Author Topic: Sad retirement story from long ago - this is why I want to get out early!  (Read 6597 times)

ysette9

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The read is long but I found it amusing, quirky, and ultimately a strong motivator for saving my pennies and getting out early. These pages came from an old file that was being cleared out in my office. The individual concerned has long since passed away so I feel okay with sharing the information.

(Let's see if I can successfully attach a file to a post.....!)

[attachment deleted by admin]

KiloRomeo

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Well that was uplifting...

Gondolin

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Oh the pain of making decisions in a pre-internet world without communities like this one.

Also, he was a defense employee with 25+ years who died on the job. This type of behavior is still very common today.

mm1970

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aw jeez

lbmustache

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Died of cancer? I wonder if he knew about it ... I skimmed the letter but did not catch any reference to major medical concerns?

Anyway, a sad story. :(

ysette9

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He referenced some health concerns but it didn't sound like he knew he had cancer. This was long before my time, so who knows? In this industry we definitely have folks who stick around forever.

PhrugalPhan

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Yeah, this story really says it all doesn't it?  Makes me think of my current job.  While not stressful, in the past three months two guys nearing retirement age died (in our cubicle area of about 40 people).  One guy I helped through the door that day at lunch & he died that night.  Makes you realize that when you have enough, there's no sense in sticking around longer.

ysette9

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That really hits close to home! We have had people die at work but no one I ever knew. That must have been difficult for you knowing the people that well who then passed away.

MMM98

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The age demographics where I work mean there are many retirement eligible workers.  Several stay working, often for reasons that perplex me.  One coworker is staying so she can pay her car payment. 

One employee with 36 years retired last week.  I asked him how much more he was making in retirement, he said 400/per month.  In fact because he failed to calculate the tax saving retirees get, his retirement income equaled his work pay 3 to 4 years ago.  He is 62 and walks with a cane and looks worse for the wear.  He clearly did not enjoy his job.  This story could have been written about him..  I don’t expect that he will last 5 years in retirement.  He had no clear plan for his retirement except to go to his grand children’s sporting events.

elaine amj

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So very sad.

rpr

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Re: Sad retirement story from long ago - this is why I want to get out early!
« Reply #10 on: January 06, 2016, 01:52:51 PM »
That is indeed depressing.

alleykat

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Re: Sad retirement story from long ago - this is why I want to get out early!
« Reply #11 on: January 06, 2016, 02:11:14 PM »
For some reason I couldn't open it but I have known a few people die on the job. Some just retired or planning on retiring and they never made it. It is not guaranteed. I just hope it isn't me one day. While I was foolish with my money and late in catching up, I hope I am still not working at 60 or, at least if I am, I am doing something I enjoy and not out of need.

Northwestie

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Re: Sad retirement story from long ago - this is why I want to get out early!
« Reply #12 on: January 06, 2016, 03:09:38 PM »
People seem to get very scared early in the careers.  There is nothing more dull and soul squashing as the long shadow of security.

okits

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Re: Sad retirement story from long ago - this is why I want to get out early!
« Reply #13 on: January 06, 2016, 03:11:34 PM »
For some reason I couldn't open it but I have known a few people die on the job. Some just retired or planning on retiring and they never made it. It is not guaranteed. I just hope it isn't me one day. While I was foolish with my money and late in catching up, I hope I am still not working at 60 or, at least if I am, I am doing something I enjoy and not out of need.

The PDF crashed every program I tried it with, so I did a reboot of my tablet (old) and then it worked in Notes.

okits

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Re: Sad retirement story from long ago - this is why I want to get out early!
« Reply #14 on: January 06, 2016, 03:16:53 PM »
A number of people in my social circle have had surprisingly serious health problems in their 30s and 40s.  I wish I could go back in time and regularly shout at my younger self: "YOU DON'T HAVE UNLIMITED TIME!  YOU DON'T HAVE UNLIMITED TIME!  YOU DON'T HAVE UNLIMITED TIME!"  Probably wouldn't hurt to shout it at my current self, a few times.

sunday

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Re: Sad retirement story from long ago - this is why I want to get out early!
« Reply #15 on: January 06, 2016, 07:20:49 PM »
This was a really sad story, I was rooting for him to make it but knew there was a sad end coming. When I saw first read the obituary and saw he worked for as contamination engineer at Lockheed, I really hoped it wouldn't be cancer.

stealthystache

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Re: Sad retirement story from long ago - this is why I want to get out early!
« Reply #16 on: January 06, 2016, 07:49:50 PM »
A number of people in my social circle have had surprisingly serious health problems in their 30s and 40s.  I wish I could go back in time and regularly shout at my younger self: "YOU DON'T HAVE UNLIMITED TIME!  YOU DON'T HAVE UNLIMITED TIME!  YOU DON'T HAVE UNLIMITED TIME!"  Probably wouldn't hurt to shout it at my current self, a few times.

I saw the same thing at my last "official" full time job as a director for a small department in a top 10 university from the sheer stress of the job. Within 1 year the following people died: one woman in her 30's died when she fell asleep driving to a mandatory out of town meeting. She had been working too many hours that week and not getting enough sleep. Kind of scary thinking about the meta line in that! Another woman in her early 40's died of a brain aneurism while working on a project with no prior health concerns or family history. A guy in his late 40's died of cancer (quite possibly not related to the work environment), and another guy in his mid 40's committed suicide right after I left.

It was the frightening fact of young-ish employee deaths that really shook me awake and led me to leave. That and the 60-100 hours per week, unrelenting criticisms, and my boss's lack of backbone. :) My resignation was short and sweet: my name, current date, and date of resignation (oh, and my signature!). It took a full year to decompress.