Semi-retirement, Sort of...What am I Going to do?
- Thread starter wings&wheels
- Start date
I use to work as a tech at a Honda dealer. They had a few old guys called porters that would drive to other dealers for dealer swaps.. . That could be a fun job.
I recently retired due to health issues and for the typical and unnecessary behind the scenes major problems.
What to do? I haven't stopped 'running' since 1988, and I'll admit to getting accustomed to being the 'boss', but I will get over that...... Stay tuned!
I find myself thrilled with the freedom, the lack of stress and for the future potential of my projects. That seems to be more than enough.
My son does the weather for a USAF fighter squadron. Now in Jordan. Deployment extended. Has to go into a bunker once and awhile when missiles fly over. So not all weather is looking at clouds and windspead.
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- Joined
- Jul 5, 2024
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- 179
about all I can say is that you will never meet an old man who wishes he would have worked harder.
Adding to the recent retirement threads.
Completed my last days of full time work, at least in the short term. I started in audit then took a chance joining a then small tech company that was coming off of severe losses then the company launched when the tech boom hit. Long story short after a ~20 year career that had me doing junior level accounting, a division controller, set up a flight department, M&A work, leading export and defence compliance, SOx, etc., culminated in my being responsible for almost every necessary but utterly thankless, invisible back room support function; 200 person global staff and a ~$1B annual spend that no one noticed unless we screwed up. Then we were acquired and most of leadership were axed. Took time off and almost lost my mind, early retirement was clearly out of the question mentally. I then fell into a small startup in a very highly regulated space, run by a very admirable, successful, aggressive and risk tolerant Founder. I was offered the chance to run several functions including legal. Legal? Me?? The company couldn't afford a dedicated Counsel and the various operational needs so I was told to do the best you can and use outside counsel when necessary but don't spend too much....challenge accepted Sir!! I absolutely loved it, great people, best crazy, wild, roller coaster few years of my career, but all good things must end. We grew fantastically to the point where I put my hand up to my boss the CEO and we agreed; '...we need someone qualified, an actual General Counsel who is an attorney and that is clearly not me...'
Now I am part-timing there to ensure a smooth transition to the new folks. I could probably stretch this out, but it is time to move on....like college days drinks w/ your ex-girlfriend and her new guy. You are all friendly, but time to leave
What to do? I haven't stopped 'running' since 1988, and I'll admit to getting accustomed to being the 'boss', but I will get over that...... Stay tuned!
Buy a BMW E46 for track days!
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
W2, Congratulations on your transition to a new/ next chapter! Thanks for sharing some of the journey on BITOG.
The question I have for you- if you didn't know how old you are, how old do you think you would be/ how old do you feel?
The question I have for you- if you didn't know how old you are, how old do you think you would be/ how old do you feel?
Patman
Staff member
The best part about retiring is never having to set an alarm in the morning! Although I’m still up at 6:00 almost every single day 
I love my afternoon naps though! 
I keep busy doing a lot of pleasure drives in the Vette, doing a lot of walking (I get in 12,000-15,000 steps a day) and I have also been watching a lot of great documentaries on Netflix 
I will probably get a part time job at some point but it will be something fun and stress free.
I love my afternoon naps though! I keep busy doing a lot of pleasure drives in the Vette, doing a lot of walking (I get in 12,000-15,000 steps a day) and I have also been watching a lot of great documentaries on Netflix I will probably get a part time job at some point but it will be something fun and stress free.My friend loves meals on wheels. He retired around 60 to raise his teen twins as single dad very wealthy(lives oceanfront in NH near mansions).
Retired from full time employment in 2015 after 34 years with municipal fleet management. Then worked 9 years part time with same municipality. July 1st I’m now completely retired. Between wife’s honey do projects, assisting with grandkids (7 & 4), yard/house/cars, project car, fishing/boating, and time for cardio exercise, I still get frustrated that I can’t get to stuff as quickly as I want to. I suppose that’s good. If I were to get bored it would really be more frustrating.
Retired 13 years from commercial and industrial hvac service end of August. Purchased 60 acres and a house 18 years ago 52 in woods surrounded by cattle farms house sits 1/4 back from road. Moved from the saint louis area 12 years ago. Never have been bored there is always a project or something to work on. Now have time to read trade magazines and how much the trade is constantly changing.
I joke that I have never 1) taken a lesson on a helicopter, 2) seriously driven a race car and 3) tried heroin and all for the same reason
That said, track days are on my short list.
My work is very varied. Every day is a little different. Retirement is about a year away for me. My supervisors are curious when I'm going to leave. My health has gone down the past year. More aches and pains and lack of energy. So, might as well retire if I can afford it. I enjoy my job very much so it's not urgent to retire. My wife is sick of her job and their old school ways and her commute so she's out in 10 months.
It's a very stressful decision for me to retire. Most people say they don't regret retiring. I can easily spend 24/7 with the wife. I have friends that find a lot of things to do outside the house. Their wives are not as nice as my wife. I'm very lucky with that.
It's a very stressful decision for me to retire. Most people say they don't regret retiring. I can easily spend 24/7 with the wife. I have friends that find a lot of things to do outside the house. Their wives are not as nice as my wife. I'm very lucky with that.
One of my old bosses retired and does that for Hertz. They always need cars shuttled between locations. Some are short days, some full depending on the amount. I think he only has to do like 4 months each year but he does more.
He lives in NY but has a house in FL also. He'll fly down to FL, relax a couple days and then do the same thing for Hertz down there.
A fiend of mine is a used car salesman and buys vehicles at auction every week. He has a few guys that he calls upon to shuttle the vehicles from the auction to the used car lot.
I thought about being a part time tutor to HS or below students. Lots of tutoring places around to work. Make some pin money. Get me out of the house... pays minimum wage. Working at a car dealership would be more fun and less stressful.
When newly retired the best thing to do is disregard the advice offered from the non-retired.
Someone on another forum I frequent posted a cartoon of a guy looking at his watch while hustling past a cemetery. His thought balloon reads "Time=money." Inside the cemetery there's a headstone with the thought balloon, "Time>money."
