Well, here it is. Last unceremonious ending to a 35 year career today.

[lambchopp59]

Nearly 30 of that as travel gigs, ergo unceremonious retirement.
After many loose ends to tie up, family to visit including a hot springs junket I'm stoked to get back to the bay area early July, wherever thereabouts I end up. It's these deep-red areas of the country that also tend to be medical-manpower shortage areas.
Okay, here goes the old curmudgeonly rant: these kids nowadays don't steer the ship. Jeebus Crackers the last few years especially I've become so face-palm worthy disbelief in the number of crass anti-work ethic young folks I've had to deal with. It was the oddball out, the ones that didn't last long who were the slackers. Now it's the norm among young staffers, allows a senior citizen to work like a dog while they sit there playing with their phones. I shrug. Busy makes the day go quickly. But I'm tired. I'm done. I'm retiring.
Hopefully I'm soon back where I don't have to drive anywhere. Keyword "have to".

[Iris]

1. Congratulations on your retirement!

[onecaliberal]

2. Good for you! I'm jealous.

[lambchopp59]

8. No. or So Cal?

I'm aiming for Concord, near Bart.

[onecaliberal]

9. I live in central California. Lived in Newark while my husband was attending

A computer programming school for 6 month. He rode BART to the City everyday. I enjoyed the weather. Concord is a nice city.

[stopdiggin]

3. the anti-work thing is

a really troubling phenomenon (even while I completely understand, and to some degree sympathize, with where it's coming from)

But, to my mind - talk about self fulfilling prophecy ...

Now go ahead and pile on - I've got my helmet strapped up.

And - best to ya' in your retirement.

[Tumbulu]

18. It is a real thing in the youth

and I believe that it comes from the educational system that has everybody sitting down too much and focused on the cerebral instead of what we do with our hands and bodies.

I feel as though critical parts within them, while growing up, got pruned. It is a very very odd thing.

It might also be that the choices they are given are too out there. Like either be crazed for profits at any cost and amass a fortune stabbing each other in the backs, or be the idiot who works for low pay making everyone who is a backstabber wealthy.

I fear that the vision of work, for works sake, for just accomplishing something, has gotten lost.

Although I may be way off regarding the reasons, the reality is there. No doubt.

[Joinfortmill]

30. I have a very smart, accomplished grandson. He works so he can travel. So, yes, I hear you.

[niyad]

4. May your retirement be joyous.

[Chainfire]

5. While it is retiring of the old, it is a rebirth of life.

Forget about work, throw away your alarm clock and calendar. Welcome to what you worked a half a lifetime for and never forget that everyday is Saturday now!

[captain queeg]

6. I ended up retiring earlier than I planned due to health issues

I was a little uptight for the first 6 months or so, feeling guilty about not working and worrying about money. But I soon realized I could get by financially and learned to relax. I generally have a couple errands per day and that’s enough. I worked for 45 years and I don’t need to feel guilty about taking it easy now.

[Rebl2]

7. My husband

had the same experience working at the PO. Thing is, those playing games or scrolling on their phones were not young people. They were people in their 50’s and 60’s. That included his supervisor-husband always left his phone in his locker. He told his supervisor one day make them get off their phones and get to work. He said he couldn’t because he was on his too🙄. Husband finally retired a few years back. He was SO glad to be out of there.

[judesedit]

10. Congrats on your decision

Enjoy your retirement. They'll learn. They'll have to.

[getagrip_already]

11. I turn 65 this year and have yet to retire but....

I don't blame younger workers one bit for not putting up with manshements crap.

Remember, people don't leave bad jobs, they leave bad management.

Under the gop, a new breed of arrogant self entitled jerk has entered management ranks, and higher ups just encourage them to mistreat and screw workers.

Treat people with respect, pay them what they deserve, and you won't have a problem workforce.

[lambchopp59]

21. eggs zackley.

The last facility I jumped out of travel and joined permanently was pretty copacetic for over 3 years. Then a Trumper took the reins of the department, favoring his beer buddies, constantly lambasting his most productive employees. I bailed.
TFG did tremendous damage to the workplaces nearly everywhere with that chip on the shoulder nastiness.
Now, I understand when the underpaid aren't motivated. That isn't the case in my field. Yet another place I did well as a travel gig, but was able to "hide out" from the corruption in the emergency department the lazy slackers avoided like the plague. (20+ COVID admissions per day!!!) I spent as little time as possible "upstairs" where sexist creeps let the buxom females do practically nothing all day, every day. Didn't take much hearing how they all loved their "my pillows" to guess what they had in common as well.
LOL--- today. TODAY!!! I no have to worry about it anymore.

[lonely bird]

12. Congrats on the retirement.

Re: people not wanting to work

I recall reading an article that was about that exact topic. The author said that there was research done on editorials going back into the late 1800’s. They said the same thing. I think that they’re at least two things going on. The first is that people don’t like that employment is becoming increasingly insecure and the second is that people don’t want to work for peanuts.

[LT Barclay]

14. insecure work is why I went into medical (at my wife's encouragement), but now why I'd love to get

out of it.
My field is a bit different, I'm a Physical Therapist. But with a doctorate level degree, I'm treated with the value of a fast-food worker and I'm a bit over it. I was just harassed out of a job and really I can't tell you what their issue was. It seemed like the harder I tried to meet their demands the more angry they became.
Funny thing is my previous job was environmental and I would never have gone into that if I had realized that jobs ebb and flow with the change in political tides.
If I didn't have family to care for, at this point I'd love to give up and drive a truck.

[lambchopp59]

17. Go figure why hospitals can be such hotbeds of corruption,

backstabbing, nepotism, favoritism, administrative leaches.
I've found a few good places to work, jumped off the travel gigs for a few years, but along comes change in management that is seldom positive.

[stopdiggin]

25. and a hell of a lot of Republicans

(but maybe you already said that)

[LT Barclay]

27. Thanks. I never would have guessed it would be a problem there.

[SWBTATTReg]

13. Congratulations and two most important things, you are the boss now, and don't look back!

[lambchopp59]

15. Here's my new boss:

Link to tweet

?t=dNwt0uOS1ufcddXFdHIJyA&s=19

[SWBTATTReg]

28. Ha ha heh!!! Best boss you've ever had, eh? Ha ha heh. Nice. Really nice.

[yonder]

16. Congratulations. Take off, throw out the old shoes...

...try on and start wearing some new ones. Or maybe just none at all - you've worked hard for this moment. Enjoy!

[OhNo-Really]

19. Enjoy your time. Shed concepts of "relevance"

And, if you can, buy an iPad 12 Pro & Procreate Art App ($9.99 no in app purchases)

If you have an inner artist excited to be free. I try to make something everyday with no training whatsoever. Just playing. There’s something refreshing about being lost in the process. A mini-vaca from mind chatter.

Save a fortune in art materials!

Try not to self-isolate. Hard to break out from.

Have a daily stretching session. Lots of YouTube vids. Stretching is a key to longevity that receives too little attention.

Have a blast!!!!

[lambchopp59]

22. See above post "my new boss"... LOL

He won't allow me much slack time!!!

[OhNo-Really]

23. Beautiful Boss!

Is there a greater joy than the love our pupper gives so totally?

And what is more amusing than their quirks?

Point well take ✨

[Woodwizard]

20. I feel like I retired 20 years ago,

when I quit my job as a furniture designer and builder to go on my own.

Has it's ups and downs I do not think I will ever stop until I just can not physically do it, I love what I do. Flexible schedule and hours pick my own jobs I will never be filthy rich but that was never one of my goals.

[BoomaofBandM]

24. Congratulations. I love being retired.

Due to health reasons, my retirement is mellow. It works for me. Lots and lots of books out there. I cannot travel anymore, but we are lucky to have lots of documentaries and travel shows on a nice tv.

[mike_c]

26. congrats!

Congratulations for your retirement! I retired just before Christmas and my partner retired a couple years ago. We love it. I loved my work, which is now one of my hobbies, so it's the best of both worlds.

[Joinfortmill]

29. Congratulations! Hope you enjoy your retirement as much as I've enjoyed mine, which is a lot.