BajaNomad - Newly Retired People

Newly Retired People

oladulce - 10-29-2009 at 03:51 PM

Tomorrow will be husband BigWooo's last day as a firefighter and mine as a Nurse. We've had these occupations our entire working lives and it must have impacted who we both are today. It will be strange to wake up Saturday and be...

...well, a Retired Person I guess.

His co-workers are planning a retirement happy hour, and mine a farewell potluck. I'm sure we'll feel sentimental when the hugs, and back slaps, and well-wishes begin and it will be really weird on that last walk out to our cars. I encouraged him not to look back at his waving compadres, but more importantly, we should both try and stifle the hoots and hollers -at least until we're out of the parking lot!

- No more packing up to leave in the middle of a good Baja swell.
- On a whim we can turn off and explore any of the "I wonder where that goes"
roads.
- No more consulting the red.blue. and green calendar and I'll never have to buy
another pocket planner for shift changes.

I think I'll continue to wear my watch in my Baja Sur retirement. I like to plan the day around the tides and I can keep myself on schedule so we can cram in as many activities as possible until the last glimmer of daylight.

Honestly, these soon-to-be former lives were really just the means to an end. Our true personas have always begun after we've crossed the border or gotten on an airplane.

All these years we were really just practicing for our real jobs-
Retired People!

bajajudy - 10-29-2009 at 03:54 PM

Felicidades, mis amigos!

BajaWarrior - 10-29-2009 at 03:55 PM

Congradulations to the both of you. I can't wait for the day when I don't have to drive back home on Sunday nights, so for now, I'm jealous!

BW

noproblemo2 - 10-29-2009 at 03:57 PM

CONGRATS to you both!!!!!!!! HAPPY RETIREMENT..........

DENNIS - 10-29-2009 at 03:58 PM

Good for you both. C'mon down.

Santiago - 10-29-2009 at 04:05 PM

Make sure you read and understand Osprey's rules for a happy retirement. The most important one is to give away every last bit of house painting equipment.

Bajahowodd - 10-29-2009 at 04:20 PM

You cannot imagine how jealous I am right now. Enjoy, you two. You've obviously earned it.

elgatoloco - 10-29-2009 at 04:33 PM

Congrats and best of luck to both of you. Hope to hear about some of your adventures. Catch a set wave for me! :dudette:

Paula - 10-29-2009 at 04:34 PM

[color=green red]Congratulations!!!!!!!![/color]

Now you'll have time to figure out how to do silly things on Baja Nomad :spingrin:

BajaNuts - 10-29-2009 at 04:43 PM

CONGRATULATIONS!

Wow! Both retiring on the same day! How Cool is that?!?

And about that whole watch thing...

"I think I'll continue to wear my watch in my Baja Sur retirement. I like to plan the day around the tides and I can keep myself on schedule so we can cram in as many activities as possible until the last glimmer of daylight." .....

Somehow I believe it won't take long for your bodies to get in tune with nature and you will just "know" when it's high tide........

Some day, your watch will end up on the night stand....

HEY! This sounds like a perfect time for a pool!

Anyone wanna place bets on when Oladulce's watch ends up on the night stand?

All the best to both of you, GO FORTH AND ENJOY!

DianaT - 10-29-2009 at 05:26 PM

Fantastic!

When we retired, John adjusted much faster than did I. It took me a little time, but now I really can't imagine having the time to work----

Enjoy your new adventure.

Diana

grace59 - 10-29-2009 at 06:14 PM

Wow, Congratulations and I am sooo Jealous!!But you both have had very stressful occupations and deserve a bit of rest and relaxation. Enjoy all those back roads and perhaps someday we'll meet up on one of them. :biggrin:

Bob and Susan - 10-29-2009 at 06:23 PM

ha

you'll be busier now...

you are just changing careers :yes:

Pescador - 10-29-2009 at 06:41 PM

Bob hit the nail on the head. I don't know how I coulld possibly have the time to do all the things I do and have a job too. I have tried it working and I have tried it retired and retired definately wins hands down.

BajaGringo - 10-29-2009 at 06:45 PM

Congratulations both of you!!!

We look forward to sharing this wonderful slice of the planet with you...

vandenberg - 10-29-2009 at 06:52 PM

Congratulations guys,
and welcome to the Baja community of retirees. :wow:

We would love to meet you and if you have a chance to stop by on your way down, we'll have some cold ones waiting for you. We're close to visible from yhe Highway here in Nopolo, so not much of a detour. :biggrin:

Osprey - 10-29-2009 at 06:54 PM

Santiago has opened the door for me to talk openly about retirement. THIS LITTLE PIECE I WROTE IS JUST FOR MEN. MAYBE I'LL DO ONE FOR COUPLES/FAMILIES WHO MIGHT BE RETIRING TO BAJA CALIFORNIA.

HOW TO STOP
Retirement Debriefing for Men

The Twelve Step Program for Workaholics

When resumés are received, the prospective human resources person in charge will usually flip right to the sections marked WORK EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION OR CURRICULUM VITAE. They want to know IF YOU KNOW HOW TO DO THIS, HOW MUCH TRAINING DO YOU HAVE, HAVE YOU DONE IT BEFORE, HOW LONG, TO WHAT END, ARE YOU GOOD AT IT? As you can see by the dust cover of this book, my qualifications for being able to GIVE YOU A LIFE are not based on WORK EXPERIENCE. This is not one of those I'VE BEEN THERE AND BACK, I FEEL YOUR PAIN, I CAN HELP YOU books. I HAVE NOT BEEN THERE. Those are my qualifications -- I NEVER BOUGHT INTO THE WORK THING.

FOR YOU SKEPTICS

A. This little book IS ONLY $1.00 ($1.40 Canadian)

B. It could SAVE YOUR LIFE
C. Ask yourself this question. "Do you think movie stuntmen trainees would rather be taught by Tom Selleck or by a guy in a full body cast?"
D. Or, question 2 "Do you think alcoholics want to be lectured to by a sober guy with a nice smile and great muscle tone who has more chicks than he can date or a burnt out, gaunt strawman of a figure who willingly admits that he was ravaged by the thing he wants you to shun.
E. Who do you know (except your kids and your brother-in-law Earl) has not come close to cultivating any kind of work ethic; has been able to survive, thrive without the benefit of A CAREER, A WORK PLAN, A UNION BADGE OR NUMBER?.

I can hear your answers. You are ready. Hold your breath, take my hand, turn the page to THE FIRST STEP TO THE BEGINNING OF THE NIRVANA OF NON-WORK RETIREMENT LIFE.

STEP ONE

Get Over It

Consider the fact that you are not the first person to retire from an active work/business life. People grow old, wear out, outlive their usefulness on the job. Life goes on. The world turns, stocks fluctuate. Unless you have a need to pinch children and flip burgers part-time then your retirement is not just an option....if you can't work any more, you must be retired. ACCEPT THE FACT THAT YOU NO LONGER WORK FOR A LIVING. YOU MUST BEGIN TO FORGET ABOUT AMALGAMATED THIS, ACME THAT, CONSOLIDATED THOSE. Ole Marvin or Phil can carry on without you. You have left behind a solid base, a timeless cornerstone of work/business principles and concepts they will carry into the future. Engine House 31 will still fight fires, Santee Sanitation will still make trips to the landfill, kids will still get to school on the big yellow buses (in fact, on your bus #1026) of the Tri-County School District WITHOUT YOU.

STEP TWO

Get Rid of The Captain's Hat

Those of you who were Alpha Males, CEO's, The Boss, The Forman, Shift Supervisors need this book more than others. You must learn to STOP TRYING TO BE USEFUL. You finished all the tasks that needed to be accomplished -- otherwise you would not, now, feel you are actually RETIRED. My little FIVE MINUTE PRETENDING DRILL CAN HELP. Close your eyes. You are with Hannibal's army crossing the alps. It is very cold. Hannibal is in the lead of a long column of people and animals. He is followed by his personal legion of guards, then lots of soldiers, then the elephants, more soldiers, wagons full of provisions, then you. YOU CAN'T ALWAYS BE THE LEADER. Get used to the idea that THERE ARE NO LEADERS IN THE WORLD OF RETIREMENT. We are all lowly followers, the further back in the line, the more fulfilling the retirement experience. Do the drill whenever you feel like jumping up to phone your congressman, pack your wheel bearings, WD 40 some creaky hinges. Switch around, be with Fremont, Sherman, Rommel, Macy. (forget Donner)
STEP THREE

Stop Puttering

Sell or give away your tools. The opposable thumb has evolved to hold forks, spoons and shot glasses. Have nothing around the house, in the garage THAT HAS A HANDLE. If you must: one hammer, one adjustable wrench, one combination screwdriver. NO PAINT, NO PAINTING EQUIPMENT. This includes masking tape, drop cloths, thinner, brushes, rollers and trays. No Electrical Tools or Equipment --- this is the stuff you might say about "oh, this, this is just a little sander. I don't do the work, the little motor inside does all the work." Who are you kidding? Only yourself. Want to be convinced? Drive around any Senior's Mobile Home Heaven retirement center and check out the siding on the mobile homes, the paint on the pickup trucks. The siding is twice as thick as it was when installed WITH ALL THE EXTRA COATS OF PAINT IT MORE RESEMBLES ARMOR THAN SIDING. The paint on the trucks CANNOT BE MEASURED BY A MICROMETER -- THE VEHICLES ARE WASHED AT LEAST ONCE EVERY DAY.

Garden equipment such as shovels, hoes, clippers, etc. should be locked in a special place -- the key made available only to your wife and/or gardener.

STEP FOUR

Stop Counting Your Money

No one and nothing can help you adjust to a life of leisure unless you can PUT AWAY YOUR RETIREMENT FILE. IT HAS ALL BEEN VERIFIED, CODIFIED, COPIED, SAVED, DOWNLOADED AND TUCKED AWAY IN A SAFE PLACE. YOU KNOW, TO THE PENNY, HOW MUCH YOU HAVE COMING FROM SOCIAL SECURITY, PENSIONS, STIPENDS, DIVIDENDS AND COUPONS. You (and probably the missus) have been over the RETIREMENT BUDGET a dozen times, know it by heart; all the contingencies, emergency, discretionary and slush funds, the high risk, low risk, no risk investments and holdings of every kind. YOU'LL BE FINE. NOW JUST STOPPIT.

STEP FIVE

Learn How to Sleep

Now that you have more time (you're not counting your money and you're not puttering anymore) you need to learn how to sleep a good part of your life away -- and, I hasten to add, it is GUILT-FREE SLEEP. You worked at your job, at your house, for your kids, at your marriage YOUR WHOLE LIFE. You never got enough sleep and what's more important THE RIGHT KIND OF SLEEP. Now you can catch up. This is not a walk in the park. This will take some time. Don't rush it. Stay up as late as you can, the later the better. Rent a bunch of old westerns on video, stay up til two or three in the morning for as many nights as you can. Eventually it will all catch up to you, you'll sleep like the dead until noon or so. Ease off for a few days and then do it again. After NO MORE THAN SIX WEEKS YOU'LL FIND YOURSELF WANTING TO TAKE A NAP. Don't fight it -- nap anywhere, anytime. Snore.

STEP SIX

Stay "In the Moment"

Lots of retirees spend every waking moment RELIVING THE PAST. YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN, THERE, DONE THAT, GOT THE T-SHIRT, WHY GO BACK? A quick way out of this killer habit is to use A DOG. If you already have a dog so much the better, if not, get one at your local pound. WATCH THE DOG. OBSERVE THE DOG. Dogs do not live in the past. They live IN THE MOMENT. THAT'S WHERE YOU BELONG. Not waltzing everyone that drops by BACK DOWN MEMORY LANE. Former students have told me that occasionally they have not only been able to LIVE IN THE MOMENT but they have been able to live JUST OUTSIDE THE MOMENT. Think of it! Not worried about the future, not drudging up the worn-out memories, not stuck on the thorns of the reality of HERE AND NOW, JUST A STEP AWAY, ALMOST LIKE A CASUAL OBSERVER!! A caution. Don't get ahead of yourself. For now just focus on Here, Now, napping.

STEP SEVEN

Breaking The c-cktail Hour Clock

Those of you who worked for yourselves and most of you who worked for others probably didn't drink alcoholic beverages while you worked. So, no matter what shift or work routine you were in, for that 8, 10, 12 hours you were employed you abstained. You drinkers held off until work was over; popped the cap on a beer when you got home or stopped off at your local pub on the way home from work. Well, no more of that. NO MORE SUN OVER THE YARDARM, IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE winking and grinning. No more need for old saws, gimmicks or excuses. YOU MUST BEGIN TO DRINK EARLIER IN THE DAY. Bloody Mary's in the morning will get things going. Remember there are NO LONGER ANY TOOLS TO HARM YOU. YOU HAVE NO HEAVY EQUIPMENT TO OPERATE -- IN FACT, YOU HAVE NO EQUIPMENT AT ALL. No ladders to fall from, no paint to spill, no potential fires or burns from Acetone, paint thinner. You feel like a few double JB rocks about 2:30 in the afternoon (maybe after your nap), help yourself. You earned it. (stay away from the pool, out of direct sun until after the evening meal).

IF YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY FINISHED STEP NUMBER SEVEN YOU MAY TAKE A BREAK HERE

Just because I don't need this book, was never serious enough about "The Work Thing", didn't have adjustments to make when I got older, doesn't mean I am smug about it. I realize that for some of you WORK WAS YOUR LIFE. For some of you these lessons are killers, not child's play --- you don't take them lightly and neither do I. So, now may be a good time to have some fun, a little break, some healthy diversion.

I have been told about ten billion times that I tend to exaggerate. I am not stretching it here when I tell you there are UNCOUNTABLE WAYS TO HAVE FUN, NOW THAT YOU HAVE ALL THE TIME IN WORLD. I will list but a few:

A. Follow your wife around the house, dusting and cleaning after her.
B. Rearrange the medicine cabinet over the sink, hide her Premarin.
C. Put on some Perry Como and Bing Crosby CD's when the kids and grandkids come over.
D. Pour a little beer into your bowl of stew.
E. Let the sprinkler pour down on the patio furniture.
D. Park your truck five feet from the curb.
E. Order some adult sexual toys online, have them mailed to your nearest neighbor.
F. Ask your wife to dye your Sup-Hose dayglo orange.
G. Get a tattoo.
H. Order brochures for Magnificent Mausoleums

There are scores of other fun things you'll think of to do to your kids, grandkids, the wife, other family members. You can spend SEVERAL WEEKS just acquiring A NEW WARDROBE! Think about throwing away all your clothes (Goodwill or Salvation Army is a better idea) and getting all new stuff....uglier socks, baggier shorts, T-shirts stretched so tight they look like cotton Spandex, plaids and stripes and dayglo enough for the circus.

OK. BREAK IS OVER. BACK TO WORK
STEP EIGHT

Become Ageless

Satchel Paige to the rescue. One of baseball's greatest heros "Paige the Sage" once opined "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?" There's nothing cryptic about the message. Do you act or feel older, now that you're 68, than you did on your 66th birthday? I know the answer. DON'T BUY INTO THE AGE THING. Let me try one "Who would you want to spend time with if you did not know you were old?" Old people? I don't think so. STAY AWAY FROM OLD PEOPLE (Do what you have to do with Mom, Dad if they are still alive) OLD PEOPLE WILL DRAW YOU INTO OLD PEOPLE TALK. You've come this far, don't backslide. Sitting around jawjacking with oldsters will drag you down. For recovering alcoholics this little slip would be like a half gallon of Old Overholt Reserve for breakfast.

STEP NINE

Your Foolish Pride/Their Squandered Legacy

All your life you've taken a certain "pride of ownership" in everything you've owned...houses, cars, trucks, fishing gear, lawn tractors. Everything has been scraped, derusted, painted, oiled, sealed and coated to last, to remain useful long after the warranty. Lately you've probably been looking at the things in a different light --- THE THINGS ARE IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE, THEY ARE GOING TO OUTLAST YOU. Maybe some of you have already had those little twinges when you've looked into the future to see your kids and the grandkids having possession of these precious things. You're probably thinking "This is my legacy. This is what I worked so hard for." YOU WERE WRONG! What you worked so hard for was making sure the kids had straight teeth, got some education, had a chance for a good start. That should have been the last work you did for them.

The reason? The legacy, the cabin in the mountains, the condo in Cancun, the 29ft. Fairliner in the slip that you cherished, kept so pristine --- your kids or your grandkids will never even see them --- THEY'LL BE SOLD TO UKRAINIAN GANGSTERS ON THE INTERNET LESS THAN MONTH AFTER YOUR DEATH.

STEP TEN

Give Up The Health Thing

You've stair-stepped your way to the moon and back, jogged around the world, took more pills then M. Monroe and where has it got you? YOU'RE GOING TO DIE, YOU'RE GOING TO DIE OF PROSTATE CANCER, SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE -- YOU KNOW IT, YOUR DOCTOR KNOWS IT, I KNOW IT, GET USED TO IT.
It's slow, there is no reason to have an operation. The operation (if it doesn't kill you) will lay you up for precious months, years, down-time you can't afford to lose just now. Besides, it hurts like hell, it's embarrassing to have people taking big things out of your ass. Take your blood pressure medicine, a few vitamins, sell the exercise machines, get your life back, get off the gerbil track, accept the inevitable, don't let anybody touch your ass, be a man.

STEP ELEVEN

Just Go Shopping

Even with all the things I've given you to take your mind off the frenzy you took to be your Work Life, now and then you might find yourself bored. No more. Not after this. You can have an exciting new avocation -- BE A LOOKY LOU. Tell everyone you know (especially the kids) that you are LOOKING TO BUY A NEW FIFTH-WHEEL TRAILER, A NEW FISHING BOAT, A SAILBOAT OR A MOTOR HOME. Beside the fact that everyone will have a friend who HAS AN UNBELIEVABLE DEAL FOR YOU , you can use the ploy to save household expense money.....That's right! Most mornings you (and from time to time the missus) can visit the local RV dealerships for a look around, some hot coffee, doughnuts (maybe an occasional croissant). Boat and yacht dealers you'll want to save for lunch. Motor Home dealers for in-between snacks, pop, hot dogs. Have all their competitor's brochures in your hand when you walk in. Praise the quality, carp about the interest rate, luxury tax, him and haw. Buy nothing.

STEP TWELVE

THERE IS NO STEP TWELVE. YOU'VE DONE ENOUGH. GET USED TO NOT FINISHING THINGS.

ENJOY YOUR WELL-EARNED RETIREMENT AND TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THIS FABULOUS BOOK

[Edited on 10-30-2009 by Osprey]

oladulce - 10-29-2009 at 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Osprey

STEP FOUR

Stop Counting Your Money

No one and nothing can help you adjust to a life of leisure unless you can PUT AWAY YOUR RETIREMENT FILE. IT HAS ALL BEEN VERIFIED, CODIFIED, COPIED, SAVED, DOWNLOADED AND TUCKED AWAY IN A SAFE PLACE. YOU KNOW, TO THE PENNY, HOW MUCH YOU HAVE COMING FROM SOCIAL SECURITY, PENSIONS, STIPENDS, DIVIDENDS AND COUPONS. You (and probably the missus) have been over the RETIREMENT BUDGET a dozen times, know it by heart; all the contingencies, emergency, discretionary and slush funds, the high risk, low risk, no risk investments and holdings of every kind. YOU'LL BE FINE. NOW JUST STOPPIT.

Ahh hAA!
Thanks osprey, I'll read this in more detail later. For now i stopped at #4 when Wooo confessed that it's been the reason for his recent gastrointestinal distress.

He's been worried that he calculated our budget, home construction and his future pension payments wrong and we'll discover we're making a terrible mistake

Thank you everybody. I don't think I appreciated that the last day at work will be a pretty significant event in our lives.

shari - 10-29-2009 at 08:45 PM

welcome to the first day of your new life!!! woooooo hoooooo

luckyman - 10-29-2009 at 09:55 PM

congratulations!! you're where i want to be in 15 years...good job both of you.

Mulegena - 10-29-2009 at 10:27 PM

Congratz, you two!

If you must wear a watch (ugh!) get a cheapo waterproof one from Target to go along with you mask, snorkel, fins and 3 ml. wetsuit so you can jump in the water and play with your new fishey friends whenever you like!

P.S. You may get over the whole wristwatch thing--
its really overrated, imo.

Iflyfish - 10-30-2009 at 08:13 AM

Go to the movies in the middle of the afternoon, mid week, do a double feature!

Eat the center slice of the water melon, you have earned it.

Congratulations!

Iflyfish

Dianamo - 10-30-2009 at 08:35 AM

Congrats! Your story put a smile on my face! Enjoy!

Felicidades!!

Loretana - 10-30-2009 at 08:56 AM

And Godspeed, Cindy and Big Woooo.......
I wouldn't pitch the watch just yet.

As far as Baja accessories go, I couldn't live without my
Tag Heuer dive watch.

You might need to know when it's time to paddle back in to start dinner :yes:

tripledigitken - 10-30-2009 at 09:07 AM

So happy for the two of you. Now you can really get to work on your beautiful home down south!

We are on the same track for next year.

Ken and Paula

(not sure about my watches yet!)

SDRonni - 10-30-2009 at 09:34 AM

Congratulations! Six years ago, hubby retired, I was still working. Got tired of getting up in the morning to get ready for work and having him say, "Hey, Hon, will you please hold it down? I'm trying to sleep." THAT, I decided was for the birds and retired myself two months later! Haven't looked back. You will love retirement! :lol:

BajaDove - 10-30-2009 at 10:07 AM

Don't throw your watch away. Some times you have to know what day it is.

bigboy - 10-30-2009 at 06:21 PM

My wife Christine retired today Friday also. I retired a little over two years ago and I love my new freedom.

We have a place at Campo La Jolla and until now, we could only stay a few days at a time. We now plan on splitting our time between our house in Capistrano Beach and our Punta Banda house.

I'm sure that the two of you will love your new status in life and will be able to do the things that you have been putting off because of your employment. Have a great life and I hope to meet up with the two of you in Baja!

oladulce - 10-30-2009 at 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigboy
My wife Christine retired today Friday also. I retired a little over two years ago and I love my new freedom.

Congratulations to Christine too!

I took my original hospital picture ID from 30 yrs ago (still had braces and everything) and rubberbanded it over my current name badge and wore it all day today, but that's about as wild as it got on my last day at work. And my dang coworkers only made me tear up a few dozen times.

Tomorrow our friends are having a halloween costume paddle party- paddleboards, kayaks, SUP's etc- for a paddle around Dana Point harbor. We hadn't planned to go but my husband had an idea he thought would be therapeutic, or cleansing I guess, if we both wore our former work uniforms and went for a paddle!

It will probably look like a couple of crappy costumes to many, but I bet the retired folks will get it.

Paula - 10-30-2009 at 09:52 PM

Great costumes! Happy Halloween!

Let us know next time you're in Loreto, we'd love to meet you guys!

fdt - 10-30-2009 at 10:08 PM

Felcidades. I am very happy for you. Enjoy!

Santiago - 10-31-2009 at 07:47 AM

The watch thing:
I'm a dedicated watch wearer and have ended up using a cheap Timex Indigo (with a night lite) that's ok for snorkeling when ever I'm camping or in Baja. I'm on my third strap. My sleep pattern is early to bed, early to rise and I got tired of waking up at 3am and thinking it was 5am, making coffee, going to the upper deck and then waiting 3 hours for sunrise. (I'm off the grid so have no bedside clock). I tell my first time buddies to leave their $10,000 Rolexs at home and just by a cheap watch you can beat to death.
I have a buddy I've known my whole life who has never worn a watch and yet he has an uncanny ability to know the time to within 15 minutes. In BOLA, we just tell time by how far the sun is away from Mike's Mountain: dinner is always a soon as the sun hits the peak.
BajaDove is correct: after being retired 6 years - I do sometimes look at my watch in order to figure out what day it is......
The absolutely BEST thing about being retired is fishing during the week and having the lake to yourself and a few other old farts while the great unwashed are slaving away at work, supporting us. What a country.

SDRonni - 10-31-2009 at 10:13 AM

Another great thing about retirement is going places during the week at off-times. I swear, when I go to Costco during the week early in the morning (the ONLY time to go!), I feel like the kid in the movie "Sixth Sense," except that I say, "I see old people................." :lol:

vandenberg - 10-31-2009 at 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SDRonni
except that I say, "I see old people................." :lol:

Avoid mirrors and you won't see so many old people.

Cypress - 10-31-2009 at 01:51 PM

oladuce, Congratulations! :yes:

ELINVESTIG8R - 10-31-2009 at 02:53 PM

BigWooo and Oladulce I am so happy you guys were able to retire at the same time to savor the fruits of your labor together. I wish you both fair winds and following seas today, tomorrow and forever. Oh yeah and I hope you guys find great surfing waves too. David

Bombero

cabokid - 10-31-2009 at 05:07 PM

Been retired from the FD for 5 yrs now . Spend my time now as much as I can here in San Jose Del Cabo . Here now trying to catch one of those 200 lb tuna that are crusing Gordo . Don't think to much about the FD any more but do miss driving the big fire truck code 3 blowing tru all the stop lights and stop signs . Now that I think about it not much different here . Say hello sometime if you see me crusing by . Can't miss me bombero lic on white jeep.

BigWooo - 11-1-2009 at 07:53 AM

Thank you everyone. The whole retirement thing hasn't quite sunk in yet,

Although we have A LOT to do to prepare for the move south, it's weird not having to do it based on a schedule.

Now that we'll have more time, I really look forward to exploring more and meeting other Nomads!

DENNIS - 11-1-2009 at 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BigWooo
Thank you everyone. The whole retirement thing hasn't quite sunk in yet,

Although we have A LOT to do to prepare for the move south, it's weird not having to do it based on a schedule.

Now that we'll have more time, I really look forward to exploring more and meeting other Nomads!

You'll just be trading one old schedule for a new one. I don't know anybody who has lived a structured life to discard those habits when they hear the bell. The trick is to rewrite the most beneficial schedule and keep the c-cktail hour under control.
You'll do fine.

Gaucho - 11-1-2009 at 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oladulce
Tomorrow will be husband BigWooo's last day as a firefighter and mine as a Nurse. We've had these occupations our entire working lives and it must have impacted who we both are today. It will be strange to wake up Saturday and be...

...well, a Retired Person I guess.

His co-workers are planning a retirement happy hour, and mine a farewell potluck. I'm sure we'll feel sentimental when the hugs, and back slaps, and well-wishes begin and it will be really weird on that last walk out to our cars. I encouraged him not to look back at his waving compadres, but more importantly, we should both try and stifle the hoots and hollers -at least until we're out of the parking lot!

- No more packing up to leave in the middle of a good Baja swell.
- On a whim we can turn off and explore any of the "I wonder where that goes"
roads.
- No more consulting the red.blue. and green calendar and I'll never have to buy
another pocket planner for shift changes.

I think I'll continue to wear my watch in my Baja Sur retirement. I like to plan the day around the tides and I can keep myself on schedule so we can cram in as many activities as possible until the last glimmer of daylight.

Honestly, these soon-to-be former lives were really just the means to an end. Our true personas have always begun after we've crossed the border or gotten on an airplane.

All these years we were really just practicing for our real jobs-
Retired People!

Congratulations!!!

I can only imagine...

durrelllrobert - 11-1-2009 at 12:40 PM

WELCOME TO THE CLUB