Last year when I retired, I made an online calendar to count down the last 30 days. I did it online because I didn’t want to hurt my boss’ feelings.
When she called me in January to ask if I would handle two special projects, I was hesitant but eventually figured it would be a nice favor to do her and that extra money never hurts. I had several stipulations that I hoped would make the projects easier: 100% work from home, no set schedule, no meetings except the few needed for my specific projects, no training.
Since I only work when there is something to do, my hours have been variable. Early on, I was just working 3-4 hours a week. The last six weeks, it’s been around 20 hours a week. The first week of May will likely be around 40.
As you can see from the photo above, I’ve made another calendar to count the days.
My appreciate of corporate America has not increased since last summer. Still too many buzz words (collaboration, pivot, synergy, core competency, subject matter expert). Still too much inter-department conflict. Still clients who completely ignore timelines and 30+ years of advice.
The biggest issue although is my feeling that I just don’t want to be tied to work any longer. Not that I have massive numbers of other things to do; I just want to be free to do what I want when I want… even if it’s reading all day while playing online solitaire.
Someone asked me over the weekend if I wouldn’t be susceptible to more requests from my boss in the future – if I would feel guilty if she was struggling to get everything assigned. I’ve thought about it and realized that no, this has been a lesson learned. I don’t want to do this anymore. In addition, I worked for this woman for 32 years and she has never gotten anyone from outside the organization to come back to do special projects; she has 32 years of experience working this stuff out. If I say “no” in the future, I’m sure she can work it out without me.
So, I’m counting down. I included the weekends because I will be working on Saturday, May 6. It’s the final event of the two projects and except for a few hours of wrapping up the accounting, which will probably be in June, it will be the end of my work. I can’t wait!
When was the last time you were counting the days? Have you ever actually made a countdown calendar?
Trail Baboon 
Rise and Shine Baboons,
VS, I am right here in the counting- the- days boat with you, my days just extend through July when I retire. I have not yet made a calendar, but May 1 there will be one. For the first time in my life, I just wanna do what I wanna do. On August 1 I will text VS with my plan for the day—pull weeds and online solitaire. And a cuppa coffee.
LikeLiked by 3 people
PS, yesterday evening my son and DIL’s car was stolen, taken for a joy ride by the kids who smashed the window, smashed into another car when their car flipped, caught on fire and burned the thieves who could not run away. My DIL said, “Who wants to joy ride in a Hyundai Accent?”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How awful. Never have understood that kind of behavior. Did this happen somewhere in the Twin Cities?
LikeLike
They live a few blocks south of Powderhorn Park in a beautiful little neighborhood that is generally very safe.
LikeLike
Instant karma’s gonna get you…
LikeLiked by 4 people
Older Hyundais and Kias have been favored targets for thieves lately. Apparently they lack some theft prevention device or system that other cars have.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The cops told son that this Hyundai was even too old for that problem—just kids wanting to joyride!
LikeLike
kia and hyundai are popular trucks these days
it’s like taking an unlocked bike on the corner
kia and hyundai know this and refuse to make it right
bet they won’t gain many customers
LikeLiked by 2 people
It showed up on the news.
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/stolen-car-crashes-into-north-minneapolis-house-2-injured/?intcid=CNM-00-10abd1h
LikeLiked by 2 people
A few years ago my sons old junker was stolen in a Seattle suburb and found the next day unharmed. Cops said cars like that are stolen for using in drug deals.
Who’d a thought?
Clyde
LikeLiked by 2 people
My car mechanic kept several old but maintained cars to offer as loaners. They were cosmetically compromised and had big numbers affixed to the sides. They kept getting stolen. I asked him why anyone would steal them and he told me, “to do other crimes.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was found a couple suburbs away parked behind a topless drive through coffee shop. Because it was so dark. The manager saw it when she opened and called it in. A regular occurence.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You had me at topless drive through coffee shop.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How does that work, I wonder?
LikeLike
Convertibles only, I guess.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I have until November 1, 2024 before I will retire. It is a little early for a count down calendar. Given the dearth of psychologists here, I can imagine being asked to work part time, a couple days a week, doing evaluations after I formally retire. Husband does that now. I struggle between doing that or making a clean break. Husband believes the only remedy is to move to Minnesota after I retire.
LikeLiked by 2 people
just charge attourney fees
$500 an hour
LikeLiked by 3 people
Boy, talk about live and learn., justice in action, etc – were the thieves seriously hurt, do you know, Jacque?
LikeLike
By the time this all played out, it was pretty late last night, and I don’t think anyone knows what happened to them. They knew ambulances had been called.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I always mark off the days on the calendar–it’s not a countdown per se, more of a reminder of what day of the week it is. I hope Social Security will still exist in 10-15 years and I’ll be able to retire, but I know I can’t count on anything.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Even if Social Security is still around by then, I’d advise you to not rely on it as your entire source of income; it just isn’t enough.
LikeLike
Yeah, I’m kind of resigned. I have a couple of small IRAs, but if we’ve learned anything we’ve learned we can’t trust the stock market. I was temping so long, I don’t have much in the way of savings, and roommate is older than me and vax-injured so her job prospects are dim at best. Good thing I don’t want to travel or play golf or live in a retirement village or any of that nonsense; if I could afford new hearing aids and glasses as needed, books, and a coffee at the local coffeehouse twice a week, I’d be pretty content.
LikeLiked by 2 people
my countdown calendar is all planned out but I don’t know exactly how to plug it in
six months before the day that I die are going to get X’d off and I’m not working
LikeLiked by 4 people
Retirement planning would be so much easier if we knew exactly how long we would have to spend in retirement.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I have never had a countdown calendar, but I have counted the days until something special was going to happen. Not sure there’s really much of a difference, except I didn’t mark it down on an actual calendar. My counting days was geared toward looking forward to something rather than leaving something – like a job – behind. Not sure that makes any sense, even to me.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I count the days until a show opens. It still means ‘how much time do I have left?’. How much time do I have to get through this so I can get onto something else?? That’s where I’m at this week and next anyway.
“I love deadlines; I love the ‘whooshing’ sound they make as they fly by.”
LikeLiked by 4 people
Snort!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, who said that? – gonna look it up.
LikeLike
Ahhh… Douglas Adams. : )
And back to yesterday – he’s another great storyteller…
LikeLiked by 3 people
I also do a mental, rather than physical, counting of days. Last time was probably when Husband was going to get out of Rehab and get to come home.
I’m currently kind of doing a countdown to the last UU Service before our summer break. I have a lot of tasks planned for the summer (new computer, change email address… -anyone with expertise want to come here and coach me?)
I should start putting things on the calendar so there will be a deadline, and therefore they will get done.
LikeLiked by 2 people
We have three more services for the church choir, and one more service for bells to play at. As much as I love being a church musician, I will be glad to be done.
LikeLiked by 2 people
1970 in Vietnam. I had one, but then it was blown out of the water by a 35-day early-out.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I bet you didn’t shed any tears over that.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Not a single blessed one.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Right now I am counting down the days till the end of tax season. Not because I really detest tax season but because I like it when it’s over for the year and I can move on to other things.
LikeLiked by 3 people