Retirement Countdown 2025

I recently returned from a close to two weeks vacation in London and returned home yesterday. I had a hard time adjusting to the time, but made it happen. I turned in early to be in my local time zone. It went pretty well, got up about 2 hours before my alarm went off.  Big Ben and Houses of Parliament  As "usual", I started putting the remaining things back like my toiletries, clothing, and sort for laundry. Done. I just started a load of laundry and hurried back upstairs to do some other things to tend to. But, the funny thing I noticed as that I was cramming everything in to get things done like I had somewhere else to go. But no, I have taken 8+ hours back to do whatever I wanted to do. I constantly paused catching myself realizing, "What's the rush?" I just realized I needed to pace myself now that I have more hours in the day to do things.  Taking a break at the Tower Bridge, London  This morning, I planned on going to the gym, having breakfast before 9am...

I woke up this morning without an alarm going off. It has dawn on me that I’m off the clock. Surreal. Walked over to Capital One Cafe for a latte. Sat down and took in this moment, the R word. Many I imagine can’t fathom of doing, but I’m following many before to do it, “pull the trigger”, “take that leap”, definitely there will be times, I can change things up. The saying goes, “the world is your oyster”, indeed! First step, walking out of my office ……stay tune where I land next.

Last month I submitted my retirement notice and "paperwork" to my company's retirement office and notified my office manager that I'm calling it quits.  My retirement date is July 1. Somehow I feel a little at a loss on what to do in the meantime. I have yet to do a list of tasks as the date nears. The retirement office will send a draft on my retirement choice or actions than I would approve if that is what is needed. From my understanding, all of the processing should be completed by mid June based on other colleagues who have retired before me.  In addition to feeling at a loss, I feel also a sense of questioning my decision to retire, wonder if it was the right move, do I screw up on this decision? All these are questions that are swirling in my head to cause me to be in feeling of being frozen I guess?  Can't Move!  I figured when I get the draft notice that my retirement is moving along, maybe that will trigger me to make my next steps in preparing my final ...

This week I plan to notify my employer that I will be retiring. I've elected to give 3 month's notice as my employer's retirement office asked that we submit our notice to start processing our retirement paperwork. I think this notice is more than generous to allow my office to locate or provide contingency plans for my upcoming departure.  Sadly, as I prepare for this decision to notify my employer, a few outlying events have happened that may affect my employer, but not necessarily me. One, being that my employer relies on heavy federal funding to continue with services and medical studies in the coming year(s), they've decided to implement a hiring freeze. So, no replacement for my position but probably hire a temporary employee in the meantime. I don't know how long a hiring freeze will be in place, but I feel that will be an inconvenience. Two, in light of the economy, my speculation will be that we may head into a recession. People will keep a close eye on the...

Last month was my 60th birthday. I can't believe it arrived. For almost a decade I was dangling around telling people I'm in my 50s. Now that is not the case, I ponder what now? An R&B singer, Aaliyah had a song titled,  " Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number". I thought of this, and say, really is it just a number?  To me, it's a statement that I'm no longer in "that" demographic of individuals who are under 60. I'm with the group now that borders on pre retirement age to full on, no longer working. Well generally. I think of my high school classmates who are all turning 60 this year in 2025. To think just 35+ years out of high school we were young and invincible. As life moves on, we take on our careers, family, and new lifestyle of being adults. i.e. paying taxes, voting, and managing our lives as best as we can. Surreal.  Union Square, San Francisco, CA   Personally, as I prepare my impending retirement from my current employer, I'm a bit a...

I'm literally 5 months away before I pull the trigger. I started to see the light at the end of the tunnel on this retirement journey. Looked at my finances as usual, looks like I'm in rather good shape; budgeted for a couple of trips I'll be taking before my retirement and after.  Next week will be my 60th birthday and that number, 60 is quite large and intimidating. I never thought I'd see myself being 60, I always thought it was someone else, but wow, I'm going to be there soon. What I also looked into was my health. I've lined up a couple of yearly medical routine check in with my primary doctor and also schedule an eye check up.  All usually around my birthday. Cross fingers I won't encounter any significant changes in my health. I do admit I've gained quite a few over the years. Not sure if was due to getting older or I'm less active these days. I've been doing free weights, some running, and strength training but not at the level I was whe...

It's 2025. My countdown to my retirement date is July 1st. I'm quite anxious at the same time scared. But, I've been planning this for years and now that I want to pull the trigger, I have this unease, at the same time excitement to leave my present employment and really take some time off.  All these emotions running through my head lately is not a surprise. It manifests in my constant checking of my financial health. I'm always logging into my account to see if I have enough to retire. In addition, I'm scrambling to fund a healthy emergency fund, for the just in case moments. Also, taking stock of my health at this time. I have not been running or working out as usual. I walk alot but it's not quite what I find as good. Sleeping hasn't been any easier, for years, I don't sleep a full 6 hours. If anything, much less. Wonder if it's because I'm getting older and "we" old people don't sleep like our days of going to clubs at late ni...