Though it is not an early retirement, I have five days left.
It is very busy. I am wrapping up work to hand off to the person I was filling in for. It is a busy time of year to begin with, and one of my staff had a meltdown a few weeks ago, so the work was reassigned -- and I took quite a bit of it, because I couldn't afford for anyone else to have a meltdown. The person I was filling in for has been throwing her weight around. However, my boss, the CEO, stepped in, and has made it clear that I am still in the job and report to him and for her to mind her manners.
I have been moving, eliminating the house I was renting during this contract and merging things with the permanent house I own. That has added a long commute -- for a short time and through beautiful country with perfect spring weather -- so actually a pretty relaxing part of the day. It has meant that I am dealing with movers and cleaning the house. But it also means that I am in my own home again, and seeing all the things to do I'll be able to choose from. The pets are all very happy to be in a very small-town country setting.
This is major yard clean-up season here, and I still have two yards. I've cut the grass, and I don't know if it is going to wait another five days. And I've been looking for someone to put new shingles on my house -- it is nearing crisis-time. Have someone who has agreed now, who gave me a quote that was $100 off what I expected to pay.
And I've spent a day at a workshop related to a project I'll be involved in soon.
The new life seems very close now -- really already started. I'm excited and finally, after weeks of working at things I am not crazy about doing, I can see an end in sight.
There is lots of noise around me as people try to figure out whether I am retiring or not. At work, I am told, the card they bought me is a "retirement" card. Perhaps it is hard to find a card that wishes you well when you are not in any hurry to work again until something really interesting comes along.