Meeting Old Friends

This has been a good month. I've been down to Blue Ash several times in the past month to meet up with some old teammates and friends. It's been really nice to catch up!

As I expected, there a quite a few people that I really don't hear from or catch up with. It's normal. But there are always those people that you work to keep the friendship going. So it's been fun to see them. In fact, I'm heading down again tomorrow for lunch. I was debating if that was a wise choice since it is the heavy travel day for Thanksgiving but hopefully, I'll be home before the worst of the traffic hits.

Unfortunately, I have to hit the grocery store tomorrow too.  ARGH! I really don't like to go to the store on the day before Thanksgiving. But, I was not feeling good today, so that makes tomorrow the shopping day for me. Fortunately, I don't have to get much but still...

We're having a very low key Thanksgiving - just me and my hubby. Our son is coming over at some point but no plans made yet - so I don't know if he'll be eating with us or not - or if the kids will be coming along. We're having a pretty diet-friendly meal ~ turkey, green beans, salad. I did get some mashed potatoes for Tim but no dressing, no noodles. If I don't make them, I can't eat them!

Every day I am so very thankful for the great opportunity I had to retire early. It wasn't something I wanted but I am enjoying it so much. Thank you so much Kroger, for the cool opportunity! It has turned out so much better than I ever expected!

Until next time...

Post Retirement Happenings

Who knew? I never thought I would actually be busy after retirement but I am. It's not the same type of busy as if I were working, but busy none the less.

I decided to get involved with Bible Study and found a local (kinda) Bible Study Fellowship chapter. WOW! Talk about intense. In total, there are about 400 women that come every Wednesday. We're broken up into small groups of about 15 and go our answers to the prior week's study. They're studying Romans for the whole session (30 weeks). Yes - one book for 30 weeks. It's very in-depth. My MIL used to attend in Atlanta and then NC and became a teaching leader so I had a good idea of what all it entailed. For someone without a lot of bible background, it is pretty overwhelming but I am glad I am doing it. I'm learning a lot.

The rest of my "busy" is my standing weight-loss appointment every Tuesday. I leave at 9:30 and don't get back until about 1:00. But it's been a productive venture ~ 43.4 lbs so far and that's in 12 weeks. Not too bad!

I'm taking a TON of quilting classes. I have a new class about every 2 weeks or so. and inbetween, I'm usually in front of the machine attempting to put things together. If not that, I'm crocheting or knitting.

To someone working, it doesn't seem busy and it is truly not comparable. But, for me, it's great! Most days, I go to bed late and get up even later and pretty much do what I want. No schedules for the most part. And when it is a beautiful day, nothing beats being out and about! I love it.

I highly recommend retirement to everyone! VRO was a wonderful thing for me.   :)

Until next time...

Six Months Retired

It's been almost a month since I last posted. I reached my 6 month retirement anniversary at the end of September! And I'm loving it. 

A good friend told me that I would end up very busy. I didn't believe him at first ~ especially that first month or so but now...I am busy with different things but most of all, I'm happy. Retirement was not something that I chose at the time but when given a fantastic offer, one needs to just take the plunge ~ and I'm so glad I did.

I'm filling my days with crafts. I've become obsessed with quilting and although I'm still at that really sucky stage, I know I'll get better with time ~ and I'm really enjoying it. I told the owner of the quilt shop I frequent that different ideas just keep swirling around in my mind. I cannot turn it off. (Unfortunately, at this point, not all ideas turn out quite like I imagine them but that's ok. Each attempt is a learning experience for me.

I start Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) tomorrow. I've thought about doing this for some time. I've never done any bible study before and it seems like it would be interesting. My mother-in-law actually taught classes for BSF in Atlanta and North Carolina and she loved it. So we'll see how tomorrow goes. Apparently, we'll be studying the book of Romans. I'll be a few weeks behind since it started in September, but that's ok.

I also have a ton of yarn that I bought when a local yarn store went out of business so I need to get going on the whole crochet/knit thing too!  

Some may think that I'm not involved in anything worthwhile or meaningful but I say "phooey" to them. I'm happy, my husband likes the stuff I make, and I'm learning new skills. Who could ask for more?  Not me!

So, if you are ever offered the chance to retire ~ and you can manage it from a finance standpoint ~ go for it! It is wonderful.

Until next time... 

Catching Up

It's been a while since I posted so I thought I'd catch up with the whole retirement thing.

I've been keeping busy!  Some would say that I'm not doing anything meaningful but I think I am. I'm learning to quilt and it is finally coming together. I'm re-learning to knit - and almost done with a simple scarf. I'm crocheting! I'm having FUN!

I am thinking about doing some volunteer work ~ more of the office type of thing but I have so many doctor appointments and quilt classes that I don't want to volunteer and then not be able to keep commitments. So, for at least a few more weeks, I'll hold tight before I make that move.

I found that I have a real addiction to yarn and fabric. Seems like I just can't stop buying. There's a sweet little yarn store not too far from me that is going out of business next week. Although I'm sorry to hear that (because I just found it about a month ago), I was happy to reap the benefits of the 'going out of business' sales. Hubby actually went with me and we bought a BUNCH of yarn to make some type of rainbow colored afghan. Or at least as close to rainbow colors as I could get without realizing that indigo is not the same as dark blue - it is deep violet.  OOPS!  But it will still look good.

I haven't had much porch time lately - weather took a cold turn with the remnants of Hurricane Harvey ~ and the start of fall. But yesterday, we did get the chance to sit outside. Might be able to do the same today. It's supposed to be a hot one before it turns cold again next week. (I guess cold is a relative term - it will be in the low 60's but compared to 80s, it's cold.)

Oh well, off to listen to free classes from Craftsy.

Until next time...

Exhausted

I know people will think I'm complaining when I say this but I'm really not...but I'M EXHAUSTED!  You wouldn't think that retirement could be so exhausting but wow.  Still, I'm loving the freedom!

Let me explain...

I've been doing a lot of cutting and marking for the quilt I'm making.  I'm a little space-challenged but making the best of it.  But for some reason, when I'm cutting fabric, my shoulders just scream.  Now, I have really bad shoulders as it is but wow, cutting just tenses me up.  And marking fabric - same thing.  But, I don't trust myself to sew a straight line from corner to corner yet so mark, I must.

For some reason, too, whenever I set at my sewing table and work, my ankle swells up like you would not believe. Normally, that wouldn't be a big deal but in the past, whenever I'd had swollen ankles, I've had blood clots.  So I get a little paranoid - even though I am certain the Warfarin is doing its job.

I'm doing good on the quilt - I should have all the small squares done by tomorrow then I get the challenge of trying to match up seams to make the big squares.  After that, I have to lay them out and see where I want them to go in the big scheme of things.  I need to get some type of wall thing to place the pieces on - but Lord know where I'll hand it!  :)  But, I'll figure it out somehow...and my hubby is always good for creative ideas with that kind of thing!  (thank goodness for his support in this new hobby).

Well, my shoulders are a little better now so back to marking. Yea!  

Until next time...

Loving Life

Yesterday, I "found" a new fabric store near me.  I was amazed at the selections - and the wonderful prices.  (If you haven't been to the Fabric Shack in Waynesville, Ohio, go! Go NOW!)

I did buy a quilt kit yesterday because it was gorgeous but I resisted buying a Charm Pack of the most beautiful fabrics. Well, today, I realized I needed another fat quarter of yellow for the current quilt so I decided to hop over to Waynesville. Bad idea for me!  I just couldn't resist this time.  I ended up buying 2 Charm packs and enough coordinating material to create a full size quilt - border and backing.  ARGH!  I'm not exactly what pattern I'll do yet, but I just had to have it.

But, the point of this post - as seen by the title - is that as I was driving home, on a beautiful day, after picking up beautiful fabric and yarn (ok, I stopped in a yarn store too even though I swore I wouldn't), I realized that I love my life.

Let me say that again - I LOVE MY LIFE!  I am not rich, I need to lose weight (lots and lots), I'm not someone that would be described as beautiful any longer, but....

I have a wonderful husband that puts up with me (for 32 years now), a fantastic son (even though I don't see him enough), I have my house with my front porch that I love, I have a crazy dog that I love (most of the time), and I'm retired.  What more can a person ask for? Sure, I would love more money - who wouldn't? Sure, I want to be slim again (working on it), Sure, I would like a fancier house. But when I look at all I do have - I am truly blessed. So - I love my life! And, I'm happy to be able to say that.  

Just saying...

Lunch, Poker, and Fabric

What do these things - lunch, poker, and fabric - have in common?  NOTHING!  Absolutely nothing.  But it's the way I've spent my days this week.

Tuesday was a fabric cutting day - cutting little 7.5 inch squares and 4 inch squares.  Lots and lots of squares. I'm getting better at cutting - I'd probably get a C if I were graded now.  That's a lot better than my previous D- (or even an F). But that doesn't mean I like it any better.

I did get a class from Craftsy specifically on cutting - and I have to say, it was $20 well spent.  Within the first 5 minutes, I learned some things that did make it much easier.  I suppose that like most things, it gets easier with practice.  I still have more to cut but I decided today I will actually mark and sew.  (Marking is another thing that I quickly discovered that I do not care for.  I just don't have the patience but I also know that if I don't, this quilt won't turn out right.  (OK, it probably won't turn out right anyway but it won't be because I did not mark the fabric!)

Yesterday, I had lunch with an old teammate.  It was great to catch up with her and hear some of the things that are happening from her perspective.  She's a great person with a ton of potential and I know she'll have lots of success!

But since I was already half way to Cincinnati, I decided to go ahead and hit the casino.  It's been about 2 months so why not.  I was stunned to see my favorite table almost empty. (I like to play Crazy 4.)  I kept looking at the sign to make sure I wasn't accidentally at Four Handed Poker instead.  (yes, I did that once - took me only one hand to say "Oops!" and get up.)  But, I was at the right table.  It was another 'not so good' day but at least I had fun.  I lost $135 but at least I didn't lose it all.  (ok, ok, the only reason I didn't lose it all was because they were changing cards and that takes about 10 minutes and it was good time to hit the road and beat the traffic.)  Otherwise, I'm sure Jack would have all my money.

Today, I got the brilliant idea to get a manicure.  I rarely do that.  We're talking maybe once every 2 - 3 years.  But they had an opening so what the heck.  I wasn't going to get polish - just get the shaped up some and buffed but she convinced me to do a very light color that still showed the white tips.  They look good but we'll see how long the polish stays on - it usually only stays for a day or two and splits my nails.  Time will tell.

But, she did tell me about a fabric store in the next little town over that I did not  know about.  So I took a 15 minute drive over to check it out.  ONLY TO LOOK!  Yeh, right.  I ended up buying a quilt package.  ARGH!  I'll be 90 before I finish all these damn quilts.  But the store was HUGH!  They had so many fabrics, I was in awe.  Seems like some of their prices are cheaper, too, so I may be heading that way when I need fabric. I need to make a pledge on fabric like I did on yarn - NO MORE until I use up some of what I have!  

So that's what I'm doing in my retirement days.  Yeehaw! But, it's better that than working anyday.

So, here's to retirement.  Thank you for the opportunity that I didn't know I wanted!

See ya next time

Rainy Days

Rain, rain, go away.

That old nursery rhyme really has something going for it.  We have had SO much rain lately that one of my new plants died from it.  And, you would think my dog is going to die when it rains - she really stresses - ALOT!

First, on the plants...

Let me start by saying that I know NOTHING about gardening.  I have never cared for gardening and that has not changed in 63 years.  However, after getting the front porch added late last year, we had a large strip of dirt.  Yes, we could have just seeded it and let grass grow but we also had some almost dead bushes on the other side so we decided to get some landscaping done.  

I specifically asked for things that would take almost NO effort on our part.  And all things considered, the things that we picked, with the store's guidance, are fairly low/no maintenance.  But we got two Crimson Curls - that are just lovely - but about a week after they were planted, we started get some good rain and one of them just wilted away.  I checked with the store and apparently, they are short-rooted (huh?) and if they get too much water, they rot.  OK - good to know.  Although not much I can do about nature's rain.  (and right next to it is a Japanese Anemone that apparently needs lots of water.)  geez.  The 2nd Crimson Curl is about half dead - and with the way the rain keeps hitting us, I can see that it won't be long before it also succumbs to nature's fury.  Here's some pics of the before after...


On to the dog...
Any loud noise just freaks our girl out.  When we're downstairs, she runs behind the couch and pretty much stays there - which makes my life easy.  But now and then, when it is late, I do like to actually sleep in my bed.  And then the fun begins.  She scoots around constantly, panting heavily.  Her new trick, as of last night, was to wedge herself in between our pillow - at the top of the bed.  Nothing like panting in your face and slobber on your arm and shoulder.  (And at 100 lbs, that's a large "wedge".) 

I decided that at least one of us should get some sleep so I went with her to the guest room.  I left the light on, thinking it would diffuse the lightening (yes, that freaks her out too) and although it does help, there is really nothing I can do to get rid of the noise from the thunder.  Thunder that was, by the way, quite heavy last night...and the night before that...and the night before that...etc.  All I can really do at that point is just keep rubbing her and trying to calm her down until it ends.

The other half is asleep as he has to work tonight and I think that's just what I might do for an hour or two.  After all, I am retired so I can sleep all I want, right?  :)

Catch you later...

Squish

SQUISH!

Mammogram day today...not my favorite day but I guess it is worth 15 minutes of torture to know I'm ok for another year.  

I know many in the medical community say that mammograms are not needed - but in 2002, it was a mammogram that found that I had cancer.  It was found early and with a surgery, chemo, and radiation, all is well now.  So, as much as I really don't like them, I go faithfully!

Tomorrow I am meeting to old teammates for lunch.  It will be great to see them.  I'm kinda disappointed that more people don't "check in" now and then.  I've emailed quite a few and they always answer back but they never reach out first.  I suppose that "out of sight, out of mind" is truer than people suspect.  However, since I do have the ability to reach out periodically, I do and I don't regret it.  It's nice to stay in touch.

A trip to the chiropractor on Wednesday rounds out my week.  No plans beyond that.  I REALLY need to find something meaningful to do and use my mind before it totally wastes away.  (we know it's already going but it would be nice to keep it for a few more years!)

Gotta run - time to squish!

Retirement Blues

The name of the post says it all.  Although I LOVE being retired, I am getting bored.  One would think that with all the projects I have in progress, I wouldn't be but one can only crochet and knit for so many hours a day before fingers drop off!  And I really like my fingers!  

Currently, I'm working on knitting a sage green scarf, using some old yarn I had left over from an afghan; I'm crocheting a shawl with this beautiful light gray/dark gray yarn I got on line; and I am getting ready to start a new doily with the really cool blue yarn that I picked up on my Quilt Quest and I can't wait to use it! 

I did finish my first quilt top - using Jelly Rolls. Very simple.  I don't want to actually quilt it though, until I learn what I'm doing!  And that can't happen until at least September since I just missed the beginning class at the Little Shop of Stitches.  Bummer!  I think I'm going to put a light border around it and then edge it with a rust color.  Hope it works out!

I do have a pile of quilt rows to make thanks to Row by Row experience.  I decided to start on a small kit I purchased several weeks ago.  I started cutting the squares out on Sunday and quickly found that I flunked cutting.  I mean really, who can't cut?  But me and rotary cutter just don't get a long well.  Go figure!  I can hopefully salvage the mistakes I made when I start to piece things together.  I think I'll save the Row by Row pieces until I learn what I'm doing!

Retirement is good but I do need to find another outlet besides crafts and reading.  Open to all suggestions!  

Quilt Quest

So what does a retired person do all day when they have no plan for what to do all day?  

They go on a QUILT QUEST!  

My mother-in-law told me about this thing called "Row by Row Experience."  A friend of hers is an avid quilter and had ask my MIL to pick up a pattern from a few stores near where they live.  As she was telling me about it, I decided to check out the site (www.rowbyrowexperience.com) to see what this was all about.

This is a national idea that started a few years ago where quilt stores all over the country can participate if they want as a way to get people into their stores.  Each store creates ONE row of a quilt.  Then people like me travel to their stores and pick up the pattern or the pattern & kit to make the row and then put them together to make a full quilt.  Because everyone will go to different stores, the variety of ways to piece the rows together is endless.  And, you get the experience of visiting stores you may not have heard about.  The rules are simple - you must actually go to the store.  You can't get these on line or by mail. 

I looked up the Ohio stores and there are over 70 that are participating.  I mapped out 11 stores south of me in the greater Cincinnati area and then another 10-11 in the Columbus area.  According to Google Maps, my southern route would take about 3.5 hours (without stops).  I started out about 9:15 with plans to get to the first store as soon as it opened.  It was a delightful store called "Fiberge". Unfortunately for me, it was not only a quilt store but a yarn store too.  The yarns were just beautiful and I just had to buy some.  Although far away from home, still a place I would go back to - very friendly with great stuff. It was a lot of fun.   

At one of the stores I visited, I noted some 'jelly rolls' for sale. I've been looking at getting a jelly roll as someone said it is an easy way to start - doing a 1600 quilt.  A Jelly Roll is just a big roll of pre-cut strips of material.  I loved the rolls they had for sale so I picked one up with beautiful colors.  As I paid, the clerk said "Oh this in grunge - you'll love it."  So I asked, "What is grunge?"  So she took me back and showed me bolts of grunge material.  OMG!  This stuff is beautiful.  I don't even know how to explain it but trust me - it is beautiful.  I see a lot of grunge in my future!

The theme for 2017 is "On the Go" so each row had something to do with being on the go.  I will have rows with roller skate, gym shoes, trains, planes, trucks, and even Mary Poppins.  One store thought it through and decided to make a quilt row featuring two star blocks and the Ohio state emblem every summer - ORANGE BARRELS!  Too cute.  I did see one that I will visit soon - it's an outhouse with a person in there - ON THE GO!  I love it.  

I ended up visiting stores in Pleasant Ridge, College Hill, Blue Rock, Pleasant Run, Woodlawn, Sharonville, Loveland, and Goshen.  I had intended to hit Wilmington, Trenton, and Miamisburg too but I was 6.5 hours into this already and I was exhausted.  So I crossed Wilmington and Trenton my list (for now) but I did manage to go to Miamisburg on Wednesday.  Glad I did - it's definitely a place I'll go back to.  

My plans were to just get the patterns and not spend money but then common sense took over and I decided to purchase the kits.  Most were around $20 but add on the yarn and jelly rolls that I purchased and all of a sudden, I'm at about $300 for the day!   After looking at what I spent and how much I have to do, I've decided to not go on a quilt quest to Columbus - too far, too much money.  But when we're on vacation next week, we may hit one or two if there are other things to do in the area.  

What's ironic about this is that I DON'T QUILT!!!  But now I have lots of kits to practice on and who knows, by next year's Row by Row experience, I'll be so good at quilting that I can enter the contest.

So that's what retired people do - at least this old girl!  

Now What?

It's been 2 months since I took a VRO package from my company and retired.  Those two months have been pretty good overall.  Let me tell you what I've been up to.

I took the first two weeks "off" and just relaxed and read a lot.  But then, I decided to get into gear and do something productive.  As part of the package, I got 3 months access to Lee Hecht Harrison - an outplacement company.  They help you move on to the next phase of your life, whether it is finding a job or starting a business or just retiring.

Part of the package with them was 3 months of access to Skill Soft ~ an e-learning portal with access to over 3000 classes on a variety of business and technical courses.  I LOVE IT!  I decided to try to take some classes every day and did really great up until about 2 weeks ago when I started slowing down.  (Ok - I do have an excuse - my Mother-In-Law was visiting and I didn't want to seclude myself in my room and ignore her.)  But as I only have about 3 weeks left, I need to get moving because there's a lot more to learn.

I also attended a bunch of live webinars from LHH - great sources for those looking for another job.  They help with your Position Statement, your Accomplishment statements, your resume, and a lot more.  You also get your own counselor - mine has been great.  I've decided to complete my resume even though I don't plan on working any time in the near future.  If you get the help, you might as well take the opportunity.

I've decided to become a little craft crazy too.  Finally finished an afghan I started a year ago.  Now I'm working on a knitted shawl - knitting is definitely not my strong point but I'm trying.  I also took a quilting class and am going to start that.  Between the classes, the crafts, and reading, I stay pretty busy.  (yeh, yeh, I do manage a short nap most afternoons, too.  But we don't tell anyone about those.)

I do manage to get out of the house several times a week - just to keep my sanity.  Starbucks and I have become very good friends - at least once or twice a week, I go to one of the 3 Starbucks near me, grab my Chai Tea and sit and read for awhile.  Somehow a scone usually manages to show up too.  Hmmm, I wonder how that happens.  I've been to lunch with a few of my friends but not as often as I would like.  The drive is a killer but I need to make time for that.

Next on my agenda - is to get serious about the weight loss.  So far, I've sucked.  and I feel like @#$@#$ because of it.  Losing weight would get rid of so many of my health problems - and get me closer to my knee replacement which gets me closer to Alaska.  You'd think that would be motivation enough but it may take a jump start by joining Med-Weight Loss again.  Have to think that one through.  I'll keep you updated!

Retirement for Me!

Finishing it Up

During the 3 months from the time I made my decision to the actual retirement date, I was busier than I thought I would be.  I was asked to put together a series of documents for helping people understand QA when they don't have the QA background.  Took a lot of time but I'm really proud of what I put together.  But wow, it took almost all of my time.  And then, I had to go through 9 years of saved emails and files.  That took FOREVER!  What to keep, what to trash, what to forward.  I spent many nights and weekends going through all of that stuff.  I wanted to make sure that I left my little world as clean as possible for the person taking over.

The last month was a whirl of lunches and dinners and parties.  I very rarely went to lunch - it just wasn't my thing.  But I cannot even count the number of lunches that I went to during those last weeks.  And, I'm so glad I did.  It was wonderful to be able to have the time to say good-bye to all of the wonderful people I met during the my 9 years.

One of the other managers that I worked with closely in the team was also taking VRO.  His situation was different - he was only 56 and planned to find another job.  The team set up an after work party at the Silver Spring for the two us and it was fantastic.  Our team, at the time, was about 120 strong and I had hired and/or managed many of them.  It was so wonderful to be able to see them all and talk with them.  The team gave me a beautiful throw with a lighthouse on it (they know my passion for lighthouses!) and they had a photo book made of pictures of the team from our summer picnic and Christmas party.  It was probably the coolest present I ever got.  I really loved both!  

Individuals from both our QA team and other teams that I worked closely with gave me personal gifts too and I cherish each one and the kind thoughts that came with them.  

So now I keep waiting until that magic date - March 31 when my life will change. 

Retirement for Me!

Hurry Up and Wait

If you know me at all, you know I don't like to wait.  Once I make up my mind, I'm ready to go!

I made my decision to accept the VRO package in early January but the official retirement date wasn't until March 31, 2017.  Hurry up and wait!  Not my strong point at all.

Things around the office were pretty cool - there was a large group of people who had made the decision early, like me, and we all kinda bonded together.  One guy that knew but really hadn't talked to a lot stopped by my desk almost every day and we shared news and updates.  As expected, there were a ton of questions and the company set up a special phone line and web site for us with frequently asked questions.  Of course, many of those spawned more questions so as anyone got answers, we would share among the group.  It was really nice to be able to talk to others like me.

The plans that people had varied greatly.  Some people had lots and lots of years but were still in their mid-fifties and planned on finding another job.  Others planned on doing a lot of volunteer work, and others didn't have a plan.  I fell into that last group, unfortunately.  But that's pretty much my life.  I've fallen into every job I've ever had and was really lucky to love them.  

I had no grand plan when I was younger (ok, when I was about 10-ish, my goal was to be an executive secretary.  Really?)  I landed a job right out of high school and stayed there for 35 years - holding many positions during that time.  When I was 54, I decided that it was time to leave when the company got bought by a psychopath and went from public to private.  And I landed at the same company as my former boss and several co-workers - as a QA Lead for the technology department of a large grocery retailer.  Ended up as a QA Manager - working for the same wonderful Director that I worked for in my other company.  But I never planned to be a software tester or manager much less a retired QA manager.  Sure do envy those people that had plans for life after retirement.

Now to figure out what my "plan" would be...

Retirement for Me!

What's A GIrl To Do?

Retirement plans, decisions, discussions.  I feel like Dorothy walking through the forest chanting "Lions and tigers and bears, oh my."  Except my chant is "plans, discussions, decisions, discussion, oh my."

Prior to vacation, after the grand meetings that rocked my world, we got a personalized email that had an estimate of what the VRO package would be.  Since it was based on years of service and other things, each person's was different.  

My first order of business during the holidays was to meet with our financial planner to see if early retirement was even an option for me.  And it was!!!  (As a side note, we have the BEST financial planner ever - he's done a fantastic job for us!)

My husband was ok with whatever decision I made so it came down to what I wanted to do.  On one hand, I really wasn't prepared to be retired yet.  I wanted to work for a few more years and go out on my terms - not someone else's.  On the other hand, things were going to change drastically in the office after the VRO took effect.  Did I really want to be there to deal with the after effects?  Hmmm - something to think about.  

We had to make a commit to being 'interested' by January 9.  If you were interested, then you would get the exact figures for your retirement delivered in mid-January.  With the help of my husband and financial planner, I had decided to at least see what the numbers would be so I committed.  I think most of the 2000 that were offered VRO said they were 'interested'.

Once I got the final numbers and had yet another discussion with my financial guy, I decided to go ahead and take the package.  We didn't have to commit until the end of January but I went ahead and sent my paperwork in the day it was open.  If you're going to jump, jump in all the way!  So that's what I did.  Kinda felt like jumping out of plane with no parachute and no safety net.  But there was a sense of relief to have made a decision.

Now the wait begins!

Retirement Times for Me

Rocking My World

My life was pretty simple and routine - get up, go to work as a software Quality Assurance Manager at a top grocery retailer, come home, veg in front of the TV, go to bed.  Do the same thing the next day until the weekend and then hang with my hubby.  Some would say boring - and they would be correct - but it was my life and it was predictable.  Sometimes there is comfort in the predictable.

In late December, (December 15, 2016 to be exact) before all the holiday vacations started, we had an unexpected mandatory called.  It happens so there were no concerns, no red flags, no worries.  Apparently, each team was having a similar meeting but we didn't know that at the time.

Imagine my surprise when it was announced that the company was offering a Voluntary Retirement Offering (VRO) to all non-store personnel that met the requirements ~ at least 55 with 5 years of service.  OOPS!  I had almost 9 years of service and I was 63.  WHOA!  Did that mean me?

I walked out of the room in a state of shock, panic, and disbelief.  I wasn't ready for retirement - I had planned on 3 more years.  Could I do it financially?  What would I do with my time?  Would I try to find another job?  Besides the panic that had set in, all I could think was "Oh SHIT!"  

The next day, another meeting was held for just those people that were eligible.  As I sat in the room waiting for the meeting to start, I was looking around to see who all was in the group of eligible people.  My only thought as I sat there was "wow, these people are old!"  HA - they were probably saying the same thing about me.  They went over the package that was being offered and I have to say, it was pretty damn generous!  But still - it wasn't MY plan!  Fortunately, I had only 3 more working days until I went on vacation for 2 weeks.  and boy oh boy, did I need it!  My head was reeling.

Guess what I was going to be doing during those two weeks?  Yep - making life-altering decisions.  Yippee!  Again ~ not MY plan.  But in the words of a former manager - "it is what it is".

Decisions, decisions, decisions!  What's a girl to do?