I'm Retiring!

A few weeks ago I made the decision to go ahead with retirement.  I've been in this kind of financial position for some time, but held off for a number of reasons.  One was that I was really enjoying my job, and two was that I was really enjoying the people I work with.  Yet there has been this desire to take a sabbatical, and I could use one of about six months.  It is possible that I may come back as a part time contractor (I already have one previous employer wanting me back).  It's just as possible that I'll be out somewhere with a fishing pole.  I can tell you that Sheila and I would like to do some traveling, both here in the Southwest, as well as the East Coast.  

I notified my new boss of this decision early Thursday afternoon.  I knew a week ago that this would be the week.  The hardest part about this was keeping it bottled up inside of me.  Sheila knew, Mark knew, and so did a few others.  I didn't say anything about it at work.  I really wanted to vent.......I went blog silent as this was being mulled over.  I didn't want to spill the beans just yet.

Interestingly enough, I slept really well last week........until Friday night, the day after I informed my boss.  I haven't brought it up at work.  I told two co-workers that I am close to, and asked them not to say anything about it.  Word will eventually get out, and I'm going to let that take its course.  And there's a reason for that.

Morale in my department has been plummeting.  I can go into why I think it is plummeting, but it's best not to.  I didn't want to be seen spiking the football while many of my co-workers are unhappy.  In other words.........savor, but don't gloat.  I've seen situations before where once morale goes south, it never really comes back.  It's only overcome when there has been a huge turnover in personnel.  The low morale is undoubtedly a factor in the timing of my decision, but even if it weren't I still need a huge chunk of time off.  There are guns to shoot, fish to catch, coins to collect, books to read, and ham radio to keep me busy.  If there's a concern, it's that I might be busier than I am now, and I might have to dedicate time for relaxation.  

I am very much at peace about this decision.  It is time for me to step down, and let someone else ride this horse.

As for my last day, that's still being worked out.  Maybe the end of August.  Maybe the end of July.  Professional courtesy obligated me to give 90 days' notice, and I told my boss I would not go out before those 90 days.  He's going to have to work with HR to open a req for my replacement, and even if he gets someone I wouldn't want to be the person that replaces me.  The nature of my present assignment is that it will take six months to break that person in, and another six months of seasoning.  It's been a challenging assignment and a fun one to boot, but I don't a lot of people would have said that if they were in my shoes.

So.........a career that started out in microwave tubes, and went on to missiles, experimental missile payloads, satellites, satellite ground stations, circuit cards, manned spacecraft, cancer detection equipment, life support systems, aircraft engines and test stations for flight hardware is drawing to a close.

Most of it was fun, and I've learned not to have regrets over "what might have been".  

If there is anyone who is more blessed than I have been, I'm not aware of it.

Sunday 2/2/25: Warming Up in the Old Pueblo

 The past week or so saw below normal temperatures.  Today we are above normal and it will be that way for the rest of the week.  February can be a great month here and it can also be a cold month.  I would have thought we would be in for snow this winter, since it does that every third winter or so, but not this time.

Since I last checked in, we were up to San Jose and back for my mother's memorial service.  It was a great service and the whole process went a whole lot smoother than I thought it would.  We took three days to drive up there mainly because I-40 was used instead of I-10.  You can do it in too even using I-40, but I budgeted an extra day of driving since we wanted to bypass L.A..  Even if L.A. wasn't having their fire problems you still don't want to pass thru if you don't have to.

The first night saw us in Needles, where gas was $5.89 a gallon.  We discovered that one road that takes you into Mohave Valley AZ that the locals know about, and got gas there at $3.49.  Gas along I-40 and I-5 varied.  In Barstow and Lost Hills you could get it for around $4.00, but in Kettleman City figure on popping at least $5.70.  In San Jose it varied between $3.85 at Rotten Robbie's to $4.89 elsewhere.  At a Chevron in Morgan Hill where we stopped for a bio break there was a sticker with a QR code that said the high prices were due to taxes, and scan the code to figure out how to fight back.

Well the best way to fight back is at the ballot box, but the mentality of 80% of California voters suggests they aren't capable of processing the concept that if you vote differently you will get different results.  

Anyway, the drive back was also along I-40 and we came home in two days.  We made a mistake stopping for the night in Mojave.  We've stayed there before with no issues but we will never stay there again.  No, we weren't harmed or injured, but Tehachapi would have been a better choice.  (You do NOT want to stay in Barstow unless you want your car broken into overnight!)  

Meantime, I have started the process of getting my mother's estate settled.  I have distributed the first part of the assets with the second part being done pending sale of her house.  I don't see that happening until later in the year, as that we've got to get it ready, and finish going thru her things.  It is going to be a long process.  I have also had to re-arrange some things financially.  All of the debts save for mortgage and HELOC have been paid.  The mortgage is fixed at 3.5%, and with the CD I set up two days ago paying 4% I am in that unique position of the bank paying me more interest than I am paying them.  I can settle the mortgage right now if I want to, but right now it's free money.  

I guess this now brings up the retirement question.  I've had a few co-workers ask me when I'm going to do it.

Last December, when I was asked, the answer was "some time between tomorrow and one year from tomorrow."  A date has been tentatively selected but I am not announcing it, as that it's still subject to change.  I am being treated very well at work and it's been years since I've enjoyed a job as much as I've enjoyed this one.  I will admit there is a desire to take a sabbatical, and come back part time as a contractor.  

And if the sabbatical goes on for a year, no big deal.  I have places I want to visit, books that I want to read, and things that I want to do.