I hit SEND (Retired)

Congratulations on your retirement. I pulled the plug nearly 4 years ago at age 65 1/2. My wife and I have just returned from a 2,000 mile road trip to a music festival in North Carolina with our travel trailer. We stopped in Virginia on the way back and toured James Madison's restored mansion. We go to this festival every spring and stop to see something historical on the return trip. Last fall we did a 3,000 mile road trip through Nashville, Memphis, Mississippi Delta, and along part of the Natchez trace parkway. This fall we'll be pulling the trailer down to New Orleans, southern Louisiana, and the entire Natchez Trace.

It looks like I am soon to head into the next phase of my PCa -- I'm now having rising PSA 5 years after SRT. But my wife and I nonetheless are thinking of our travel plans for the coming years. We're thinking of trading down to a smaller trailer - aerodynamic, made of fiberglass, that we could pull with a smaller vehicle -- so my wife would be willing to share some of the highway driving on trips. If we go that route, we would plan a cross-country road trip to pick up the trailer in British Columbia and tow it back to New England. My wife has never driven across the great plains, which to me is like being at sea on dry land -- horizon in all directions, with towns visible at a great distance by their water tanks and grain elevators.

Jim

Hi Guy:

I have no questions about retirement whatsoever. I know the drill.

Yes, we do have emeritus status. I might get that; I'll know next week (that's one of my meetings). For me, it doesn't mean that much. When I leave, that will be it. I have friends/colleagues and we will stay in touch.

Yes, I did feel in my bones that it was time, due to the items I mentioned.

But in terms of doing the job and enjoying the job, that hasn't changed. I can always go back.

I am excited and looking forward to the change.

Regarding stress in retirement, we shall see. Frankly, my ONLY stress has been dealing with this incurable PC. It is so invasive -- all these d-tests, txs., etc. The one great thing about the job was that it was a stress reliever, big time. But, hopefully, I can do more gym workouts and I'll be looking forward very much to the do whatever I want calendar.

We are leaning towards Fl., because we can drive there. Arizona is pretty far, so we would fly there and rent a car for 6 weeks. We are thinking about the Fort Myers area as a place that would have great weather. We want to go somewhere that we have never been before. WE can then explore the area and enjoy side trips/jaunts.
A friend mentioned Port Charlotte as being in the same area but less expensive.

Anyway, that will be part of the retirement fun -- planning that trip...after we plan our New England trip...after I get this radiation done!!! Darn elephant!


Mel

Congrats on your decision brother Mel!

When it's time, it's time. I quit a job where I worked for 15 years because it just wasn't fun any more, then I worked for 5 different companies and now work for my old company again.

Like you said, you can always go back to teaching if you want to.

I'd love to have you down here in Florida. My wife and I drive over to Clearwater every September for a PCa 5K. I love the west coast, beautiful sunsets, only very little surf. At my age I still surf. You can drive over to W Palm Beach in a couple of hours and I can teach you to surf!

Happy for you and your lovely wife

Bill from Florida

Mel, when I retired in 2006 at age 60, my good friend at HR told me that in her 20+ years working with folks planning retirement, only ONE had ever told her later that he felt he had retired too early.

Her advice: retire as early as possible and enjoy yourself.

Best of luck to you as you transition into this new phase of life.

I do envy you being able to retire. It's my next career goal - early retirement.

Andrew

Congratulations, Mel.

l look forward to the day I become a card-carrying member of the EDIS club (Every Day Is Saturday).

I know that when retirees from my workplace come back for another retirement party, they are all smiling. Even the biggest grouches are smiling.

I'm looking forward to Oct 1, 2020.

Hi everyone. I lost my husband to prostate cancer in 2013. But he fought a long battle where he beat every odd you could throw at him. His PSA was over 7,000 at diagnosis - but he lived for 13 years.

I have been an advocate and educator for prostate cancer issues for 15 years - most of which were at PCRI. I still have passion, so my project this year is a Conference, Saturday March 4th, in Punta Gorda, FL (SW FL). It is designed with a patient-empowerment perspective, with lots of panel discussion and Q&A.

Just FYI - Here's the link. www.TinyRL.com/Mar4Conf
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For those of you on the SE Coast of FL - there's also a conference in Boca Raton Saturday, January 28th. You can find that info here - www.myhir.org

FYI & Happy New Year.
Jan (personal info removed by moderator)

Post Edited By Moderator (Tudpock18) : 12/27/2016 6:52:22 AM (GMT-7)

WOW!! One of my old threads has suddenly reappeared. It is fascinating reading this so long after I started it.

Jan-- I remember you from PRCI meetings. Thanks for the update!

What a heartfelt thread this is. No flaming. No hijacking. No one-upsmanship and even a welcome respite from our cancer battles.

Anyway, here is an update. I never did do the whole pelvic node radiation. Dr. Meyers had come out with a video warning about the SE. With my daughter's wedding less than 2 months away, I decided at the very last minute (really last minute -- after the simulation!) to eschew that.

At this point, I think it was a good decision. My PC remains in the one lymph node and I am considering SBRT to that node (discussed in other threads at times).

I have loved retirement and we did take that trip. We spent February in Palm Desert, Ca. We got a much better deal (we looked at Florida and Arizona, too) and since our daughter lives in Santa Monica, we got to spend quality time with her.

Also, I still just love teaching. My University was most amenable to having me back in the Fall. I just finished teaching 3 classes. So, now I'm re-retired. I plan to once again un-retire next Fall (always contingent on health issues), This year we booked February and half of March. We will spend February in Santa Monica and half of March wherever the heck we please. We hope to visit friends in San Diego during that time. WE will also visit friends in Palm Desert/Palm Springs. Heck, we plan to check up on some Vegas shows,

One interesting comment that I made in my original post. I always thought that when you are ready to retire, you will know it. That's what happened to me when I retired from my first long job of 28 years. I just knew it, I wasn't as excited and it just felt like a job. In this case, however, it was really a confluence of life circumstances. My daughter's wedding out East, coupled with our longstanding desire to have another go at an East Coast trip. Had I been working, it would have been a quick flight for the weekend, rather than a lengthy, enjoyable car trip. Also, Michigan winters seemed more brutal. It was time to TRY the snowbird thing. We had some hesitation, not knowing if we would like being away from home for so long: no problem, which is why we are doing 1 1/2 months this time. In short, the unexpected aspect was the life circumstances.

Mel

MEL,
A quick congratulations from one who is envious and hopes to also retire very soon. I know you are making the right choice. We want to live life instead of being a slave to the dollar, and to PC. Live life out loud doing what you and your wife desire! And if you ever travel to So Cal, you got a free stay over location with us in Hemet (90 miles east of L.A.)

Stay strong my friend and keep the faith, and keep posting here on HW!!!
Wings aka Dan and Rose Kasper

The neat thing about when old threads are resurrected is that you can be congratulated twice for the exact same thing.

That aside, isn't it nice that you original post held up regarding your thoughts on retirement?