there wasn’t as much interaction but I still loved it because I was around books. Those were awesome places to volunteer. Again congratulations!

[eskielover]

Originally Posted by lizardlady

I told HR no about working part time. They would not give specifics of what they wanted me to do. I don't trust senior management at the agency. I've seen them screw too many people.

So, June 30 is my last day. I installed a count down clock on my phone. It says I have 15 days, 12 hours and 19 minutes until I'm retired.

Wise choice since they refused to give specifics

[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by eskielover

Wise choice since they refused to give specifics

All they would say was "it would depend on need and budget." That sounds to me like they would use and abuse me.

[lizardlady]

14 days, 13 hours and 16 minutes

[eskielover]

Originally Posted by lizardlady

14 days, 13 hours and 16 minutes

Count down for launch of retirement is on

You will love it cause then you get to do what YOU WANT , when you want (or when your critters want)