Retirement Cancel The title field is required!

1. Wahlin Scott B

   
   2/18/2013 8:02 AM

   Thank you for your reasonable feeback. This was probably not the best forum for this.

   
   
   
   
2. Border Ricky H

   
   2/18/2013 9:02 AM

   Lots of people do live on less, and I am certain many us have. I think you just need to decide what is right for you right now. You may have to change your lifestyle but I am sure you could do it if you had to ...the question is do need to. My mother always told me there is a difference between what you want and what you need. It may sound silly but often times I let the flip of coin help me make decisions. Let's say heads retire, tails keep working, if the coin comes up tails and you say best out of three. Your decision has been made already you just needed the help of the coin to get it out. Best wishes what ever you decide.
   
   Ricky Border
   Wheeling, WV

   
   
   
   
3. Sandy Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   2/18/2013 9:02 AM

   Scott, you are a young man. Unless you have known health issues such as family history of young heart attacks or strokes, you probably should continue. I have know way too many people that retired younger than they should and ended up bored beyond belief. Everyone I know that retired young said they would travel, fish, play golf etc. Ok, after 6 months, then what do you do? If you have another career planned, even if it is part time, it may work for you but you must have some major plan for your retirement. I am getting close to 67 and the thought of retiring actually scares me. I would have to have another outlet or I would go crazy. My wife and I are actually going to need to learn to live together when I finally hang it up. She has her own bookkeeping business and is very successful. Obviously, we both spend much more time at work than together. That will honestly be a transition we will have to get used to. I know we differ greatly on political issues but as a fellow member of the great industry we are in, you sound too young and sharp to retire. Financially, I think you would find it quite hard. $100,000 doesn't generate much interest for very long. Maybe the cost of living is that much less in Florida but I think you will find it an uncomfortable financial struggle. I wish you luck with your thinking about this major step. It is only my 2 cents but I think you are too young and too sharp unless you have a major plan B in the works.

   
   
   
   
4. Joe Wachter

   

   5 posts
   
   2/18/2013 2:02 PM

   Keep on truckin Scott. Not sure if you are offered Health insurance since you work for a city but it will eat up your bank roll pretty quick if something goes wrong. Lost my father as well as a young man at 52 and always thought about it through the years until I finally passed that age. Same size and temperament but hopefully I've had less stress being in the golf business and enjoying the outdoors. If you live to be a ripe old age, that's a lot of years to just sit around and joust with your conservative acquaintances. In the end, you only know your situation and how you think you could handle that type of change. I would not live long if I was in my house everyday with my bride!!
   
   If you still love what you do, I think those guys if they were still around would tell you to keep going and enjoy all aspects of your life.

   
   
   
   
5. Keith Pegg

   

   0 posts
   
   2/18/2013 3:02 PM

   Scott Wahlin, CGCS said: Everybody is dying. David, Jeff and you don't know Chuck, but he died too. I turn 55 this year and I can collect a pension. My Dad died at 56. I am ready to stop working. Could you live on $2400 per month? I have about $100,000 in the bank and I don't owe anyone anything.

   
   
   Scott,
   I am 63 and plan to retire in two years, I will have about the same. Hope it will be enough to attack my dream. Dreaming and rest are #1 then wood working and bike repair. Be nice to come back to the states for more than a few weeks per year. I have a home on a lake and two blocks from the Ocean. Clamming and fishing are on my list.
   Keith
   In Japan

   
   
   
   
6. Rosenthal Gregg

   
   2/18/2013 5:02 PM

   Scott,
   
   I am with the others, i just won my battle with epilepsy, 52 years old! Had brain surgery to remove my left frontal lobe and Joy to the World it stopped my seizures and returned me to normal life, with a few slight issues. My short term memory is lousy, but my long term memory has come back strong (Spanish speaking excellent again!!). I write down where I put the cups when changing cups for example, now being the assistant super with no dislike or upset, in fact the opposite! I enjoy being part of the team again doing what I love, helping getting the daily job done, changing cups, spraying fairways, mowing or whatever else is needed! I will as my brain and memory gets better return someday to being the main man, but for now love what I do and am part of a team doing whatever it takes to keep our place ready for play everyday! I am so lucky to make a comeback for what many others never can recover from!! I ride my bike hard 17 miles in an hour, 4-5 times a week and indoors on a rack during the winter almost daily! I play golf again as much as I can, not as good as I was in the day low 70's but happy to play low 80's now! You sir must enjoy what you do and keep in good health, work out walk, ride a bike, and you can work as long as you wish! People live as long now as ever, I go to Temple every Sabbath and see members who are 80, 90, and some reaching 100 years old praying hard and celebrating their birthdays, coming up to read from the Torah and looking great! You sir are my friend and never should you think it is time to give up what you do, I know you too pray hard and believe more than meets the eye! So keep it green, tee it high and let it fly!!!
   
   GreggR

   
   
   
   
7. Keith Lamb

   

   3 posts
   
   2/18/2013 6:02 PM

   Cupcakes

   
   
   
   
8. Steven Kurta

   

   2 posts
   
   2/18/2013 7:02 PM

   Keith Lamb said: Cupcakes

   
   
   exactly.
   
   (no idea)

   
   
   
   
9. Keith Lamb

   

   3 posts
   
   2/18/2013 8:02 PM

   Steven Kurta said:

   Keith Lamb said: Cupcakes

   
   
   exactly.
   
   (no idea)

   
   
   It's a "Huff" thang.

   
   
   
   
10. Larry Allan

    

    0 posts
    
    2/18/2013 10:02 PM

    I've pretty much had enough. Alienated friends and enemies alike and in most cases I have no idea how I did either. I'm thinking retirement at 54. Being well endowed I have options but I'm thinking I will cut rough

    
    
    
    
11. Border Ricky H

    
    2/19/2013 7:02 AM

    Larry Allan said: I've pretty much had enough. Alienated friends and enemies alike and in most cases I have no idea how I did either. I'm thinking retirement at 54. Being well endowed I have options but I'm thinking I will cut rough

    
    Since you are well endowed maybe you should consider a second career in the film industry.
    Rick

    
    
    
    
12. Larry Allan

    

    0 posts
    
    2/19/2013 8:02 AM

    Ricky Border said:

    Larry Allan said: I've pretty much had enough. Alienated friends and enemies alike and in most cases I have no idea how I did either. I'm thinking retirement at 54. Being well endowed I have options but I'm thinking I will cut rough

    
    Since you are well endowed maybe you should consider a second career in the film industry.
    Rick

    
    I've annoyed the film makers as well. I was highly critical of a script they sent me. They wrote back :
    
    "Listen here Einstein!, We didn't hire you for your input on adding the burning of Atlanta and a symbolic sled named Rosebud. Do you want to drop your laundry or not?"
    
    That was our last correspondence. Rough cutting it will be

    
    
    
    
13. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    2/19/2013 12:02 PM

    Just changed our house mortgage to 15 year instead of 30 (with still 22 years left) with the interest rates down, we were able to even lower our house payment, (with some help shopping insurance) so it will be until I'm 67 when I retire. (one advantage for working for a government entity, unless I really mess up, I can count on stability.)
    
    With our son still in high school his activities become our vacations so at least we've found the balance between work and family.
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
    
    
14. Gary Carls

    

    19 posts
    
    2/19/2013 12:02 PM

    Scott,
    
    You just need to do what you is think is right for you and your family and hopefully do it at the right time. I've wrestled with the thought of retiring the last few years. Like you, I'm still fairly young by today's standard but just don't enjoy coming to work as much as I used to. I still love the crazy, busy days and working with the staff when we are all busy all day long. Between a good City pension and some good investing throughout my life I don't see the financial part as being a challenge. I also get my same medical plan for myself and my wife when I leave so that helps. Also have about 20 weeks of PTO saved up.
    
    These are challenging times with reduced staffing and all the other challenges of a struggling operation going on around here. Still want to support the guys (my staff) who have done so much to make me successful so leaving right now kind of feels like abandoning them when they might need me the most. I've known some of these guys as long as 30 years and our least senior employee has been with me for over 11 years now. At some point I'll be good with it all, just not quite yet. If you think you are really ready I say do what your heart tells you and go enjoy other things in your life that make you happy.

    
    Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative
    
    
15. Stephen Okula

    

    3 posts
    
    2/19/2013 12:02 PM

    I turn 59 on Thursday. I have developed a two step retirement plan as follows:
    
    Step 1 - Keep working until either I can't get out of bed anymore or they call the police to cuff me and remove me from the premises.
    
    Step 2 - Die.
    
    Elegant in its simplicity, wouldn't you agree?

    
    
    
    
16. Timothy Walker

    

    0 posts
    
    2/19/2013 4:02 PM

    Steve I am on he same plan - we must have a really bad financial planner

    
    
    
    
17. Robert Crockett

    

    4 posts
    
    2/20/2013 10:02 AM

    Scott Wahlin, CGCS said: Thank you for your reasonable feeback. This was probably not the best forum for this.

    
    Not unless you have to Scott...Your still too valuable to the Industry

    
    
    
    
18. Mark Van Lienden

    

    14 posts
    
    5/28/2013 11:05 AM

    I am retiring June 7th and want to thank everyone who has helped me solve problems or who has givin me advise on these forums.I am starting a dairy and heratage farm.The idea of cutting grass only twice a year was too much to resist.What a country.

    
    
    
    
19. Peter Bowman

    

    11 posts
    
    5/28/2013 11:05 AM

    Mark,
    
    Congratulations! Been a long time since we met trying to get the triploid grass carp legalized in California. Best of luck to you. Keep that mower sharp!

    
    
    
    
20. Gary Carls

    

    19 posts
    
    5/28/2013 3:05 PM

    Congratulations Mark and hope the cows are more forgiving about the conditions of their turf!!!
    
    Enjoy.

    
    Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative
    
    
21. Keith Pegg

    

    0 posts
    
    5/28/2013 3:05 PM

    Mark Van Lienden, CGCS said: I am retiring June 7th and want to thank everyone who has helped me solve problems or who has givin me advise on these forums.I am starting a dairy and heratage farm.The idea of cutting grass only twice a year was too much to resist.What a country.

    
    
    Good luck man, I will do the same in a year or two.
    
    Keith Pegg
    Japan

    
    
    
    
22. Justin VanLanduit

    

    0 posts
    
    5/29/2013 10:05 AM

    Congrats! Enjoy your retirement!

    
    
    
    
23. Jeff Arneson

    

    3 posts
    
    5/30/2013 10:05 AM

    Wow! Congrats buddy and I still thank you for the opportunity to work with/for you. Are you not gonna miss the Board Meetings, early golfers, and pythium watch? Good luck and stay in touch
    
    Jeff Arneson
    Redwood Empire GCC
    Fortuna, Ca

    
    
    
    
24. James Smith

    

    112 posts
    
    6/17/2013 9:06 AM

    Mark Van Lienden, CGCS said: I am retiring June 7th and want to thank everyone who has helped me solve problems or who has givin me advise on these forums.I am starting a dairy and heratage farm.The idea of cutting grass only twice a year was too much to resist.What a country.

    
    Congrats Mark, but aren't you going to thank the sensless morons who have kept you intertained all of these years?
    
    JK enjoy the cows.

    
    
    
    
25. Mark Van Lienden

    

    14 posts
    
    6/21/2013 6:06 AM

    Ok?..Thanks James.

    
    
    
    
26. Wahlin Scott B

    
    7/18/2013 3:07 PM

    Stephen Okula, CGCS said: I turn 59 on Thursday. I have developed a two step retirement plan as follows:
    
    Step 1 - Keep working until either I can't get out of bed anymore or they call the police to cuff me and remove me from the premises.
    
    Step 2 - Die.
    
    Elegant in its simplicity, wouldn't you agree?

    
    
    I was greeted by four police officers (4?) first thing Monday morning. My city manager decided to exercise her option to release me under my contract. It is a good deal for me and makes sense for the city. I was the heaviest cargo on a ship that has been taking on water since 2006. I am 55 and I am now retired. I had a good run for over 30 years. Golf was good to me!

    
    
    
    
27. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    7/18/2013 4:07 PM

    4? WTF? Usually only one. You gotta be proud you made enough of a statement to require four.
    
    Anyways, I know we didn't always agree on stuff but you did provide many years of wisdom to us on here. The old school way, so to speak. I hope retirement treats you well and you can start to enjoy life, your kids, and your hobbies a little bit more.
    
    Good luck, Scott.

    
    
    
    
28. Steven Huffstutler

    

    11 posts
    
    7/18/2013 7:07 PM

    I blame Larry for this.

    
    
    
    
29. Wahlin Scott B

    
    7/18/2013 7:07 PM

    Steven Huffstutler, CGCS said: I blame Larry for this.

    
    
    In that case, thanks Larry!

    
    
    
    
30. Steven Huffstutler

    

    11 posts
    
    7/18/2013 7:07 PM

    He's taking it pretty hard.