Tom, funny you should mention if I have my layout built. We have to tear down our garage because of mold. So, I proposed building a room onto the back of the garage; which will be 20’x20’. Demolition will start the week of 9-14-2020. I have a track plan worked out so the outlets, lighting, etc. will be installed based on the parameters of the layout. Can’t wait!
Wow, the return of one of my favorite threads, Retirement, what we all work for and God Willing, are able to achieve. Congratulations Peter, your about to have time to build that dream layout, so, please keep us posted as the progress begins. One thing you might run into, is a To-Do list, somehow this happens to the man of the house, head of the family, a normal wife thing???? Just kidding. My wife is somewhat understanding, and gives me some train time..... That being said, I retired April 2nd, 2018, and love every minute of it. I turn 76 this November and hopefully can continue this wonderful hobby fo a few more years. Best wishes and may God Bless You, thank you for sharing this with your friends on this great OGR Forum. Happy Railroading Everyone
Good stuff everyone, very interesting and some funny stuff! 
Not that anything is wrong with an online clock, but for those who like an actual physical clock, I may have posted this earlier on in the thread...my retirement clock...this was what it looked like a while ago:
You should be able to find one like this in a catalog or on eBay. It works pretty well. You just need to change the batteries every so often.
If anyone has moved recently or thinking of moving, how did you settle on where to go? Especially someone like Ricky Tanner who is already down South...are you going further South?
I ran one of my prewar #228 switchers tonight and it flawlessly on my little workbench/oval/layout. Good enough for me for now. Looking forward to a bigger layout for my fleet to expand on. Here's a picture of the same loco, also from the past:
BONUS- For anyone still up and you have cable (and maybe satellite TV?), if you get the Movies! channel, Humphrey Bogart and Sahara are coming up at 12:10am. Enjoy!
Tom
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Two more years 
I retired at age 43 after 20 years on the Fire Dept. then spent 30 years running a car ferry in Connecticut & Long Island. Retired last Christmas. In light of this pandemic still haven’t slowed down. Between my trains, projects around the house, catching up on reading, working out and eating healthy, the days go by very quickly. But I make time to run at least 1 train around my layout daily.
WOW! You guys are making me jealous 
.
First Congratulations Peter @Putnam Division . Prepare yourself for the perils of home renovation. Hopefully it goes smoothly and you can get on to the important stuff soon. Hope your club gets to run trains again this year too.
Same to all who have retired or are getting close. I enjoy reading your stories.
Me? I have about 10 years to go. I turned 58 this year and my son starts 11th grade Tuesday. I figure 6 more and he's out of school and a few years to figure out what's next. I work for a University on Long Island and get free tuition for myself and immediate family as a benefit. My daughter just finished in May of this year, and she's looking to get into Grad School. I have a great job and despite the occasional stupidity around me, I do enjoy what I'm doing. It doesn't hurt that I have a 10 minute commute everyday too.
My Father worked for the same company for 45 years and retired at 68. He and I were avid fishermen and he had a group of regulars he would meet with. He was also always busy with some project around the house to keep himself occupied. Funny, he started me in model railroading, but never built a layout of his own. My Father in Law retired from the bank he worked for at 54 (he's 86 now) and never did anything since. We bought a house up the street from them after our daughter was born so I guess you could say being "Pa" was his full time job.
Don't think we will stay in NY after I retire. I love Long Island, lived here my whole life. Access to the best beaches in the world, great fishing, lot's of golf courses and of course friends and family. The cost of living here is crazy though, and the current political climate doesn't mesh with ours so we will most likely move when the time comes.
Ten years is a long time though so we will see what life throws at us. Again, congrats to all of the retirees and I can't wait to join your ranks.
Bob
@RSJB18 posted:@RSJB18 posted:Don't think we will stay in NY after I retire. I love Long Island, lived here my whole life. Access to the best beaches in the world, great fishing, lot's of golf courses and of course friends and family. The cost of living here is crazy though, and the current political climate doesn't mesh with ours so we will most likely move when the time comes.
We have a second home in Lewes, Delaware on the beach. My sister and her husband moved from NJ to nearby Rehoboth Beach. The property taxes down here are VERY low, and there is no sales tax. One mile up the road from me is the Ocean beaches of Cape Henlopen State Park. Delaware has 2 other State Park beaches. Lots of summer tourists, but things will be back to normal pretty soon. The plus of so many retiring here is the restaurants stay open all year, and major stores like Home Depot, Lowe's, and Walmart have moved in.
Retired April 24 2020, 34years working in the construction industry, left at age 57, so far so good,
, Stay safe and good health.
@Putnam Division posted:I turn 62 in June.......I've been at the same job for 32 years......I average every 4th weekend and every 10th night Monday through Thursday........it tough running with the 30 and 40 year olds and I'm starting to wear down.........I have given notice:
December 2016, I give up weekend call.
December 2018, I give up weeknight call.
December 2020, I give up hospital work and go part time in the office. I'll be 67 at that time.....and part time in the office a few days a week will be fun.
I have been working hard to stay healthy....but you never know.......I hope that I will be able to play....
Peter
Peter,
Congratulations on the announcement you made during a Zoom meeting yesterday morning that as of this coming Jan. 1st you will retire completely from your practice. Hopefully with you being one of the heroic front liners in the ongoing battle against the virus there won't be a substantial uptick in cases between now and then to force you to reconsider and delay your long awaited, well deserved retirement. STAY WELL!!!
Bob said:
First Congratulations Peter @Putnam Division . Prepare yourself for the perils of home renovation.
Bob....it's already started! Last year was kitchen, family room and my wife's office.....this year (and we are in the middle of it) , is 4 bathrooms, the laundry room and the pantry.....next year it is the attic and the basement. The 2022 is the grounds and driveway.
My wife and I love our house, but we know we won't be able to stay here forever. So the plan is to upgrade (including the train room) and enjoy the house while we can......then, when we sell (hopefully, ~10 years from now?), we will just have to do minor things.
Thank you for your kind words....
Peter
Wow great stuff! I am 67 and in my 3rd career (Real Estate). No plans to stop as my wife has retired from teaching now. Talk about timing. House is almost completely redone, still can do the stairs just fine so probably will keep for a while. Her talk about a Florida place is interesting. What do you do with all the "stuff"? My trainroom is 300 square feet and my 2 car garage only fits one car! A 900 hundred foot condo on the beach sounds a little small. Good problem to have. Health is the key and I wish all well.
Ray
@Putnam Division posted:Bob said:
First Congratulations Peter @Putnam Division . Prepare yourself for the perils of home renovation.
Bob....it's already started! Last year was kitchen, family room and my wife's office.....this year (and we are in the middle of it) , is 4 bathrooms, the laundry room and the pantry.....next year it is the attic and the basement. The 2022 is the grounds and driveway.
My wife and I love our house, but we know we won't be able to stay here forever. So the plan is to upgrade (including the train room) and enjoy the house while we can......then, when we sell (hopefully, ~10 years from now?), we will just have to do minor things.
Thank you for your kind words....
Peter
I've seen the photos you have posted of your River City 3R's meetings Peter. You have a very nice house and the lake out your back windows looks beautiful. Wise move to renovate and enjoy it while you can. So many people let the house go, and when it's time to sell they don't get the $$$$ they expected.
Enjoy!
Tom, we decided on Hawaii because we vacationed here at least twice a year. Started renting vacation houses instead of condos and just decided to give it a try. It's a little strange to put everything you own in a container and ship it across the ocean. It helped we found a house with a four car garage. Also we wanted to be near the ocean but not at the ocean. We are about three blocks from the beach. Our taxes in the Bay Area were over $13,000 a year for a 2400 ft house. Here they are $1600 a year for a 3300 ft house with a pool and this view from our bedroom. Don
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Don,
Thanks for sharing the details on your property taxes and your picture with the beautiful sunset. Property taxes are a big factor in where we eventually move to, if we do indeed move. I read your post 3 times...it was only on the 3rd time I read it correctly...I thought the higher taxes were on your Bay Area home. Good to know. I shared that with wifey. We both would have thought that the taxes would have been higher in Hawaii. Unfortunately, I think we are both the biggest oddballs on earth that we would consider the 49th state (Alaska and its cold) before the 50th state (Hawaii with its tropical weather and having to ship our goods by boat)! 
Tom
@RJT posted:Ron045: I can go anytime, the saying is three bad days in a row. But like you working from home full time is great practice for retirement. The saying in the military was being ROAD, Retired onActive Duty and that is how I feel. I used to have to drive to Harrisburg twice in two weeks but since COVID I am temporarily a full time teleworkers. So I ask you this why retire? The hardest thing I do is make the commute to work and that entails walking the length of our house going down into the basement (train room/ man cave) back the length of the house to my desk. That is a long rough commute, so again why retire?
Rick,
Your commute is very similar to mine right now. Yes, COVID has been a good pre-retirement training experience for what life may look like when the actual retirement lifestyle begins. Thanks for mentioning that as another option to mull over.
Tom
@scale rail posted:Tom, we decided on Hawaii because we vacationed here at least twice a year. Started renting vacation houses instead of condos and just decided to give it a try. It's a little strange to put everything you own in a container and ship it across the ocean. It helped we found a house with a four car garage. Also we wanted to be near the ocean but not at the ocean. We are about three blocks from the beach. Our taxes in the Bay Area were over $13,000 a year for a 2400 ft house. Here they are $1600 a year for a 3300 ft house with a pool and this view from our bedroom. Don
You, my good Forum friend, Don, live in paradise, IMO, or the closest thing on Earth to paradise. Arnold
"Every day is like a Saturday, six days a week"...
While trying to maintain a job and raise kids, etc.- I found that one needs several hours of time just re-orienting to the task at hand after stopping due to family and work priorities. Stopping, say electrical work, then re-starting ten days later because of work and family stuff, meant that I was frustrated by the slow progress. Then we would move.
I didn't take up O Gauge UNTIL being retired for five years. Before that, starting in about 1983 or so, I attempted to build three or four HO scale model railroads, each of which never ran. In HO scale, I found I could never do track work well enough to get good running. HO was "too fiddly" for me.
So, two big things-
1. We both retired, AND
2. We built a house that we RUN like a condo. Being new- the house needs far less attention than an older one. Also we pay a guy to mow ($40 a week for the 6 months of summer costs about $900 a year, BUT saves 80 hours of time and eliminates $5-6,000 on equipment expense).
After retiring, the O gauge railroad made rapid progress. Also the "wow factor" on the part of guests provides a lot of encouragement as well.
@scale rail posted:Tom, we decided on Hawaii because we vacationed here at least twice a year. Started renting vacation houses instead of condos and just decided to give it a try. It's a little strange to put everything you own in a container and ship it across the ocean. It helped we found a house with a four car garage. Also we wanted to be near the ocean but not at the ocean. We are about three blocks from the beach. Our taxes in the Bay Area were over $13,000 a year for a 2400 ft house. Here they are $1600 a year for a 3300 ft house with a pool and this view from our bedroom. Don
That's a big leap. Congratulations. Not sure I'm brave enough to retire and leave the mainland. I'd feel too boxed in.
Quick story about shipping Household Goods. I used to work in the Navy's HHG program. Did you know that on every single container ship voyage there is an acceptable amount of loss? They know some containers are going to fall off the ship.
The worst story news we had during my time was having to inform a Commander his Corvette was at the bottom of the Pacific ocean.
I didn't do that job for very long. There was never a good news story.
Have Fun!
Ron
Mike Wyatt - I've been retired for almost 8 years now and shortly after I retired I'd be constantly asked by friends (contemplating retirement) "What's retirement like?" Although similar to your response mine had one slight addition...
"Every day is Saturday except Tuesday - 'Garbage Day' - and I must be sure to get up early enough to get the trash out before the truck arrives!" (lol)
PS - Actually my wife and I are early risers so I always get the garbage out in time but my response would always evoke a smile from the questioner.
PSS - The other thing my wife & I notice is that the time seems to fly by, and you're amazed at the end of the day how fast it went. I remember my late mother-in-law used to say "The older you get, the faster the time goes!" She was right.
Retired in April '18.
If I'd 'a known it was this much fun, I would have retired back in my 20s.
Andre
@laming posted:Retired in April '18.
If I'd 'a known it was this much fun, I would have retired back in my 20s.
Andre
LOL. I agree, Andre!! 😄
I retired in March. Buddy and I built layout table about a year prior. Wish I had not waited and done more while working for several reasons, I.e.,more cash flow then, and could be running more trains now. Plus let’s face it, not getting any younger.
Joe Gozzo
@PH1975 posted:Mike Wyatt - I've been retired for almost 8 years now and shortly after I retired I'd be constantly asked by friends (contemplating retirement) "What's retirement like?" Although similar to your response mine had one slight addition...
"Every day is Saturday except Tuesday - 'Garbage Day' - and I must be sure to get up early enough to get the trash out before the truck arrives!" (lol)
PS - Actually my wife and I are early risers so I always get the garbage out in time but my response would always evoke a smile from the questioner.
PSS - The other thing my wife & I notice is that the time seems to fly by, and you're amazed at the end of the day how fast it went. I remember my late mother-in-law used to say "The older you get, the faster the time goes!" She was right.
My wife retired 10 years ago when the small family-owned business she worked for closed down after the owner died.
Tom
@Trainlover160 posted:I retired in March. Buddy and I built layout table about a year prior. Wish I had not waited and done more while working for several reasons, I.e.,more cash flow then, and could be running more trains now. Plus let’s face it, not getting any younger.
Joe Gozzo
Congratulations Joe. Good timing--maybe you missed some of the COVID stress by retiring?
Feel free to post a picture of your layout table when you can.
Tom
@PRR8976 posted:Congratulations Joe. Good timing--maybe you missed some of the COVID stress by retiring?
Feel free to post a picture of your layout table when you can.
Tom
I'll tell you what Tom. That entry level job I had last year after getting retirement from my long term employer, must be hideous this year. Tech support for a cable telecom company! There were days I felt like just getting up from the cubicle and walking out the door without a goodbye. If I had come back after my knee replacement, I think I would have done it for sure! That was no way to end a 43 year career!
Mark,
Enjoy your retirement and your "post-retirement" retirement!
Once I leave, the only work I plan/hope to do is track work on my next layout, using prewar Lionel T-Rail track.
Unfortunately, I think I mentioned this early on in this thread, that the last few years may seem to drag on endlessly!
Tom
My wife Vicky retired but still wanted to "do something". Boy did she fall into it. This is her office. Water on three sides at the Lahaina harbor masters. It's the little yellow building at the end of the pier. Don
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@PRR8976 posted:Mark,
Enjoy your retirement and your "post-retirement" retirement!
Once I leave, the only work I plan/hope to do is track work on my next layout, using prewar Lionel T-Rail track.
Unfortunately, I think I mentioned this early on in this thread, that the last few years may seem to drag on endlessly!
Tom
Tom, Fear not! The possibility that you are put out to pasture before you planned gets greater as time passes. I thought I would go at my SSA age of 66, but ended up doing it at 63. Maybe you will be as lucky as I was!! Now I couldn't even keep up the pace saying, "Do you want fries with that burger?" 
To all the retirees: May you collect for longer than you were there!
@PRR8976 posted:Mark,
Enjoy your retirement and your "post-retirement" retirement!
Once I leave, the only work I plan/hope to do is track work on my next layout, using prewar Lionel T-Rail track.
Unfortunately, I think I mentioned this early on in this thread, that the last few years may seem to drag on endlessly!
Tom
Tom that only I will add your second sentence is make more sawdust I want to build a new bigger display cabinet the current is not big enough for all my Post War I can extend it approximately 2 more feet and raise it maybe a foot. And spend more time with my bride of 38 years currently on the road in our camper. Maybe chasing or meeting up with Rich somewhere. 
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@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:To all the retirees: May you collect for longer than you were there!
43 + 63 = 106!!!! That would be something!!
Rick, The display case and it's contents look great!!!
Thank you Mark that is the old to small one that I hope to replace with a much bigger one. So how is the layout progressing?
@scale rail posted:My wife Vicky retired but still wanted to "do something". Boy did she fall into it. This is her office. Water on three sides at the Lahaina harbor masters. It's the little yellow building at the end of the pier. Don
Don,
Uncle! Uncle! You're killing us with the beautiful scenery!
Tom
@RJT posted:Tom that only I will add your second sentence is make more sawdust I want to build a new bigger display cabinet the current is not big enough for all my Post War I can extend it approximately 2 more feet and raise it maybe a foot. And spend more time with my bride of 38 years currently on the road in our camper. Maybe chasing or meeting up with Rich somewhere.
Rick,
That's a great looking display case and the room, too, including the rug & framed prints. Very cool.
Tom
@Mark Boyce posted:Tom, Fear not! The possibility that you are put out to pasture before you planned gets greater as time passes. I thought I would go at my SSA age of 66, but ended up doing it at 63. Maybe you will be as lucky as I was!!
Mark, What's the correct phrase? "From your mouth, to God's ears," I think! Thanks.
Tom
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:Tom, funny you should mention if I have my layout built. We have to tear down our garage because of mold. So, I proposed building a room onto the back of the garage; which will be 20’x20’. Demolition will start the week of 9-14-2020. I have a track plan worked out so the outlets, lighting, etc. will be installed based on the parameters of the layout. Can’t wait!
Jay, Good luck with the new layout planning.
Tom
@oldpirate posted:Retired April 24 2020, 34years working in the construction industry, left at age 57, so far so good,
This sounds so familiar.....My last day on the job site was 5-31-19. I was a commercial/industrial electrician for 34 years. I retired at age 57 like you oldpirate. Started accumulating all these trains in 1998 to someday have a nice layout. Time to get started but I have been remodeling the house. I am allowed to work 40 hours a month in the trade without interferring with the pension. When I left, I had intentions in doing that. I have since lost interest and dont think I will ever go back. It is just so cool to do what you want all day.
@PRR8976 posted:Rick,
That's a great looking display case and the room, too, including the rug & framed prints. Very cool.
Tom
Tom thank you very much. I need to take photos and pst more like Mark is doing as things progress.
@Mike Wyatt posted:"Every day is like a Saturday, six days a week"...
While trying to maintain a job and raise kids, etc.- I found that one needs several hours of time just re-orienting to the task at hand after stopping due to family and work priorities. Stopping, say electrical work, then re-starting ten days later because of work and family stuff, meant that I was frustrated by the slow progress. Then we would move.
I didn't take up O Gauge UNTIL being retired for five years. Before that, starting in about 1983 or so, I attempted to build three or four HO scale model railroads, each of which never ran. In HO scale, I found I could never do track work well enough to get good running. HO was "too fiddly" for me.
So, two big things-
1. We both retired, AND
2. We built a house that we RUN like a condo. Being new- the house needs far less attention than an older one. Also we pay a guy to mow ($40 a week for the 6 months of summer costs about $900 a year, BUT saves 80 hours of time and eliminates $5-6,000 on equipment expense).
After retiring, the O gauge railroad made rapid progress. Also the "wow factor" on the part of guests provides a lot of encouragement as well.
Mike,
I used to really enjoy doing (outside) yard work, but as I get older, not so much. I like that you have "gone the extra mile" to have calculated the time you save by not needing to do it! Please post some pictures of your layout when you can.
Tom
I have a couple of suggestions,
First, buy you big ticket items prior to retirement. That Z4000 transformer or that Lionel Legacy Big Boy Locomotive that you've always wanted needs to be purchased now, while you are still working. You will have to adjust your buying downward, that said, you should be able to still purchase some big items, but you will need to do some soul searching ahead of time i.e. will I really run this one that much etc.
Second, take a time management course. I did the Franklin Covey course years ago while I was still working and I probably use it now as much as I did then. I am the primary care taker for me wife who has very significant health issues, so there is quite a bit of coordination needed between her doctor's appointments. I still get to spend from 1 to 3 hours in my train room most every day, but, keep in mind that your time is a precious commodity and nobody knows how much of it they have left. I don't mean to get morbid here, but I have known men who retired, got a few weeks, or maybe years, to be retired and then suddenly died. The conversation then becomes "Hey, did you hear about.... that just keeled over yesterday?!"
