Retirement Cancel The title field is required!

1. Sandy Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   7/19/2013 9:07 AM

   Scott, obviously, we agreed on very little but I loved the back and forth. It won't quite be the same without you. Best wishes and take care of yourself. Stay active and have fun. Have a wonderful retirement.
   
   Sandy

   
   
   
   
2. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   7/19/2013 10:07 AM

   If it took four, maybe that is the ship that is sinking? I know we don't even have four park rangers on duty at one time.
   
   Good luck in retirement, I think you ought to take trips to the state capital and Washington and teach them a thing or two...I remember when Florida was democratic, (of course their views were similar to the republican party back in those days of the late 70's early 80's)
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
3. Steven Huffstutler

   

   11 posts
   
   7/19/2013 10:07 AM

   Hey, Scott. I wish you well in retirement, man. I hope you are prepared for this, I wasn't when I retired from the service 15 years ago. I retired on a Friday and it became apparent by Monday that things had changed.....when the phone rang, it wasn't for me, my opinion was suddenly not worth much, it was if I had died. I left what was essentially a large extended family whom I could no longer call on for help and who no longer called on me for help. Luckily, I went back to work immediately and was able to get on with it, but I do know a fair number of guys who weren't, so brace yourself, find something that you really want to do and get with the program.
   
   Good luck.
   
   Steve

   
   
   
   
4. Spotts David A

   
   7/20/2013 3:07 AM

   Scott, if you leave these forums there will be very few middle of the road (liberal) sensible people posting here. Instead of lurking I might have to become the voice of reasonable people. That's the trouble with most of us who are less conservative. With some exceptions, of course, most of us just aren't as loud as the Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Ted Nugent crowd. I try to live my life and let others live theirs but they just keep trying to get me to agree that pot should be illegal, Obama sucks no matter what, and everyone should carry a gun, except maybe people in the neighborhood watch. Oops, no that's good now too.

   
   
   
   
5. Peter Bowman

   

   11 posts
   
   7/20/2013 10:07 AM

   Ahhhh geeeezzz. Now Scott'll have even more time to try to get under my skin.

   
   
   
   
6. Wahlin Scott B

   
   7/22/2013 11:07 AM

   Peter Bowman, CGCS said: Ahhhh geeeezzz. Now Scott'll have even more time to try to get under my skin.

   
   
   Hey Pete! I qualify for lifetime retired membership. I'll be able to keep you all up to date on Obamacare!

   
   
   
   
7. Ronald Kirkman

   

   40 posts
   
   7/22/2013 4:07 PM

   Scott,
   
   I actually believe you can keep us up to date on Obamacare. I am not saying you will be right but I am saying you will keep us well informed. Pete, I expect you to pay close attention.
   
   Scott, you can inform us on why full time employment is tumbling down while part time employment is gaining ground and going out of site. Would this have anything to do with Obamacare?
   
   Capt. Kirk
   Retired Alien
   Needham Golf Club
   Needham, MA

   
   
   
   
8. Wahlin Scott B

   
   7/22/2013 10:07 PM

   Ronald Kirkman said: Scott, you can inform us on why full time employment is tumbling down while part time employment is gaining ground and going out of site. Would this have anything to do with Obamacare?

   
   
   I am sure Obamacare is not helping this situation, but this was happening before Obamacare. My daughter is a dental hygienist and cannot find a full time job. She has three jobs and pays for her own healthcare. As soon as she finds a dentist who offers benefits though, she is gone.

   
   
   
   
9. Gary Carls

   

   19 posts
   
   7/23/2013 8:07 AM

   Don't know all the specifics of Obamacare but I do know that starting January 1, 2014 all those seasonal jobs the city used to hire for summer coverage will no longer be 40 hour/week jobs. The new rule effective January 1, 2014 around here will be a maximum of 25 hours/week for those type of positions. Doesn't affect my program a lot but Parks may need to hire almost twice as many seasonal staff to get the same hours covered next season. I think this already is the trend most places and it's just going to get worse. Tough for many in our area who depend on "seasonal" jobs to survive and it will be interesting to see how hiring folks for only 25 hours per week affects the labor pool.

   
   Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative
   
   
10. Sandy Clark

    

    0 posts
    
    7/23/2013 9:07 AM

    Scott, on a personal basis, were you allowed to maintain your health insurance or will you be testing the market to find coverage? If I recall, you can't touch Medicare for another 7 years. Keep us posted on what you actually experience.

    
    
    
    
11. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    7/23/2013 1:07 PM

    Gary Carls, CGCS said: Don't know all the specifics of Obamacare but I do know that starting January 1, 2014 all those seasonal jobs the city used to hire for summer coverage will no longer be 40 hour/week jobs. The new rule effective January 1, 2014 around here will be a maximum of 25 hours/week for those type of positions. Doesn't affect my program a lot but Parks may need to hire almost twice as many seasonal staff to get the same hours covered next season. I think this already is the trend most places and it's just going to get worse. Tough for many in our area who depend on "seasonal" jobs to survive and it will be interesting to see how hiring folks for only 25 hours per week affects the labor pool.

    
    
    Gary,
    In the parks situation, (of course it depends on what program we're talking about) would that maybe open up more jobs for teenagers? Hire two instead of one? Although as I understood the ACA, those postions if they were under 4 months, wouldn't have had to offer healthcare to them anyway?
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
    
    
12. Wahlin Scott B

    
    7/23/2013 8:07 PM

    Sandy Clark, CGCS said: Scott, on a personal basis, were you allowed to maintain your health insurance or will you be testing the market to find coverage? If I recall, you can't touch Medicare for another 7 years. Keep us posted on what you actually experience.

    
    
    I have hypertension that is under control with meds, but that excludes me from getting health coverage without Obamacare. I can get COBRA for 18 months if necessary for $800 per month. I should be able to start Obamacare on Jan. 1, 2014. We'll see. If something happens to Obamacare I will completely renovate my house and buy a new car; put my money into stuff that cannot be touched when the inevitable happens.

    
    
    
    
13. Gary Carls

    

    19 posts
    
    7/24/2013 7:07 AM

    Mel,
    
    Typically the seasonal positions here with the city are based upon 900 work hours per given fiscal year. You can only work a total of 900 hours even if you were to switch to a different department. Right now we have a "seasonal" working 40 hours per week and he should be good until some time around November. Won't be able to have that next year.
    
    No hires under 18 years of age either for any of the positions in Parks or Golf. I think this is a city-wide policy but not 100% sure.

    
    Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative
    
    
14. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    7/24/2013 8:07 AM

    Thanks Gary,
    
    I know here for seasonal or part time they have to stay under 1500 for the year or they would have to be offered the same benefits as FTE's.
    
    I have heard no changes from what we are doing right now.
    
    We do have quite a few teenagers working in our park system, from cart kids to those working with the school park program with before and after school care and summer camps/care centers.
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
    
    
15. Wahlin Scott B

    
    8/7/2013 3:08 PM

    I retired, or better stated, "I was cut from the team" last month. I was looking through the jobs advertised on this website and there are some pretty cool opportunities for descent money out there. I am not physically capable anymore, but I would like to go to Anchorage, turn wrenches and play golf! PS: How can you have a half-mil+ maintenance budget up there? How many days per year are they open?

    
    
    
    
16. Peter Bowman

    

    11 posts
    
    8/7/2013 7:08 PM

    Scott Wahlin, CGCS said: PS: How can you have a half-mil+ maintenance budget up there? How many days per year are they open?

    
    
    Just a wild guess, but with no state income tax or sales tax, maybe they can use their money for other things?

    
    
    
    
17. Wahlin Scott B

    
    8/8/2013 12:08 AM

    Peter Bowman, CGCS said:

    Scott Wahlin, CGCS said: PS: How can you have a half-mil+ maintenance budget up there? How many days per year are they open?

    
    
    Just a wild guess, but with no state income tax or sales tax, maybe they can use their money for other things?

    
    
    Still, that is a lot of money to me considering the South Florida Courses are open 365 days for that price. We have no state income tax and the sales taxes are not excessive. I want to spend 8 months per year drinking beer and playing cards with Red and his staff! Hell, I don't even need to be paid, just give me a corner in the maintenance facility!

    
    
    
    
18. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    8/8/2013 6:08 AM

    Scott Wahlin, CGCS said:

    Peter Bowman, CGCS said:

    Scott Wahlin, CGCS said: PS: How can you have a half-mil+ maintenance budget up there? How many days per year are they open?

    
    
    Just a wild guess, but with no state income tax or sales tax, maybe they can use their money for other things?

    
    
    Still, that is a lot of money to me considering the South Florida Courses are open 365 days for that price. We have no state income tax and the sales taxes are not excessive. I want to spend 8 months per year drinking beer and playing cards with Red and his staff! Hell, I don't even need to be paid, just give me a corner in the maintenance facility!

    
    
    Must be all their oil money? Oh and the money they got from the federal government for all the many years. I remember at one time their Senate delegation was good at filling up their pork barrels.
    
    Mel

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

    

    19 posts
    
    8/8/2013 7:08 AM

    My guess would be that wages are probably pretty high up there and there are some really long days in the "summer" months that account for what appears to be a higher budget.

    
    Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative
    
    
20. Andrew Cross

    

    5 posts
    
    8/16/2013 10:08 PM

    Scott Wahlin, CGCS said: I retired, or better stated, "I was cut from the team" last month. I was looking through the jobs advertised on this website and there are some pretty cool opportunities for descent money out there. I am not physically capable anymore, but I would like to go to Anchorage, turn wrenches and play golf! PS: How can you have a half-mil+ maintenance budget up there? How many days per year are they open?

    
    
    The super is from the Chicago area and had an article in our local association magazine earlier this year, hopefully this link works for you and you can read up!!
    
    http://www.flipsnack.com/9DFFDCD9E8C/f7jiqhh7

    
    
    
    
21. Sandy Clark

    

    0 posts
    
    10/4/2013 10:10 AM

    Scott, on a personal basis, now that you have been retired for a short time, how are you doing? Are you adjusting to it without going crazy? You are still a young guy so I am interested in knowing what you are doing to stay active and engaged? Have you started any new hobbies or playing golf? What is the acclimation process like?

    
    
    
    
22. Wahlin Scott B

    
    10/5/2013 10:10 AM

    Sandy Clark, CGCS said: Scott, on a personal basis, now that you have been retired for a short time, how are you doing? Are you adjusting to it without going crazy? You are still a young guy so I am interested in knowing what you are doing to stay active and engaged? Have you started any new hobbies or playing golf? What is the acclimation process like?

    
    
    I am still really new to it, so I do not have an answer for you yet. So far so good though. Most of the challenges I had in my career would be better defined as distress instead of stress. The companies I worked for all had the mantra that perception is reality. As I told my kids when they were little, "It's like they want me to draw a pretty picture, but they won't give me any crayons." They paid me well and put me into a position where I could retire at 55, but I feel like I spent 30 years pounding my head against the wall looking for answers when there weren't any. My step-father, an old southern gentleman told me, "Sometimes you don't realize you had your hand in a pot of boiling water until you take it out." I am not totally clear on what that means, but I sure do like not having my hand in the boiling water.