Retirement Update Cancel The title field is required!

1. Wahlin Scott B

   
   12/4/2013 1:12 PM

   I found out I was no longer needed at my GM job of 12 years on July 15, 2013. It was the perfect storm of forced retirement. I had just turned 55 and became eligible to collect my pension. Obamacare was going to make health insurance not only obtainable (for a pre-existing condition guy), but affordable. All of my other finances (house, savings, etc.) came together. My youngest graduated from college and my oldest graduated from years of horrible combat and prison with Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. The two kids in the middle have always been steady producers.
   
   So here I am cleaning house and gardening. (Actually I am napping, watching old movies and reading my father's books, but don't tell anyone.) Over the next three days I am going to spend significant time with three very wonderful women. Apparently, single non-working (it still seems too soon to say "retired") guys are in high demand among single working women. I did not anticipate this and it is actually a little stressful. You want me to be protective of and responsible for you? That is a lot to ask!
   
   So the next time you get a complaint about the sand in the bunkers being too wet in the morning or the baby birds in the tree behind #1 green being too loud, think of me. Some guys actually have it tough!

   
   
   
   
2. Sandy Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   12/4/2013 3:12 PM

   Scott, glad to hear you have things under control. The stress of three women though, sorry, your on your own! Got about 4 and a half years to go if everything falls into place. The health is good but I do have this worry in the back of my mind about the salary. I hope nobody determines that they can find someone for much less. Fortunately, there seems to be a respect for elders by virtue of the tribal philosophy. Hopefully, they will be thrilled to have me until the day I choose. At that point I will need to learn how best to use my time. I know the traveling and golf everyday thing gets old after the first several months. Retiring takes a plan! Keep up the good relaxation and stay active and healthy. You are still pretty young!

   
   
   
   
3. Wahlin Scott B

   
   12/4/2013 7:12 PM

   I was very lucky to get that municipal job. The only reason I tried to get it was because my wife at the time was making big money in real estate and it made no sense for us to relocate for my job. As the years went by my salary much more than doubled and I knew I was making too much. Not only that, but the bottom fell out of the industry down here starting with the hurricanes in 2004. We were an enterprise fund meaning that we were supposed to be completely funded by user fees. My first boss told me in no uncertain terms that I would never see a nickel from ad valorem taxes. The financial situation continued to get worse and I think the stress got to me. My carts were nine years old, I had greenmowers that were 15 years old, my employees had not had a pay increase in 8 years and my competition was giving their courses away. I got sick over and over, and missed a lot of time from work. Letting me go freed up enough money to take care of some badly needed improvements.