Dipping my toes in retirement waters.

Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2017 5:56 pm

So finally today my plans to retire at the end of this year have been made public at my work. After 26 years here I am stopping full time and going to be a part time consultant as of January 8th. I cant wait, now every weekend will be a long weekend, I should get to lots more F rides each year, more time to work on my bikes and enjoy that garage I have been building with this in mind. But I still get to stay in touch with work and will see how much I need that stimulation and comradery. The continued income helps also.

Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2017 6:11 pm

That's awesome!! It gives hope to all here who one day want to do the same. Congrats to your retirement

Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2017 6:40 pm

Lucky bastard! I'm jealous. Although I'm happy for you too. I have approx. 9 years to go, provided they don't give me the boot before then!

Lucky bastard...

Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2017 6:43 pm

Tom, at least you only have 9 years to go. I'm looking at 40 more years, if it's ever actually feasible.

Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2017 6:52 pm

Congrats!! Cool

Just beginning to think about such things for myself.

Make sure to keep us posted on progress with your garage.

Dave

Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2017 8:44 pm

Thanks guys, I am really excited to finally be here. My son is right at the other end of his career and just about to finish college. I remember being there when the thought of retirement was just alien and something your grandparents did. And now here I am.

I will have to post some more garage pics. Just working on installing a 45k btu heater at the moment.

Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2017 8:45 pm

Been there for 12 years! It is great come on in!

Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2017 8:46 pm

I would be done in 6 more but the health benefits won't let me. I do not get any after I retire so I will have to work somewhere till I am 65 and get medi cad. Hopefully health care becomes easier to get in the next few years but it doesn't look good.

Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2017 8:49 pm

Perfect timing for this thread! Wasn't more than 10 min ago I told my boss I'd be cleaning out my desk sometime in 2018. I'm thinking 1st half, maybe 1st quarter Really looking forward to it too. In 11 days I'll have been in the rat race 40 yrs. Enough is enough. Yahooo!

Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2017 11:37 pm

Not too far behind you boys. My "Planned date" has been 1/1/2020, but with the wife hanging it up next year, it's going to be hard to get Rick to continue working...

Congrats, Nick and Dean!

Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2017 11:52 pm

Retired just under a year ago 12/31/16.

Life is good.

Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2017 1:03 am

Congrats on your upcoming 'What do I do Today?' thoughts. Smile

wamkap1100 wrote:

I would be done in 6 more but the health benefits won't let me. I do not get any after I retire so I will have to work somewhere till I am 65 and get medi cad. Hopefully health care becomes easier to get in the next few years but it doesn't look good.

Phil - Retire, sell your home and move one border north where you won't ever think of health care again.

Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2017 1:28 am

congrats Nick

Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2017 11:33 am

good man! - once you get past kicking out the old routine - you'll find yirself so busy you'll wonder how you ever found time to work - "the spice in life isn't about the price - its about the quality" - the more time you have - the less it costs - the more value and quality you get from it

and for any of the young guns reading this - apply the 10% rule - what you save today will be worth a dam't sight more than what you plan to save tomorrow so get used to putting 10% away now - you'll apreciate it in 30yrs time - mind - 10% is less than the interest you pay for credit so stop buying tomorrow's stuff today - put it in the bank and buy it when you can pay fir it = you just saved for your retirement Cool

and it cost yi nothing

Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2017 1:14 pm

Thankz again guys, lots of good advice there. Yes it is all about savings and health care costs. I have been lucky with some investments and I'm getting out at 58. I am taking COBRA initially but will be shopping around as soon as my son starts work next year and I can step away from family coverage. I have so many projects today I just don't have time for that I beleive it will be a case of wondering how I found time to work Very Happy

Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2017 1:58 pm

nlovie wrote:

good man! - once you get past kicking out the old routine - you'll find yirself so busy you'll wonder how you ever found time to work - "the spice in life isn't about the price - its about the quality" - the more time you have - the less it costs - the more value and quality you get from it

and for any of the young guns reading this - apply the 10% rule - what you save today will be worth a dam't sight more than what you plan to save tomorrow so get used to putting 10% away now - you'll apreciate it in 30yrs time - mind - 10% is less than the interest you pay for credit so stop buying tomorrow's stuff today - put it in the bank and buy it when you can pay fir it = you just saved for your retirement Cool

and it cost yi nothing

From my own experience, the best advice I've seen on this forum since the coil relay mod Very Happy

And he's right, the sooner, the better to start putting some away for retirement. I've been living just a little below my means for all my 40 years in the workforce, stashing away the rest, and now just beginning to reap the harvest. Always had the satisfaction of never having to worry about how I was going to pay a bill and was happier spending less (on shit I didn't need) instead of more, like so many people seem to do.

Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2017 3:01 pm

Congrats to you. Have a long & fulfilling one.

Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2017 3:25 pm

Big decisions are not made lightly. Sounds like you have prepped well and are going to enjoy yourself, Nick. Especially on those NE Rides. Congrats!

3 more years for me!

Steve

Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2017 5:26 pm

Congratulations Nick!

Hawk Joined: Sep 05, 2008 Posts: 502 Location: Orlando FL

Hey! Just think of all the shocks you can rebuild Very Happy

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 1:01 am

Congrats Nick! I'm sure you have put in a lot of hard work to finally get to this point in your life. I won't be retired for another 5yrs. and I turned 60 this year.
And...it's been far too long since we've gotten together for a ride and a beverage. Hopefully you can consider coming to Vermont at the end of May.

Cheers my friend!! beerchug

Chris

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 1:15 am

CDN1100F wrote:

And...it's been far too long since we've gotten together for a ride and a beverage. Hopefully you can consider coming to Vermont at the end of May.

Cheers my friend!! beerchug

Chris

You know Chris I am thinking on that now I will have a lot more time for such trips.

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 10:45 am

swiftnick wrote:

CDN1100F wrote:

And...it's been far too long since we've gotten together for a ride and a beverage. Hopefully you can consider coming to Vermont at the end of May.

Cheers my friend!! beerchug

Chris

You know Chris I am thinking on that now I will have a lot more time for such trips.

Well, you know you have a place to stay in London if you want to spend the night before the trek to Vermont.

Chris

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 1:32 pm

Any retired members interested in doing the TAT ride this summer?

The TAT is the trans american trail. It goes from North Carolina to Oregon and all of it is on dirt and gravel roads. It is commonly done on Adventure or Dual sport bikes. Plans are to go this summer sometime between early June and end of July ..I'm figuring it will take around six weeks minimum . The time of trip will be timed around missing mud if possible while having snow free (or at least passable) passes through the Rockies. I need to be back by early August.

I'm planning on a reasonable mix of outdoor camping and hotels depending on the weather and conditions.

I have a committed second rider who is riding on a KLR 650 and I'm taking an Africa Twin. A few other riders I know are maybe's.

Just throwing this out there as my window age wise to do stupid shit like this is closing fast.

Here is a vid of a school that covers some of the most spectacular roads on the trip which all seem to be in Colorado..I'm planning on covering several of these same roads as part of the trip..

Link

I am posting this against my better judgement because many of my interactions with vocal members here are negative, but the vast majority of the guys I meet on the NE rides are great guys that I would ride with and hang with anytime.

So if you're interested , speak up!

Link

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 3:00 pm

This is Nicks thread. Rather than hijacking it, you should start your own thread in the Rallies and Rides forum.

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 3:16 pm

cliffiec wrote:

This is Nicks thread. Rather than hijacking it, you should start your own thread in the Rallies and Rides forum.

+1. Is there a reason why you polluted Nick's thread?

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 3:16 pm

cliffiec wrote:

This is Nicks thread. Rather than hijacking it, you should start your own thread in the Rallies and Rides forum.

I expected any replies to be expressed via PM to be honest....if there was interest, I intended on starting a new thread ..I considered that a long shot...

My post involves retirement and motorcycling and plans for the future ..Just sayin.....Silly me, In a thread where a long time member of a motorcycle website announces their retirement, and plans for the future are being discussed, I thought that throwing an opportunity out there for motorcycle adventure in that retirement was apropos...My Bad....

BTW, Congrats Nick....

Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2017 12:35 am

Hello Nick:
Good on you, mate - hope you enjoy retirement as much as I have. It has been seven years now and after a health scare I decided to retire early.

Currently, very busy as the (unpaid) president of a non-profit. Some days I am so busy that I consider finding a job in order to slow down.

Get that furnace installed ASAP - its going to be 10*F tonight. All the best.

Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2017 12:11 pm

Outstanding my good man. I HIGHLY recommend retirement. We can SHOOT more too. Keep me posted on the CBX. And again, CONGRATS !!!

Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2017 3:12 pm

Congrats.... soon you will ask yourself why u did not do it sooner... i checked out at 57 and i'm lovin it... Laughing