@Yendor You seem to be quite busy in your pre-retirement life...I wish I was half as active as you! 
Tom
@Yendor It sounds like you have a good plan, and are already getting time for activity even with the offer you couldn't refuse. My offer I couldn't refuse was of the opposite nature, as you can see in my earlier post. 
I wish my health would let me do some serious bicycle riding again, but I may have to join the local YMCA and start swimming instead. It sounds like you have a wonderful room to build that 042 layout.
I retired last Dec (age 56) and have been spending must of my time doing home projects and exploring the area.
I was employed by a Govt consulting for close to 15 years but we were sold and restructured twice in the last three years so after a few months I decided end of year was time to put in my papers. I do miss my work colleagues and still get together every few months for happy hour.
I had always planned to retire early and part of our retirement plan was selling out home (N. Virginia) and moving to a lower cost of living and more peaceful life. We moved near Winchester VA and I have amazing view of the mountains from my front porch. Someone was talking steps earlier.. I have 12k as my daily goal which I usually reach with the help of my dogs.
As for my train layout sad to say that has been on hold. I have been resolving some basement issues and hoping to get it finished before starting (what I hope) is my final layout. I have followed Peter and GunRunner new home and layouts threads over the last few months.
Mark I highly recommend using the pool. It’s year round and they probably offer classes. The pool allows you to stretch and be mobile while the buoyancy takes the pressure off your joints. As the late night advertisements say, “Don’t wait, sign up now, our operators are standing by “.
@PRR8976, Tom, Wow, we are on page 25 of this really interesting thread, and all I can say is Retirement is so much fun. (Retired April 2018) As of April 29th, (2022) my wonderful wife has retired and it’s even more fun, we are so busy….. I’m turning 78 in November, she’s a good bit younger and we plan to travel all over the country, and she’s headed to Seoul Korea end of September, hopefully to visit her family and come home safe. I may wind up going to York, a fun place to visit and see old friends, so, to those getting ready to Retire, have a plan, stay busy, get into an exercising program, (go to the Gym), finish your train layout, get involved with friends in the hobby that are in driving distance, fellowships with other train buffs is so important. Our group includes Dr. Jack Fisher, Farmerjohn, Bill Bramlage, Legacy Station, and a new friend Ron Zellem, in Nashville, so, stay healthy, stay happy, Pray daily, Happy Railroading Everyone
@leapinlarry Good to hear from you and thanks for the advise! For my own retirement, I have a tentative retirement date of June 9th, 2023 (roughly a year later than I originally wanted). Let's see if the economy cooperates.
Tom
What a great thread! I love hearing about everyone’s plans and experience……and, I’ve learned loads from all…….Retirement means visiting the grand dogs in Philly and listening/ watching the trains on both sides of the Schuykyll while they play in the dog park…….
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Peter
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Well, I've been retired for 15 months and it has been pretty good. I found another club to run with here in Arizona, I'm finalizing my layout design, and I have all my trains here from storage. Took a bit of getting used to being retired, but it's not bad.
Of course, now I'm getting a bunch of E-mails every day asking if I'm interested in taking an IT Project Manager contract in a state other than the one I moved to. Go figure. 
@AGHRMatt posted:Well, I've been retired for 15 months and it has been pretty good. I found another club to run with here in Arizona, I'm finalizing my layout design, and I have all my trains here from storage. Took a bit of getting used to being retired, but it's not bad.
Of course, now I'm getting a bunch of E-mails every day asking if I'm interested in taking an IT Project Manager contract in a state other than the one I moved to. Go figure.
Matt, I’ve been retired almost 3 years, and I still get those emails and texts. The funny thing is, I’m not qualified for any of those jobs anyway. I was stuck working with the old technology and never given the opportunity to learn the new technology, though I tried several times. I worked on the old stuff the younger people didn’t know. That’s what the company needed me to do and that was fair. Yes, move to Utah for a contract, when I live in Pennsylvania! 😆😆
Well, I'm sort of retired but not fully.
As far as activities go, years earlier we had a home made rail car on which we would ride the many little used or storm damaged branch lines here in S.E. PA. As time wore on and the conversion from rails to trails occurred I felt mournful at the sight of the paved over right of ways.
However since getting into recumbent trikes those same abandoned road ways became a nostalgic trip into yesteryear.
In fact, when I was observed loading our trikes up for another outing I was labeled a "three rail biker". I missed the comment until I saw this photo:
Catrike Dumonts with twin batteries. Exploring the litter free former roadbeds of the middle Atlantic states.
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@Tom Tee posted:Well, I'm sort of retired but not fully.
As far as activities go, years earlier we had a home made rail car on which we would ride the many little used or storm damaged branch lines here in S.E. PA. As time wore on and the conversion from rails to trails occurred I felt mournful at the sight of the paved over right of ways.
However since getting into recumbent trikes those same abandoned road ways became a nostalgic trip into yesteryear.
In fact, when I was observed loading our trikes up for another outing I was labeled a "three rail biker". I missed the comment until I saw this photo:
Catrike Dumonts with twin batteries. Exploring the litter free former roadbeds of the middle Atlantic states.
http://recumbents.com/mars/pag...tz/projtetzmain.html
This is my father-in-law, John Tetz, he was very well known in recumbent circles. He hand-built all his machines and experimented with electric and combustion assist engines. He had been building them since the '90s. He passed away 2 years ago and people in his town still talk about the crazy old man on the weird bike. The link above is to M.A.R.S. , where he was very active.
I've been retired 18 months now. Been working on moving next door to my in-laws ( 907 miles away). Up there civilization is 7 miles away, but there is a Home Depot within 20 miles. So I'm trying to take most of my tools, supplies, and trains with me.
Been working on building a 1500 sqft bldg to store everything thing in first and then build a house. My son was helping me but he got killed in February so all progress has slowed way down. We have his 9yr old now to raise which adds unplanned responsibilities. Not sure how it will turn out.
I never missed going to work.
I do have trouble remembering what day of the week it is.
OMG aussteve! You have my sincere condolences.
Try to focus on the move, construction, grandson and future layout planning, I know, a lot easier said than done. Keep busy
Aussteve,
So sorry to hear of your son’s passing, in addition to having the responsibility of raising his son. Now I understand you moving next door to your in-laws. Hopefully there will be other family members in the area to offer support. Stay healthy and be strong, your grandson will need you.
John
I retired 6 years ago (really 5 as the first year I was on retainer, introducing clients, etc. to others in the office). Never regretted it one minute - One knows when one is ready. I worked full time since I was 17 (college at night - no loans for me).
Two months before I retired, I began planning a layout expansion, a "Retirement project" I said to myself, one way to keep me busy. The problem with this plan was that once I got started planning, I got obsessed! The bottom line is that a roughly 6' x6' expansion (The Warrenville docks) was completed before my last day in the office. Time flies working on the layout, many late nights in the basement.
Grand kids, wife, the dogs, friends (many with trains - the LITCA group I formed is now 16 strong), traveling, reading, the layout and, since last year, my website have kept me busy.
One issue, like aussteve, I do have trouble remembering what day of the week it is, but I don't care - I'm retired!
I found that the best thing about being retired is no timelines - if one plans on doing something tomorrow, but winds up doing something else instead, no biggie.
I too love reading everyone's retirement stories.
Hmmm - too early for dinner, I think I'll go to the dog park, starting to cool off a little now.
Aussteve, my heart goes out to as I lost my eldest daughter four months after I retired. If you would like, please reach out via a private message.
Jay
My typical week is Monday-Saturday, Tuesday-Saturday, Wednesday-Saturday, Thursday-Saturday, Friday-Saturday.
Saturday and Sunday are still special days.
If it was not for the trash truck I would not know which Saturday-day it is.
Aussie Steve, My heart shares your hurt, We lost our middle daughter Christmas Eve 3 years ago.
49 years of life gone in a flash.
As St. Augustine said, memories are a blessing and can last a lifetime.
Steve, Jay, Tom, I’m so sorry for each of you!
@aussteve posted:I've been retired 18 months now. Been working on moving next door to my in-laws ( 907 miles away). Up there civilization is 7 miles away, but there is a Home Depot within 20 miles. So I'm trying to take most of my tools, supplies, and trains with me.
Been working on building a 1500 sqft bldg to store everything thing in first and then build a house. My son was helping me but he got killed in February so all progress has slowed way down. We have his 9yr old now to raise which adds unplanned responsibilities. Not sure how it will turn out.
I never missed going to work.
I do have trouble remembering what day of the week it is.
@Tom Tee posted:Aussie Steve, My heart shares your hurt, We lost our middle daughter Christmas Eve 3 years ago.
49 years of life gone in a flash.
As St. Augustine said, memories are a blessing and can last a lifetime.
Wow guys.....and just when you think that you have problems.....Don't know how I would handle the loss of a child.
add my sincere condolences to the chorus.
Bob
@aussteve posted:I've been retired 18 months now. Been working on moving next door to my in-laws ( 907 miles away). Up there civilization is 7 miles away, but there is a Home Depot within 20 miles. So I'm trying to take most of my tools, supplies, and trains with me.
Been working on building a 1500 sqft bldg to store everything thing in first and then build a house. My son was helping me but he got killed in February so all progress has slowed way down. We have his 9yr old now to raise which adds unplanned responsibilities. Not sure how it will turn out.
I never missed going to work.
I do have trouble remembering what day of the week it is.
Steve, my sincerest condolences.
Peter
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:Aussteve, my heart goes out to as I lost my eldest daughter four months after I retired. If you would like, please reach out via a private message.
Jay
Jay, my sincerest condolences.
Peter
@Tom Tee posted:My typical week is Monday-Saturday, Tuesday-Saturday, Wednesday-Saturday, Thursday-Saturday, Friday-Saturday.
Saturday and Sunday are still special days.
If it was not for the trash truck I would not know which Saturday-day it is.
Tom, my sincerest condolences.
Peter
I retired 2 years ago. Kept looking for something to fill my time. After my in-laws passed, we settled the estates and ended up with a 1934-ish set of Lionels, and that started a little fire in me. I've been clearing the basement after having a 12x8 L in the dining room all summer when the grandkids were here. Next week I start assembling a 16x20 table. Then York. Then, who knows...
@Tom Tee & @Tranquil Hollow RR - My deepest condolences, also.
Tom
On my layout there will be a business with my daughter’s name emblazoned; something whimsical which would annoy her. A phrase I often heard, “Dad, you’re SO annoying”.😄
Thanks to all for the kind words. I made it back to York this April and revisited this spot in the blue hall from 1995.
You never know about tomorrow, so enjoy it all while you can
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Pulled this out of a fortune cookie last night. Thought this was the right place to share it.
Bob
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Bob, Is that a great statement
Business considerations and health issues among extended family accelerated my retirement plans. Instead of a slow wind down over the next four years I am looking at being 75% retired by the end of the year. I am so not ready. On the model railroad front this early out means I won't be able to start working on my retirement layout right away. Our current house is not set up for a decent sized model railroad, and I still have a child living at home. The "make do for now" train board will have to continue to make do.
I just found this thread, very interesting. I add my condolences to those offered here for lost family, it can be hard. I lost the best brother-in-law a person could have about ten years back. My retirement happened at the end of 2007, I was blessed to have made it to retirement, one year earlier I was at the Falk Corp. December 6, 2006 when our storeroom building exploded. It was caused by a propane gas leak which filled the building with the gas. About 30 to 45 seconds before the explosion I was speaking with a co-worker, Tom, near one of the doors of that building. I had just walked back to my work area in another building when I heard the explosion, I looked up to see the windows in my building being blown into the building and debris from the storeroom being blown into the air. I found out a short time later that Tom was killed instantly.
Ray
Pulling the plug on work Feb 2023. I’ve been working since I was 7 !…paper route, golf caddy, fast food, then a real career for a number of years. Looking forward to getting the RR built to my “druthers”. Sharing it with others would be “icing on the cake”.
Rich in SD
This Thursday September 1st will be one year since I retired and I’m loving every minute of it !
The question I get of course is “what do you do all day ?” and I don’t even bother answering it anymore.
After 41 years of train collecting I have amassed enough trains to keep me busy for more years than I probably have left.
I enjoy the fact that I have no obligations to anyone except of course my wife.
I have turned down several jobs in the last 12 months that people have “chased” me down to take…I have zero interest in any kind of employment. Just last week I traded in my CDL for one of those blue hang tags that lets me park in a handicapped spot.
I was a tractor trailer driver for 24 and half years hauling heavy equipment for various paving and construction companies. My last 17 and half years of working was in state service for the NJDOT…that ended on September 21 2020 when I got hit doing my job on the highway. I was hurt pretty bad but survived and still have 3 displaced ribs.
The state gave me a nice monthly pension and great medical benefits so I’m set up pretty well…and best of all no more winters plowing snow on the highway’s !
Here’s a picture of my last day of work…
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@trestleking posted:Pulling the plug on work Feb 2023. I’ve been working since I was 7 !…paper route, golf caddy, fast food, then a real career for a number of years. Looking forward to getting the RR built to my “druthers”. Sharing it with others would be “icing on the cake”.
Rich in SD
I started mowing neighborhood lawns at 10 and started punching a clock, for 50 cents an hour, at age 12. Was never unemployed til age 70. I had a voluntary separation and looking back I made the right choice.
My dad and my brother had some depression/lack of direction issues after retirement but I didn't. I thought I would, but the next Monday I never even thought about going in.
The great thing is I can procrastinate at a professional level now.
Now almost all things can wait till tomorrow.
@taycotrains posted:This Thursday September 1st will be one year since I retired and I’m loving every minute of it !
The question I get of course is “what do you do all day ?” and I don’t even bother answering it anymore.After 41 years of train collecting I have amassed enough trains to keep me busy for more years than I probably have left.
I enjoy the fact that I have no obligations to anyone except of course my wife.
I have turned down several jobs in the last 12 months that people have “chased” me down to take…I have zero interest in any kind of employment. Just last week I traded in my CDL for one of those blue hang tags that lets me park in a handicapped spot.
I was a tractor trailer driver for 24 and half years hauling heavy equipment for various paving and construction companies. My last 17 and half years of working was in state service for the NJDOT…that ended on September 21 2020 when I got hit doing my job on the highway. I was hurt pretty bad but survived and still have 3 displaced ribs.
The state gave me a nice monthly pension and great medical benefits so I’m set up pretty well…and best of all no more winters plowing snow on the highway’s !
Here’s a picture of my last day of work…
Glad you made it out of that!
Peter
Wow, Bob Taylor! What a way to retire! I’m glad you are here with us today!
@taycotrains posted:
Wow, you and that 5100 took a beating. So grateful you're healed and running "model" trains.
@taycotrains Thank God you were able to recover and retire. Glad your still able to participate with us in the trains hobby. Best wishes for your retirement
Don
