This is really happening. My retirement. This Tuesday, February 28th is my last day at Boeing, after 28 years. This date has been my goal/plan for about 3 years now. I always said it depends on what I'm doing at work, how our health is and how the finances are doing.
I've frequently told people that retirement is a lot like divorce. You don't go into it lightly. It takes a lot of decision making, listing the pros and cons, and planning.
Last fall I met with our finance guy, he has a fancy software program that runs all the numbers and he can tell me how long our retirement money will last. That was an eye opener. It required me gathering up all our monthly expenses. You know how much fun budgets are.
Besides babysitting as a teenager, I've basically worked since I was 16 years old, with 3 and 6 months off when I had my kids and another 6 months off when I married Wally and moved to Washington. That's a lot of work! Yes, I was a working Mom. I know it's not for everyone but it was necessary for me. Especially as a single parent and then in a second marriage with his kids and my kids. But we made it work.
Some of the jobs I have had over the last 40+ years are: animal hospital/boarding place, fast food place (Red Steer), hair salon receptionist, lots of retail work, Castleton's, Ernst, Pay n Pak, a children's clothing store, and of course Boeing.
I've sold lingerie and I've sold lumber. I loved working at Ernst when my kids were small. My favorite departments were the paint department, helping people pick out paint and mixing it and the garden shop. I loved working outdoors, watering plants and getting paid for it!
I went back to college at the age of 40. I had an associates degree and Boeing paid for me to go back and get a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. It took me 4 years taking just one or two classes a quarter while working full time. I met some fun people in the classes and really liked being in school. I attended City University. I wasn't very good with on line classes so most of my classes were in Renton, Bellevue and one class in Everett.
I started school in April and my Dad passed away in June of the same year. I was happy that he knew I was going back to college. Natalie got her bachelor's degree just a couple of months before I got mine.
How do I feel about retiring now? Well, over the last couple of years, I've worked through all the emotions. I'm super excited and looking forward to the next phase of my life. I could work longer, but Wally has been retired and home alone for the last 12 years, so I think it's time.
I'm one of those people with tons of hobbies and love to do volunteer work so I definitely will stay busy. And I have also mastered the art of relaxing in the living room with a book, or watching Hallmark movies.
It will take Wally and I some time to get into our new daily routines. My 5 am alarm is because I choose to go to the gym before work instead of after work. I've been working out in the mornings for about 5 years now. I will continue to do that but now at a more normal hour of the morning, like 7:30 or so. And I won't be rushed to get home and get to the office.
The commute is something I have definitely witnessed a change in over the years and won't miss too much. But I will miss the beautiful sunrises and views of Mt Rainier that come with the commute.
I'll get out more to take pictures and hope to explore new places that we still haven't been to even though we've lived here a long time now. Turns out I've lived here in Kent now for more years than I lived in Utah or Idaho. And for now we're staying put, (just with more trips planned to Utah and Idaho).
