Officially retired!

[Miss Prim]

Yesterday was my last day at work!  It was exciting but bittersweet.  I was a microbiologist in a hospital lab and it was always exciting being in the know on the latest CDC advisory.  I could tell a lot of stories about people being pulled off of planes with extreme multidrug resistant TB and IDing bedbugs about every other day from hospital areas. (I would guess all hospitals have bedbugs now, as ours is not in a low income area).

But, although I was getting tired of having to do more work with less workers, I feel like my identity has been stripped from me!  I know that I am more than my profession, but even though the pay was not great compared to tech jobs, I felt like I contributed my expertise to something worthwhile to help doctors treat patients based on my work.

My question is, how have you forged a new identity to replace the old one and what do you do with knowledge that you won't be using anymore that just seems to be wasted.  I will probably not work in my field again as it would be too hard to keep up with rapid changes in ways we identify organisms and really, I don't want to be tied to a job anymore as my husband and I want to travel a lot.

Sorry for my post if it is a little scattered, as that is the way I feel right now!

                                                                          Miss Prim

[deborah]

You already have an identity outside work. It is the identity your husband and friends know. Now you are retired you can develop this personality. You have developed skills through work which will always be used - not in the way you have used them at work, but in different and exciting ways. As a very mundane example, you may have developed an expertise with the Microsoft Excel package. You may continue to use this skill developing appropriate graphs to manage your post-FIRE finances. And if there are some skills you don't want to lose, you may need to figure out some post-FIRE activities that ensure you retain the skill.

[BPA]

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dr. Doom had an interesting post about this on his blog that spoke to me as I prepare to transition.  Here it is:  http://livingafi.com/2015/03/09/building-a-vision-of-life-without-work/

My own transition plan includes becoming healthier and becoming a leisurely professional student. 

[MDM]

My question is, how have you forged a new identity to replace the old one and what do you do with knowledge that you won't be using anymore that just seems to be wasted.

Good question, as the idea of "go to college and get a job" is often inculcated so deeply that a job is seen as an end rather than a means.

If, however, you look at the job as a means that now allows you to do whatever you want...that may help.

And yes, the job-specific knowledge (aka ability to regurgitate facts) may not be used again, but you retain your ability to learn and do new things - so enjoy!

[Exflyboy]

Oh goody somebody who can tell me about the KPC superbug at the NIH..:)

I can relate to this.. I was top in my field (professional engineer in a fortune 500 company doing groundbreaking stuff).. Then.. On the retired scrapheap of life..:)

I don't have a lot of advice.. except that the people that know me know I am widely read, articulate and can hold intelligent conversation in a variety of subjects.

thats my new identity, I can't hope to go back into my field after say 2 or 3 years (probably less for you).. I guess over time I have become accustomed to that..:)

It takes a while to find your feet in retirement, but you'll get there.. says the guy that took a part time job after 7 months..;)..

[WYOGO]

Congrats and welcome to the rest of your life... :) You made it. Enjoy it.

Nothing has to be solved or done if you do not want to.

[Miss Prim]

Thank you for all the replies!  Unfortunately, my mother-in-law had a massive stroke just before my last day and we spent the first 6 days of my retirement at the nursing home with hospice until she died.  It was good that I retired when I did, because my husband needed me to be there with him. 

So, I am slowly getting used to not working, but considering it was under awful circumstances, I still don't feel settled yet.  I am going to try to get into a bit of a routine so I can feel like I have accomplished something everyday.

You guys are great!  I look forward to participating more on these boards.     

                                                                                 Miss Prim

[Financial.Velociraptor]

So sorry for your loss :-(

So happy for your achievement :-)

[Exflyboy]

Sorry for your loss MissPrim.. thats always tough..:(

It will take a while, on the one hand you have to give yourself permission to do nothing.. heck you've earned it. On the other you can get to the point of not wanting to do do anything real fast..:)

If you can be bothered to read the early day of my blog you will see it was quite and adjustment for me too..:)

All the best

[Exhale]

Congratulations! And sending you and your husband warm wishes.

Exflyboy and Jon_Snow have done a great job articulating their experience of this period of for FIRE (see Journals). Also, the Dr. Doom post mentioned by BPA was good. You might want to start a journal and then we'll all have a place to come and cheer you on!

[G-dog]

Congratulations on retirement.

I wonder if the sudden loss of your MIL is also making you feel more scattered and directionless. You may have experienced this anyway, but her death may be too much more to handle during your transition to this next phase.

You will find your way, you could teach/mentor, consult, become the expert for your local media, settle in and travel with your hubby, take up a new hobby (salsa dancing with hubby?).

Sorry for your family's loss - it can take a long time to get back to normal.

[bruce88]

Semi-retired about 18 months ago.  I found that I discovered new ways to spend the time:  walking, biking, reading, working part time, travel, etc.

You could still use your "job" intelligence by starting a blog to help those who need your expertise, or add to an existing blog, or volunteering at a senior center, or speaking to groups.

Good luck, and have fun with the rest of your life!