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.
