I think everyone has their own way of transitioning into retirement. I have been able to give retirement a test run of sorts after recovering from a few surgeries over the years. But retirement will be permanent this time. It will be odd at first, but I’m sure I’ll adjust in no time, and wonder how did I ever find the time to work? interesting to hear about everyone’s experiences.
Andy
@Putnam Division posted:Congrats to all who have recently retired or have set a date. As many of you remember, I retired on December 31, 2020 after practicing Nephrology for the better part of 37 years.
I love retirement!
I remain very busy on my new home layout and with our local modular group. I remain connected to my medical colleagues by doing some medical staff committee work......I do miss the day to day dealings with my colleagues. I miss the patient interactions.......but, I do not miss the bureaucracy and the computer documentation.
I am trying to remain current with the science in my field (Nephrology). The recent advances in molecular biology, therapeutics and genetics have radically changed what can be done for kidney patients.....and (unfortunately), there is just no way to stifle my interest.
This leads me to an announcement....I am going back to work.....one morning a week. A few months back the VCU Nephrology Division asked to to help out a Monday morning clinic at our local VA. The format is ideal. The clinic is for new kidney patients making their 1st visit with a kidney doctor. The clinic is staffed by Nephrology Follows (those who have completed an Internal Medicine residency and know are learning to be kidney docs). My job is to see all the new patients with them; begin the evaluation of their problem; coordinate what needs to be done; set up the follow up care; and, teach the internal medicine residents and kidney fellows how to approach a new patient presenting with a kidney problem........and, it is flexible when I need to be off....notwithstanding the issues with dealing with computerized medical records again, I am looking forward to it.
Peter
Sounds like a good plan, Peter; and, it's Monday, so it won't interfere with York!
Hopefully, good things come to those who wait or something like that. 
I had originally planned to retire on June of last year (2022), then December of 2022, then June of 2023. The economy didn't seem like it wanted to cooperate.
I submitted my retirement date today, for this coming October 12th. The timing finally seemed right.
As I wrote out my retirement letter to my boss, I remembered when I was in my 20's and was leaving what really was my first job in life after 3 years. I did not know you are supposed to praise the boss and the organization for what they taught me while I was there, etc. Instead, stupid me just said something like " On June 1, 1986, I'll be resigning from this job to take one at another college. Thank you."
So, when I needed a letter of recommendation, my boss got back at me and wrote me one or two short sentences, one of which was "I recommend Tommy Panettiere for your job." Nobody called me Tommy except my mother and an aunt! He later wrote a much nicer, detailed letter of recommendation, but he made me sweat for quite some time.
Thanks everyone who posted their thoughts, ideas, concerns, etc. over the years.
I am surprised by how long this topic has lasted and the number of posts and hope it can continue on down the tracks.
Good luck to everyone still waiting to retire and those who have most likely been enjoying it so far. 
Tom
Tom, congratulations! Columbus Day!! Good choice.
Ha! Thanks Mark.
Congrats Tom!!!
Bob
Congrats, Tom… better start stocking up on old steam switchers
Well I officially retired out on January 1st of this year after about 45 years as a mechanical engineer, specializing in powertrain design for cars, trucks, construction equipment and lastly armored personal carriers of various types (more commonly known as tanks and self propelled howitzers). I enjoyed engineering very much as there was a new challenge waiting to be resolved everyday. I've solved many problems that many thought weren't possible or discovered major issues that no one even knew existed.
During my career I've also worked in vehicle assembly, steel manufacturing, designing transfer chuting and conducting engine and vehicle testing for durability, performance, fuel economy and emissions from 4 to 20 cylinder engines.
Prior to retiring I was very active with all sorts of charity work along with dabbling in many different hobbies.
This has continued as a retiree, but I'm much busier, as I'm taking on more responsibilities. I've also rekindled an old hobby that I had put away to one side in my early twenties due to time constraints - modeling 18th - 19th century sailing ships. To help me become reacquainted, I'm taking a one on one course learning how to build a sailing ship in a bottle. Working on these much smaller scales is challenging as you still need to keep the scaled details correctly proportioned.
Once I've gotten my feet wet, I'll be restoring a 100 yr old hand made wooden three masted square rigged ship model, (about 1:48 or 1/35 scale). This thing has a real thick layer of dust which needs to be removed and every wooden piece needs to be either re-sanded, painted or repaired along with the entire rigging having to be replaced.
WRT the trains, this has eluded me for many years as we kept moving and my basement becomes fuller with each new move. However I've laid the law down with the boss 
that she needs to sort out those items she's no longer using so that it can free up some space for a shelf layout along the walls. We'll see how that goes. I have pretty much everything I need as I've purchased items for many years with this type of layout in mind. This will make a great winter project.
The envisioned layout will be a dual C&O mainline with spurs for industries with several cool bridges to incorporate along with a roundhouse. I have a few buildings and some whimsical items that will make it interesting for folks who aren't real train buffs.
So for those of you who have or are about to retire, think about how you will be spending all of that extra free time. If you don't have any real hobbies, get involved with your parish, or the numerous charities as they can all use your help.
As an example, one of the organizations I'm involved with is the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Involvement with this organization will keep you fresh as you'll be working with the Scouts parents, who will be much younger than you, and with the Scouts themselves. Here you can play a vital role in helping to forge and instill positive attributes in these young men which will last a life time. Watching these boys transformation from a helpless 11 yr old mess to a highly reified respectable citizen, self sufficient and with leadership skills 18 yr old young man will bring your heart a great deal of joy.
Besides you'll learn new life saving and camping skills which may be helpful to you or someone else at some point in the future. You'll also be able to visit locations which you cannot do as a private citizen as they are not available to the general public. Many of these places are outstanding in their natural untouched beauty.
So my point is that life doesn't have to be boring as a retiree - by putting your time and honed skills to good use you'll be rewarded in multiple ways.
Thanks Bob & Paul and good luck to you, Kazar.
Congrats to Tom and Kazar!
Peter
Dear @PRR8976 and @Putnam Division Dave,
Thank you for your well wishes.
@Allegheny posted:Well I officially retired out on January 1st of this year after about 45 years as a mechanical engineer, specializing in powertrain design for cars, trucks, construction equipment and lastly armored personal carriers of various types (more commonly known as tanks and self propelled howitzers). I enjoyed engineering very much as there was a new challenge waiting to be resolved everyday. I've solved many problems that many thought weren't possible or discovered major issues that no one even knew existed.
During my career I've also worked in vehicle assembly, steel manufacturing, designing transfer chuting and conducting engine and vehicle testing for durability, performance, fuel economy and emissions from 4 to 20 cylinder engines.
Prior to retiring I was very active with all sorts of charity work along with dabbling in many different hobbies.
This has continued as a retiree, but I'm much busier, as I'm taking on more responsibilities. I've also rekindled an old hobby that I had put away to one side in my early twenties due to time constraints - modeling 18th - 19th century sailing ships. To help me become reacquainted, I'm taking a one on one course learning how to build a sailing ship in a bottle. Working on these much smaller scales is challenging as you still need to keep the scaled details correctly proportioned.
Once I've gotten my feet wet, I'll be restoring a 100 yr old hand made wooden three masted square rigged ship model, (about 1:72 scale). This thing has a real thick layer of dust which needs to be removed and every wooden piece needs to be either re-sanded, painted or repaired along with the entire rigging having to be replaced.
WRT the trains, this has eluded me for many years as we kept moving and my basement becomes fuller with each new move. However I've laid the law down with the boss
The envisioned layout will be a dual C&O mainline with spurs for industries with several cool bridges to incorporate along with a roundhouse. I have a few buildings and some whimsical items that will make it interesting for folks who aren't real train buffs.
So for those of you who have or are about to retire, think about how you will be spending all of that extra free time. If you don't have any real hobbies, get involved with your parish, or the numerous charities as they can all use your help.
As an example, one of the organizations I'm involved with is the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Involvement with this organization will keep you fresh as you'll be working with the Scouts parents, who will be much younger than you, and with the Scouts themselves. Here you can play a vital role in helping to forge and instill positive attributes in these young men which will last a life time. Watching these boys transformation from a helpless 11 yr old mess to a highly reified respectable citizen, self sufficient and with leadership skills 18 yr old young man will bring your heart a great deal of joy.
Besides you'll learn new life saving and camping skills which may be helpful to you or someone else at some point in the future. You'll also be able to visit locations which you cannot do as a private citizen as they are not available to the general public. Many of these places are outstanding in their natural untouched beauty.
So my point is that life doesn't have to be boring as a retiree - by putting your time and honed skills to good use you'll be rewarded in multiple ways.
Congrats. Your comments about hobbies, involvement, and purpose are spot on. Good for you to plan ahead and remain engaged in multiple areas. Too many folks our age aren't prepared. Good luck and enjoy yourself.
@PRR8976 Tom- Glad to see that the guy who started this thread has finally set a date. Congrats to you!
I think it's safe to say that no pre-war switcher in the land is safe......
@Allegheny- Congrats to you as well. Sounds like you are going to stay busy.
Bob
@RSJB18 posted:@PRR8976 Tom- Glad to see that the guy who started this thread has finally set a date. Congrats to you!
I think it's safe to say that no a pre-war switcher in the land is safe......
Bob
regarding:
I think it's safe to say that no a pre-war switcher in the land is safe.
No comment. 
Thanks,
Tom
@Mallard4468 and @RSJB18 Bob, thank you gentlemen for your well wishes and I do indeed will try to enjoy myself.
Also congratulations to @PRR8976 Tom, once you take the plunge you'll never look back and then wonder why it took so long in the first place. October will be here soon enough and you'll be a free man. Enjoy your retirement!
Congratulations, Kazar!
Congrats Tom and Kazar! If I knew how much fun this retirement thing was, I would have done it years ago. I’m sure you’ll feel the same.
@Mark Boyce Mark, thank you very much and I want wish both you and your wife a speedy and full recovery from the illness you are experiencing - so that you both may enjoy your retirement.
@Strap Hanger Thank you for the well wishes. I agree with you 100% if I also known I may have done the very same thing!
@Allegheny posted:@Mark Boyce Mark, thank you very much and I want wish both you and your wife a speedy and full recovery from the illness you are experiencing - so that you both may enjoy your retirement.
Thank you! 😢
@PRR8976 Tom, and @Allegheny Kazar, I congratulate both of you on your upcoming retirement, a time we all work for, some make it, some have had a little difficulty in preparing for this event as the markets just didn’t cooperate. Good luck, stay healthy, stay safe, and enjoy this wonderful hobby of model railroading. I will say Honey Do projects will turn up much more often, it’s all good. We look forward to seeing your model railroads on a regular basis. Happy Railroading Everyone
@leapinlarry posted:@PRR8976 Tom, and @Allegheny Kazar, I congratulate both of you on your upcoming retirement, a time we all work for, some make it, some have had a little difficulty in preparing for this event as the markets just didn’t cooperate. Good luck, stay healthy, stay safe, and enjoy this wonderful hobby of model railroading. I will say Honey Do projects will turn up much more often, it’s all good. We look forward to seeing your model railroads on a regular basis. Happy Railroading Everyone
Hello @leapinlarry, Thank you very much for the well wishes. I will definitely be taking my best shot at trying to enjoy my long awaited retirement. The trains will make it that much more fun!
@Mark Boyce Your welcome.
@Allegheny posted:get involved with your parish, or the numerous charities as they can all use your help.
As an example, one of the organizations I'm involved with is the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Involvement with this organization will keep you fresh as you'll be working with the Scouts parents, who will be much younger than you, and with the Scouts themselves. Here you can play a vital role in helping to forge and instill positive attributes in these young men which will last a life time. Watching these boys transformation from a helpless 11 yr old mess to a highly reified respectable citizen, self sufficient and with leadership skills 18 yr old young man will bring your heart a great deal of joy.
So my point is that life doesn't have to be boring as a retiree - by putting your time and honed skills to good use you'll be rewarded in multiple ways.
Wisdom. This is a window into the mind of a man of true character.
These are the kinds of influencers we need in the world. Lean forward and make a difference.
Tom, so glad you set your date, congratulations! I enjoyed the background story and how you picked up some of the finer points that we all do along the way. Very happy for you.
Kazar, congratulations on your retirement! Glad you have a full schedule and are contributing and giving back, I’m sure it is greatly appreciated.
Andy
Andy (& anyone else I may have inadvertently missed),
Thanks for your thoughts. Looking forward to a less structured life. Anyone on the verge like me, I'll mention again this book that I read twice already and may read again...I also had it on Audible too).
It's an easy read. The author tries to tell the reader how to go from a structured 9 to 5 life to enjoying retirement. I highly recommend it.
Tom
Sure would be nice if some of you retired folks bought not only the book above but a subscription to the magazine and/or a supporting membership to help support this forum in your retirement.
Topic has been ongoing for 8 years so time to close it. Happy retirement to those of you that have "arrived!"
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