Author Topic: 2020 FIRE Cohort  (Read 539932 times)

SugarMountain

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1800 on: August 05, 2020, 08:00:27 AM »
Hi Rcc & congratulations Lucky13!

SugarMountain, that's inspiring news. I have my meeting with my boss today to ask about packages. I'm a little nervous - not sure why, I plan to resign if she can't get me anything and so what's the worst that can happen!

I totally get that emotion, I was too. Frankly, I was shocked but pleased with his reaction. In the 25 years I worked there, I had three different primary bosses and only had him for the last 4 years. Just take a deep breath and go for it. The worst they can say is "no".

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1801 on: August 06, 2020, 12:13:45 PM »
01/01/20  Linea_Norway (@46)          CONFIRMED
01/01/20  firebrand                   CONFIRMED
01/01/20  Nancy                       CONFIRMED
01/01/20  openroadadventure (@53/50)  CONFIRMED
01/03/20  nwa-non                     CONFIRMED
01/07/20  alienbogey's wife           CONFIRMED
01/15/20  Nifty
01/15/20  Nickel (@55)                CONFIRMED
01/15/20  GettingClose's husband      CONFIRMED
01/31/20  ATS (@52)                   CONFIRMED
01/31/20  DisplacedHoosier (@57)      CONFIRMED
02/03/20  grobinski (@52/53)          CONFIRMED
02/03/20  IslandFIGirl                CONFIRMED
02/07/20  JumboShrimp                 CONFIRMED
02/29/20  lemanfan                    CONFIRMED, but maybe not forever
03/01/20  Bmjohnson (@50)             CONFIRMED
03/05/20  LadyMaWhiskers              CONFIRMED
03/06/20  damyst                      CONFIRMED
03/10/20  Katmandew (@54/48)          CONFIRMED
03/13/20  CrazyIT                     CONFIRMED
03/13/20  ysette9 (@38)               CONFIRMED
03/13/20  Padonak                     CONFIRMED
03/13/20  Maenad                      CONFIRMED
03/20/20  Mmm_donuts                  CONFIRMED
03/??/20  FInding_peace (@38)       
03/19/20  wildatheart (@53)           CONFIRMED
04/01/20  FlytilFIRE                  CONFIRMED
04/02/20  CptCool 
04/15/20  hybrid                      CONFIRMED
04/15/20  Indio                       CONFIRMED
04/17/20  Ottawa
04/??/20  DreamFIRE
05/08/20  rab-bit                     CONFIRMED
05/21/20  Body Surfer                 CONFIRMED
05/31/20  Dee18                       CONFIRMED
05/??/20  Rcc                         SWAMI     
05/??/20  Lady Stash (@45)
06/01/20  bobble                      CONFIRMED
06/05/20  thelyon19
06/15/20  BigHaus89
06/15/20  aspiringnomad (@37)         CONFIRMED
06/16/20  Kteach                      CONFIRMED
06/30/20  LateStarter                 CONFIRMED
06/??/20  ixtap (date uncertain)     
07/04/20  myobjectivism               CONFIRMED
07/10/20  Zsazsa                      CONFIRMED
07/20/20  Alienbogey                  CONFIRMED (accepted package from employer)
08/03/20  SugarMountain               CONFIRMED (negotiated severance package)
07/??/20 or later 20  MMM123
07/??/20  bas5252 (@55)
07/??/20  SpreadsheetMan
08/07/20  HappyCheerE (@55)           CONFIRMED
08/14/20  BeanCounter @42             CONFIRMED
08/28/20  Albireo13 (@64)             CONFIRMED
08/31/20  fishnfool                   Accepted retirement package by employer
08/31/20  FrugalAussie (@54)          Given notice
09/01/20  RetireAbroadAt35
09/01/20  rab-bit's wife
09/04/20  Lucky13 (@44)               Given notice
09/11/20  ItsALongStory (@39)         Given notice
09/25/20  apurplelife
09/30/20  MarcherLady
09/30/20  Fresh Bread's husband
09/30/20  CoffeeAndDonuts             Given notice to employee
09/??/20  Dan23
09/??/20  2sk22  (or November)
09/30/20  Farmgirl (@61)              Given notice
10/15/20  Unique User (@50)
11/06/20  WYOGO
11/10/20  exit2019
11/20/20  Alternatepriorities
12/01/20  FireLane (@38)
12/11/20  Freedomsaver (@38)
12/14/20  Megs123                     Given notice
12/18/20  bownyboy
12/31/20  BFGirl
12/31/20  Freedomin5 (@38)
12/31/20  Bateaux
12/31/20  Chris@TTL + Jenni
12/31/20  honneyfill (or earlier)
12/??/20  david_shin   
12/??/20  MoneyTree (@36)   
12/??/20  Nora (@42)   
12/??/20  TheFIExplorer
??/??/20  texxan1     
??/??/20  EscapeVelocity2020   
??/??/20  BlueMR2     
??/??/20  catccc   
??/??/20  DadzillaGorilla (FI@35, RE@40)   
??/??/20  FIREstache (@55)       
??/??/20  letsdoit   
??/??/20  onlykelsey     
??/??/20  tooqk4u22     
??/??/20  Fresh Bread
??/??/20? Gumption
??/??/20  Beeboy (@46)
??/??/20  robtown

 
To be decided:
SailingOnASmallSailboat's DH (@50/51)

OLY:   
meatgrinder   
Life in balance (end of 2019)
2Birds1Stone (autumn 2019)
Firebrand (second week of December 2019)
   
OMY:   
RedefinedHappiness   
FIREby2021 (Q1 2021)   
TheContinentalOp (2021)
Sand101
desk_jockey
Pennycounter (or maybe fall 2020)
JoJo (FIRE maybe March 2021, working 60%)
tipster350 (2021)
Rubyvroom
   
FIREing later:   
FIPurpose (date to decided)   
ToughMother (date to be decided)
GettingClose working 50% and not in management from 04/01/2020 for another year.
Katmandew (@54), parttime from 02/29/2020.
Itchyfeet, accepted new job.

Not fully FIREd, but partly.
01/01/20  Steevven1 (@29)             Working PT
03/07/20  Fresh Bread                 Swami
05/01/20  Much fishing to do          Working PT from home occasionally

« Last Edit: August 31, 2020, 01:17:45 AM by Linea_Norway »

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1802 on: August 06, 2020, 12:21:05 PM »
Hi Rcc & congratulations Lucky13!

SugarMountain, that's inspiring news. I have my meeting with my boss today to ask about packages. I'm a little nervous - not sure why, I plan to resign if she can't get me anything and so what's the worst that can happen!

But of you get a package, you also resign, right? Or does a package imply working longer than two weeks?

MarcherLady

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1803 on: August 06, 2020, 12:43:43 PM »
Hi Rcc & congratulations Lucky13!

SugarMountain, that's inspiring news. I have my meeting with my boss today to ask about packages. I'm a little nervous - not sure why, I plan to resign if she can't get me anything and so what's the worst that can happen!

But of you get a package, you also resign, right? Or does a package imply working longer than two weeks?

Oh, yes, in my organisation 'resigning' impies you have not got a package, but just left. If they give me a package I leave with £, after what would probably be a 3 month notice period. If I just resign, I leave with no extra cash, and only have to give a four week notice period. I'll be done this year, either way :-D 

The conversation went well in as much as I made all the points I wanted to make, and she's going to take it to her boss, but she said she thought there would be very little chance. We'll see. Hopefully I'll hear something tomorrow, because after that I'm on leave for a week, and then boss is on leave for two, and by then we're into September - I need to get on with this before nerves get the better of me again!

SugarMountain

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1804 on: August 06, 2020, 02:44:11 PM »
Hi Rcc & congratulations Lucky13!

SugarMountain, that's inspiring news. I have my meeting with my boss today to ask about packages. I'm a little nervous - not sure why, I plan to resign if she can't get me anything and so what's the worst that can happen!

But of you get a package, you also resign, right? Or does a package imply working longer than two weeks?

In my case, officially my job was eliminated and I was laid off. Theoretically, I could apply for unemployment, but I haven't decided if I'm going to do that.

SugarMountain

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1805 on: August 06, 2020, 02:47:07 PM »

The conversation went well in as much as I made all the points I wanted to make, and she's going to take it to her boss, but she said she thought there would be very little chance. We'll see. Hopefully I'll hear something tomorrow, because after that I'm on leave for a week, and then boss is on leave for two, and by then we're into September - I need to get on with this before nerves get the better of me again!

You never know, my boss had said he thought there was very little chance too. I think a lot depends on if your company was already doing layoffs.

Rubyvroom

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1806 on: August 08, 2020, 09:11:41 AM »
I think I'll have to float into the OMY category, not because of cold feet, but just because of the way the timing worked out. We sold our home last fall and signed an apartment lease through April 2021 with the plan to build our own home on our land by that time. Covid has somewhat messed with that timeline, only because building materials are on back order, but I still hope we're on track for a Q1 2021 exit.

I started my own consulting firm about a year ago to quit my stress-riddled job. That choice has worked out nicely, even in the midst of a pandemic. Skilled, flexible temp staff seem to be in high demand because we're a casual workforce and we bring our own healthcare... when my current client asked if I could flex my hours for cost savings, I happily took an extra day off a week, and that only lasted a month before they decided they needed the hours back. It's a nice low stress situation - to be needed and appreciated but to have no real skin in the game and no involvement in the politics. Also, I've been 100% remote since March and that will likely go on through the end of the year at least.

My spouse "retired" when his employer fired 50% of the workforce back in March. He survived the cut, but wasn't about to stick around for the fallout. Being FI meant we easily decided to eliminate that stress, and that's turned out to be a good choice with what we've heard from his former colleagues. So we've throttled back significantly - health and wellness have been prioritized above money and savings now, after enduring so many years of the opposite. While we won't stop "working" in the conventional sense in 2020, I think 2021 is still in our sights, and taking the more gradual approach to FIRE has worked well for us (even though it slowed our trajectory slightly).

Best of luck to the rest of the cohort, and congrats to those that have achieved FIRE in probably one of the weirdest years tracked on this website!

HappyCheerE

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1807 on: August 08, 2020, 01:09:50 PM »
My first day of FREEDOM! It was down to the wire and I'm unhappy with how my boss handled the communication, but I'm officially now a casual employee working no more than 10 hours a week (goal 3-5) on my own schedule! if there's much more bullshit/micromanagement with her I'll just quit - she knows I don't need the hours, it's a question of wanting to do right by the few projects nobody else can take on. I'm prepared for the transition to be a little rocky but now I won't be on a schedule I can just take several days' break if I get fed up!

My biggest worry was health insurance but I was able to immediately go on the ACA exchange and get a policy that includes our primary care physician and will save us at least $1600/year! I won't really believe it until I have our new insurance cards in time for 9/1, but if anything goes wrong we can still go on COBRA until open enrollment - that would be very expensive but I had the possibility built in so we'd be fine.

I do lose all my accrued sick time (13 weeks!) which I had wanted to "spend" some of on kidney donation, but the pandemic put the kibosh on that... oh well. 3 1/2 weeks of vacation getting cashed out, though, which is a nice little bump. And to my extreme surprise, the 10% retirement match continues on my casual hours at least through the end of the year - an unexpected raise!

Congratulations to all of us in this cohort - as Rubyvroom says, it's a memorable one in which to make this transition!

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1808 on: August 08, 2020, 01:11:43 PM »
I think I'll have to float into the OMY category, not because of cold feet, but just because of the way the timing worked out. We sold our home last fall and signed an apartment lease through April 2021 with the plan to build our own home on our land by that time. Covid has somewhat messed with that timeline, only because building materials are on back order, but I still hope we're on track for a Q1 2021 exit.

I started my own consulting firm about a year ago to quit my stress-riddled job. That choice has worked out nicely, even in the midst of a pandemic. Skilled, flexible temp staff seem to be in high demand because we're a casual workforce and we bring our own healthcare... when my current client asked if I could flex my hours for cost savings, I happily took an extra day off a week, and that only lasted a month before they decided they needed the hours back. It's a nice low stress situation - to be needed and appreciated but to have no real skin in the game and no involvement in the politics. Also, I've been 100% remote since March and that will likely go on through the end of the year at least.

My spouse "retired" when his employer fired 50% of the workforce back in March. He survived the cut, but wasn't about to stick around for the fallout. Being FI meant we easily decided to eliminate that stress, and that's turned out to be a good choice with what we've heard from his former colleagues. So we've throttled back significantly - health and wellness have been prioritized above money and savings now, after enduring so many years of the opposite. While we won't stop "working" in the conventional sense in 2020, I think 2021 is still in our sights, and taking the more gradual approach to FIRE has worked well for us (even though it slowed our trajectory slightly).

Best of luck to the rest of the cohort, and congrats to those that have achieved FIRE in probably one of the weirdest years tracked on this website!

Best of luck with your house building project. And I understand that your current working situation is quite satisfying.

Farmgirl

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1809 on: August 10, 2020, 06:59:44 AM »
HappyCheer...so happy for you! 

Linea...thank you for keeping this list.  It has provided so much entertainment and hope for me!

And...I only have 37 more work days left.  I'm so ready to go.  As far as I know, they don't have a replacement, but maybe they do, as they are very secretive.  They are telling my co-workers (who know I am retiring) that the new workstation in the hall is for some help when I go for surgery (which may or may not be scheduled prior to my official retirement exit).  Whatever.  The owner hasn't said anything to me, other than hello and here's the mail to sort.  You would think after 8 years here you'd hear "Gee we hate to see you go..." or something. 

Should have listened to DH and given them 2 weeks. 

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1810 on: August 10, 2020, 12:01:19 PM »
HappyCheer...so happy for you! 

Linea...thank you for keeping this list.  It has provided so much entertainment and hope for me!

And...I only have 37 more work days left.  I'm so ready to go.  As far as I know, they don't have a replacement, but maybe they do, as they are very secretive.  They are telling my co-workers (who know I am retiring) that the new workstation in the hall is for some help when I go for surgery (which may or may not be scheduled prior to my official retirement exit).  Whatever.  The owner hasn't said anything to me, other than hello and here's the mail to sort.  You would think after 8 years here you'd hear "Gee we hate to see you go..." or something. 

Should have listened to DH and given them 2 weeks.

They do the ignoring tactic? Bad social behaviour. After 8 years they could have been nicer.
Make a list to cross off for the last 37 days, maybe that is motivating. After working a long life, 37 days go by quite fast.

BeanCounter

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1811 on: August 14, 2020, 11:22:07 AM »
I did it!!!! I’m done! Turned in my stuff this morning and now we are packing up to head to the beach!

Farmgirl

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1812 on: August 14, 2020, 12:17:08 PM »
Way to go BeanCounter!  Enjoy!

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1813 on: August 16, 2020, 03:31:14 AM »
I did it!!!! I’m done! Turned in my stuff this morning and now we are packing up to head to the beach!

Congrats! Enjoy your freedom.

FireLane

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1814 on: August 16, 2020, 12:51:33 PM »
Hi, class of 2020! I'm in a weird spot.

I reduced my work schedule to 4 days a week in 2018, and my original plan was to retire in July of this year. When the pandemic hit and the markets dropped, I moved my date to December.

But the market rebounded much faster than I expected, and now I'm well above my FIRE number. I could retire tomorrow if I really wanted to. But I'm not going to while the pandemic is raging, because I'd like to ride out a possible double-dip crash and because I don't see any point in quitting if I can't travel anywhere.

However, there's no reason I still need to work this much, so I proposed to my manager that I further reduce my schedule to 3 days a week. He said I could do it "unofficially," and I'm not sure what he meant by that.

Was he telling me to only log on 3 days a week, but continue getting paid for 4? That would be more money for me, so I feel silly complaining about it, but it feels less than honest. On the other hand, my manager is the only one who has any reason to care, so long as my productivity is acceptable to him, where's the harm?

In the weeks ahead, I think I'm going to give this a test run. I mean, the worst they can do is fire me, right?

ysette9

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1815 on: August 16, 2020, 03:03:25 PM »
Hi, class of 2020! I'm in a weird spot.

I reduced my work schedule to 4 days a week in 2018, and my original plan was to retire in July of this year. When the pandemic hit and the markets dropped, I moved my date to December.

But the market rebounded much faster than I expected, and now I'm well above my FIRE number. I could retire tomorrow if I really wanted to. But I'm not going to while the pandemic is raging, because I'd like to ride out a possible double-dip crash and because I don't see any point in quitting if I can't travel anywhere.

However, there's no reason I still need to work this much, so I proposed to my manager that I further reduce my schedule to 3 days a week. He said I could do it "unofficially," and I'm not sure what he meant by that.

Was he telling me to only log on 3 days a week, but continue getting paid for 4? That would be more money for me, so I feel silly complaining about it, but it feels less than honest. On the other hand, my manager is the only one who has any reason to care, so long as my productivity is acceptable to him, where's the harm?

In the weeks ahead, I think I'm going to give this a test run. I mean, the worst they can do is fire me, right?
That is an awkward spot to be in because it feels like you are being directed to cheat. Does that mean just check your email the morning of Day 4 each week and then have the day off? Be as productive in three days as you would be in four? I guess it gets at how hard it can be to really tell what people are doing at home except measuring by pure productivity.

FireLane

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1816 on: August 17, 2020, 09:10:37 AM »
That is an awkward spot to be in because it feels like you are being directed to cheat. Does that mean just check your email the morning of Day 4 each week and then have the day off? Be as productive in three days as you would be in four? I guess it gets at how hard it can be to really tell what people are doing at home except measuring by pure productivity.

It does feel a little like that, yes. I'm going to have to ask my manager to clarify his expectations.

I wonder if this is his way of telling me that I wouldn't get formal approval from the higher-ups, but he's not going to stand in my way because he doesn't want to lose me as an employee. I haven't really told him about my FIRE plans, but it's not hard to put 2 and 2 together.

JoJo

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1817 on: August 17, 2020, 09:22:03 AM »
@FireLane you really need to ask your boss what they mean by that.

Other than that, your story is similar to mine.  I'm already at 60% (for the last 3.5 years).  I was going to retire by at least July 10 but hadn't told my boss, then this COVID thing hit.  My plan was to do extensive travel, including abroad, upon retirement.  I'm not sure what to do now, but probably staying on until the end of the year to keep the health insurance.  The WFH and part time has allowed me to visit family this summer, and I've already saved several thousand $ more than I had planned due to working after July 10. 

Peter Parker

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1818 on: August 17, 2020, 09:40:13 AM »

Was he telling me to only log on 3 days a week, but continue getting paid for 4? That would be more money for me, so I feel silly complaining about it, but it feels less than honest. On the other hand, my manager is the only one who has any reason to care, so long as my productivity is acceptable to him, where's the harm?


Are you hourly or salary--If you are salary, no problem so long as the work is getting done....

Freedomsaver

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1819 on: August 17, 2020, 11:04:16 PM »
I’m joining but I probably don’t have enough to really retire. I plan on taking a couple years off at least to unwind and maybe do some slow traveling.
My last day is 12/11/20 38y

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1820 on: August 18, 2020, 01:48:02 AM »
I’m joining but I probably don’t have enough to really retire. I plan on taking a couple years off at least to unwind and maybe do some slow traveling.
My last day is 12/11/20 38y

Welcome.

ItsALongStory

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1821 on: August 18, 2020, 08:05:36 AM »
I’m joining but I probably don’t have enough to really retire. I plan on taking a couple years off at least to unwind and maybe do some slow traveling.
My last day is 12/11/20 38y
Welcome! Pretty much same story as me but my wife does have a pension that will cover our expenses.

What areas are you intending to slow travel through?

fishnfool

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1822 on: August 18, 2020, 07:00:18 PM »
5 working days left to go....wooohooo!

My last day is a F- U day but they call it furlough...lol

Freedomsaver

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1823 on: August 19, 2020, 03:28:14 PM »
I’m planning on state and national parks, forest, and blm land mostly out west eventually. There’s plenty to see where I’m at now in the rust belt and further East. I’m not a fan of large crowds or big cities. I have years of accumulated stuff to get rid of before venturing too far away.

ItsALongStory

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1824 on: August 19, 2020, 07:06:33 PM »
Really going crazy that my boss won't let me share publicly that I'm leaving. My final day is September 11th, but with 2 weeks of vacation on the books I want to still take some time off. I suppose that means I have about 2 weeks left.

RWTL

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1825 on: August 20, 2020, 03:47:28 AM »
Really going crazy that my boss won't let me share publicly that I'm leaving. My final day is September 11th, but with 2 weeks of vacation on the books I want to still take some time off. I suppose that means I have about 2 weeks left.

I've always told people that reported to me that it was their news to share, but I would send an announcement if they would like.  It is crazy that your boss told you not to share this. 


Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1826 on: August 20, 2020, 07:31:42 AM »
Really going crazy that my boss won't let me share publicly that I'm leaving. My final day is September 11th, but with 2 weeks of vacation on the books I want to still take some time off. I suppose that means I have about 2 weeks left.

I've always told people that reported to me that it was their news to share, but I would send an announcement if they would like.  It is crazy that your boss told you not to share this.

This is how it went with me too. I let my boss write it. It is hard enough for your coworkers to despair about someone leaving. Not letting them knowvis pretty cruel. And if someone would ask you a question about next year, would you need to lie for your boss?

LightTripper

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1827 on: August 20, 2020, 10:04:42 AM »
As a 2021er it's so great to hear all your stories.  Can hardly believe that will be us next year!
Hope you are all enjoying (or looking forward to your very imminent) freedom!

ItsALongStory

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1828 on: August 20, 2020, 10:24:19 AM »
@RWTL @Linea_Norway

He is happy for me to share next week or the week thereafter. I will be 100% transparent with those that I talk to or that ask me for details if the joint announcement is vague. He isn't being malicious in his intent but I think he wants to avoid any churn caused by an announcement without a plan on how to solve for the loss of a resource during a time where backfilling is unlikely.
« Last Edit: August 20, 2020, 12:16:00 PM by ItsALongStory »

FireLane

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1829 on: August 20, 2020, 05:49:33 PM »
Hi, class of 2020! I'm in a weird spot.

I reduced my work schedule to 4 days a week in 2018, and my original plan was to retire in July of this year. When the pandemic hit and the markets dropped, I moved my date to December.

But the market rebounded much faster than I expected, and now I'm well above my FIRE number. I could retire tomorrow if I really wanted to. But I'm not going to while the pandemic is raging, because I'd like to ride out a possible double-dip crash and because I don't see any point in quitting if I can't travel anywhere.

However, there's no reason I still need to work this much, so I proposed to my manager that I further reduce my schedule to 3 days a week. He said I could do it "unofficially," and I'm not sure what he meant by that.

Was he telling me to only log on 3 days a week, but continue getting paid for 4? That would be more money for me, so I feel silly complaining about it, but it feels less than honest. On the other hand, my manager is the only one who has any reason to care, so long as my productivity is acceptable to him, where's the harm?

In the weeks ahead, I think I'm going to give this a test run. I mean, the worst they can do is fire me, right?

I talked to my manager this week and asked him to clarify what his expectations are. I have a clearer picture now of how this will work.

I already have one day off per week from my previous part-time agreement. The deal is that the additional day I'm going to start taking in September won't be tracked with the same calendar code, but will be counted as an "excused by manager" day.

Technically, I'm supposed to make up those eight hours at a different time. He said that if I want to work a little earlier or a little later on my three remaining weekdays, or log a few hours on the weekend, I can, but he's not going to nickel-and-dime me about it.

This is a less formal arrangement, and I'm sure that's the idea for my boss and his bosses - they don't consider it a long-term thing. But it means more money in my pocket, and I'd be happy to do this until there's a vaccine and then quit. Now let's see if any of those Phase III trials pan out.

Dicey

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1830 on: August 22, 2020, 12:16:41 AM »
Hi, class of 2020! I'm in a weird spot.

I reduced my work schedule to 4 days a week in 2018, and my original plan was to retire in July of this year. When the pandemic hit and the markets dropped, I moved my date to December.

But the market rebounded much faster than I expected, and now I'm well above my FIRE number. I could retire tomorrow if I really wanted to. But I'm not going to while the pandemic is raging, because I'd like to ride out a possible double-dip crash and because I don't see any point in quitting if I can't travel anywhere.

However, there's no reason I still need to work this much, so I proposed to my manager that I further reduce my schedule to 3 days a week. He said I could do it "unofficially," and I'm not sure what he meant by that.

Was he telling me to only log on 3 days a week, but continue getting paid for 4? That would be more money for me, so I feel silly complaining about it, but it feels less than honest. On the other hand, my manager is the only one who has any reason to care, so long as my productivity is acceptable to him, where's the harm?

In the weeks ahead, I think I'm going to give this a test run. I mean, the worst they can do is fire me, right?

I talked to my manager this week and asked him to clarify what his expectations are. I have a clearer picture now of how this will work.

I already have one day off per week from my previous part-time agreement. The deal is that the additional day I'm going to start taking in September won't be tracked with the same calendar code, but will be counted as an "excused by manager" day.

Technically, I'm supposed to make up those eight hours at a different time. He said that if I want to work a little earlier or a little later on my three remaining weekdays, or log a few hours on the weekend, I can, but he's not going to nickel-and-dime me about it.

This is a less formal arrangement, and I'm sure that's the idea for my boss and his bosses - they don't consider it a long-term thing. But it means more money in my pocket, and I'd be happy to do this until there's a vaccine and then quit. Now let's see if any of those Phase III trials pan out.
Glad you asked for clarification. Sounds pretty reasonable. He values you and it seems like he's working the system to keep you. Kudos!

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1831 on: August 23, 2020, 06:06:41 AM »
My situation is weird - I told my company that I wanted to retire before the end of the year and it didn't go over well. Basically, my resignation was not accepted - they want  me to stay on indefinitely. I am just going to have to be firm about this but I really feel like a puppy that's followed me home!

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1832 on: August 23, 2020, 06:35:24 AM »
My situation is weird - I told my company that I wanted to retire before the end of the year and it didn't go over well. Basically, my resignation was not accepted - they want  me to stay on indefinitely. I am just going to have to be firm about this but I really feel like a puppy that's followed me home!

Not accepted? What can your boss do about that?

2sk22

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1833 on: August 23, 2020, 06:40:33 AM »
My situation is weird - I told my company that I wanted to retire before the end of the year and it didn't go over well. Basically, my resignation was not accepted - they want  me to stay on indefinitely. I am just going to have to be firm about this but I really feel like a puppy that's followed me home!

Not accepted? What can your boss do about that?

Oh, I could walk out any time I want but people are depending on me to help them and I feel some sense of obligation to them. I basically have to get them to stop depending on me so much. Promises to be an interesting few weeks ahead.

rab-bit

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1834 on: August 23, 2020, 07:38:53 AM »
My situation is weird - I told my company that I wanted to retire before the end of the year and it didn't go over well. Basically, my resignation was not accepted - they want  me to stay on indefinitely. I am just going to have to be firm about this but I really feel like a puppy that's followed me home!

Not accepted? What can your boss do about that?

Oh, I could walk out any time I want but people are depending on me to help them and I feel some sense of obligation to them. I basically have to get them to stop depending on me so much. Promises to be an interesting few weeks ahead.

I disagree. It is on them to stop depending on you so much. They need to figure this out, that's what management gets paid to do. How long you choose to give them to do that is strictly your call.
« Last Edit: August 23, 2020, 07:40:33 AM by rab-bit »

ItsALongStory

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1835 on: August 23, 2020, 07:59:43 AM »
My situation is weird - I told my company that I wanted to retire before the end of the year and it didn't go over well. Basically, my resignation was not accepted - they want  me to stay on indefinitely. I am just going to have to be firm about this but I really feel like a puppy that's followed me home!

Not accepted? What can your boss do about that?

Oh, I could walk out any time I want but people are depending on me to help them and I feel some sense of obligation to them. I basically have to get them to stop depending on me so much. Promises to be an interesting few weeks ahead.

I disagree. It is on them to stop depending on you so much. They need to figure this out, that's what management gets paid to do. How long you choose to give them to do that is strictly your call.
How long and under what terms, I'd say. Assuming you have little or no risk of needing to re-enter the workforce later you have a great bargaining position.

In the end nobody is irreplaceable so don't feel guilty about this decision. They will make it through.

SugarMountain

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1836 on: August 23, 2020, 11:23:28 AM »
My situation is weird - I told my company that I wanted to retire before the end of the year and it didn't go over well. Basically, my resignation was not accepted - they want  me to stay on indefinitely. I am just going to have to be firm about this but I really feel like a puppy that's followed me home!

Not accepted? What can your boss do about that?

Oh, I could walk out any time I want but people are depending on me to help them and I feel some sense of obligation to them. I basically have to get them to stop depending on me so much. Promises to be an interesting few weeks ahead.

I disagree. It is on them to stop depending on you so much. They need to figure this out, that's what management gets paid to do. How long you choose to give them to do that is strictly your call.
How long and under what terms, I'd say. Assuming you have little or no risk of needing to re-enter the workforce later you have a great bargaining position.

In the end nobody is irreplaceable so don't feel guilty about this decision. They will make it through.

It's funny, two years ago when I tried to walk away the first time I ultimately took 5 weeks of vacation and moved to an independent contributor role, leaving my team of 65 in someone else's hands, I volunteered to help with the transition and provided input on how I thought things could be organized.  They did not take me up on any of it.  We're not indispensable, no matter how much we think we are.  And now that I've quit for real, I half expected to hear from the guys who took over my projects.  But I won't.  They'll figure it out.

2sk22

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1837 on: August 23, 2020, 02:11:14 PM »
It's funny, two years ago when I tried to walk away the first time I ultimately took 5 weeks of vacation and moved to an independent contributor role, leaving my team of 65 in someone else's hands, I volunteered to help with the transition and provided input on how I thought things could be organized.  They did not take me up on any of it.  We're not indispensable, no matter how much we think we are.  And now that I've quit for real, I half expected to hear from the guys who took over my projects.  But I won't.  They'll figure it out.

Absolutely agree! I just need to stop feeling guilty about walking away.

LightTripper

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1838 on: August 24, 2020, 04:07:15 AM »
It's funny, two years ago when I tried to walk away the first time I ultimately took 5 weeks of vacation and moved to an independent contributor role, leaving my team of 65 in someone else's hands, I volunteered to help with the transition and provided input on how I thought things could be organized.  They did not take me up on any of it.  We're not indispensable, no matter how much we think we are.  And now that I've quit for real, I half expected to hear from the guys who took over my projects.  But I won't.  They'll figure it out.

It's funny, I had a dream about this last night, where I left my firm and things actually *did* fall apart.  I don't often remember my dreams any more so it was a strange one (probably linked to the fact I am due to talk to my boss today about going on a flexible contract!)

I work with a lot of "difficult" people, and I tend to be the smoother-over, sticking-togetherer, creating systems where needed, fixer-upperer, persuade not-to-leaverer person.  So it's easy to feel "indispensable" because I have fingers in many pies (dykes?  Mixed metaphors FTW). 

What I have realised more as I've got older though is that I'm not actually doing anybody any favours here long term by playing that role.  Sticking a band aid over a crack just allows the crack get bigger and bigger until it gets to the point where the band aid fails and you end up with a critical failure (whereas if you'd addressed the problem properly at the start, you might have been able to avoid that).

I worry that I have been exactly that band aid, and that things may go pretty wrong when I leave because I have been effectively facilitating all kinds of bad behaviour.  I will leave behind a corporate culture I am not very proud of, covered over by a load of sticky tape.  I don't think I personally have the skills/energy needed to change the corporate culture (given a big personality or two driving it pretty relentlessly in the opposite direction to the one I would go): but actually it probably would have been better for them and for me if I'd stopped with the sticky tape and moved on sooner, leaving a smaller crisis that may have been easier to fix.

Anyway, it's water under the bridge, and life-long learning is a thing, for me and for them.  But even if my dream comes true and things do start to fall apart after I go (and who knows, probably they will sail on through, and just do things differently!) it will actually be because of my failings, rather than my strengths.

I feel strangely unemotional about that.  It's not something to be proud of, or ashamed of: it's just who I am.  But it does make it easier in a way to walk away.  Staying out of duty is really just a band-aid solution.  At some point they (and we) just have to put our big-girl pants on and get on with the rest of our lives.


Freedomin5

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1839 on: August 24, 2020, 06:00:36 AM »
Today is one of those days when I’m extra happy to be in this cohort and can tell myself, “I’m still working because I want to work, not because I have to.”

albireo13

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1840 on: August 26, 2020, 11:45:36 AM »
Well, am almost there.  The 31st is my last day but, that is a Monday and I don't want to go in so … I will burn a vacation day and Friday is my last day!   The day after tomorrow!!!


Yay!!

Maenad

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1841 on: August 26, 2020, 12:13:21 PM »
In the end nobody is irreplaceable so don't feel guilty about this decision. They will make it through.

This just reminded me - I got along well with the vast majority of my coworkers in my last role. Oh they were going to miss me so much. Oh they wanted me to call in to the informal staff meetings... for about 6 weeks. I haven't heard from them in over 3 months now.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not upset, and I haven't exactly been making attempts to connect either. It's just.. people move on. And that's OK.

Well, am almost there.  The 31st is my last day but, that is a Monday and I don't want to go in so … I will burn a vacation day and Friday is my last day!   The day after tomorrow!!!

Yay!!
Congratulations!

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1842 on: August 26, 2020, 02:08:23 PM »
Well, am almost there.  The 31st is my last day but, that is a Monday and I don't want to go in so … I will burn a vacation day and Friday is my last day!   The day after tomorrow!!!


Yay!!

Good idea. One Monday less to work. I updated the list.
Only two days left to work!

ItsALongStory

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1843 on: August 26, 2020, 06:21:53 PM »
Well, am almost there.  The 31st is my last day but, that is a Monday and I don't want to go in so … I will burn a vacation day and Friday is my last day!   The day after tomorrow!!!


Yay!!
Congrats, I have 8 business days left. Might cancel one of my days off but ultimately I'd prefer to have an extra day off vs getting it paid out. I might just use a sick day instead which otherwise isn't paid out :-)

bmjohnson35

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1844 on: August 26, 2020, 07:40:39 PM »
Well, am almost there.  The 31st is my last day but, that is a Monday and I don't want to go in so … I will burn a vacation day and Friday is my last day!   The day after tomorrow!!!


Yay!!

Congrats and enjoy!

Much Fishing to Do

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1845 on: August 28, 2020, 07:16:09 AM »
My biggest worry was health insurance but I was able to immediately go on the ACA exchange and get a policy that includes our primary care physician and will save us at least $1600/year! I won't really believe it until I have our new insurance cards in time for 9/1, but if anything goes wrong we can still go on COBRA until open enrollment - that would be very expensive but I had the possibility built in so we'd be fine.


Nice.  Yeah I think there was the stretch of time where Post-FIRE health insurance was becoming more and more of a worry because of the quickly increasing expense, but now I think we're into a stretch where employers are covering/subsidizing less and less of that premium anyway, so its no longer that big a loss when you leave for many, its just the same (significant) expense it was before retiring.

Farmgirl

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1846 on: August 28, 2020, 09:08:07 AM »
I got my marching orders to train my replacement for the next 22 work days.  Boss says not to "overwhelm" her and only give her one new thing every 3 days.  So that means she will only learn 7 things before I go.

I think "overwhelm" means that my replacement goes screaming into the parking lot when the poor thing realizes what a mess she just got herself into.  Too bad.  She seems nice.

In other news, the company is paying out 18.5 days of vacation into October.  That will tide me over nicely until we get our first SS check.


Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1847 on: August 29, 2020, 12:42:44 AM »
I got my marching orders to train my replacement for the next 22 work days.  Boss says not to "overwhelm" her and only give her one new thing every 3 days.  So that means she will only learn 7 things before I go.

I think "overwhelm" means that my replacement goes screaming into the parking lot when the poor thing realizes what a mess she just got herself into.  Too bad.  She seems nice.

In other news, the company is paying out 18.5 days of vacation into October.  That will tide me over nicely until we get our first SS check.

It probably means that you have been working like a super woman. Poor replacement. Just try to teach her the things that you think only you know. And enjoy your vacation. It is not your problem to train your replacement.

albireo13

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1848 on: August 30, 2020, 04:44:30 PM »
I did it!!!
Friday the 28th was my last day!   I walked in the office bldg, cranked out some emails, status reports, and made a list of outstanding issues for my manager.
Also, spent some time in the lab doing actual work.
  Exit meeting at 12:30PM and out the door.

It is surreal.  It hasn't sunk in because it's the weekend anyway.  I think when Monday comes around I will start to appreciate it.

No more checking work email all hours of the day ....   3-5 meetings a day ....arbitrary milestones ... etc.

OMG ...

friedmmj

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1849 on: August 30, 2020, 05:12:32 PM »
I did it!!!
Friday the 28th was my last day!   I walked in the office bldg, cranked out some emails, status reports, and made a list of outstanding issues for my manager.
Also, spent some time in the lab doing actual work.
  Exit meeting at 12:30PM and out the door.

It is surreal.  It hasn't sunk in because it's the weekend anyway.  I think when Monday comes around I will start to appreciate it.

No more checking work email all hours of the day ....   3-5 meetings a day ....arbitrary milestones ... etc.

OMG ...

Nice!  Your Sunday nights just got a whole lot better!