Dreaming of quitting

[Cap_Scarlet]

As my retirement comes closer and closer I keep running through my head what will be in the quit letter.

We've been planning this year for a while and this years there are some big milestones for us.

1. We will have our 25th wedding anniversary.
2. I will have my 50th birthday (I am now exactly 100 days away)

My 50th is probably the most significant event (can I really be 50?) as it means that my retirement benefits (payable at age 62) will become fully vested and to be honest I have been hanging on a bit.  I have a contract which means I have to give 6 months notice from the end of the quarter in which I hand in my notice.  That means that effectly if I had handed my notice in on 1 July, my leaving date would be officially 31 March next year.  However, irrespective of that I want to make sure I pass the actual date while still in employment to prevent my employer weasling their way out on a technicality.

Anyway we have a grand plan.

I have been saving holiday for a couple of years such that this year I can take two months off.  So our plan is (as an anniversary / birthday present) to take November / December this year as holiday and do a tour of Australia and New Zealand.  This will be our last major blow out and I estimate this is going to cost us around $20,000.  Which is definitely not in the spirit of the mustachian.

Anyway the two months will give us the chance to think about the rest of our life and become comfortable with the concept of never working again (wow!).

We return at the end of December and my expectation is to hand in notice on 1 January 2015 meaning an official leaving date of 30 September 2015 - but in the hope that they will let me go immediately with a nice pay off!  I should be so lucky!  However I certainly do not expect to be working beyond end of May 2015.

So here's my question:

- How did you exit?
- What would you write in your resignation / early reitrement letter?
- Will you go our with a fanfare or just slide out the back door?

[MikeBear]

I dream of standing on my bosses desk, and pissing on his chair... lol

I might just do it, because at that point, who cares how I leave...

[steadierfooting]

The dreams were awesome, but I did it professionally.  I quit for another job, but this was my process
1) clear out my work computer of absolutely any personal things, make backup of any useful contacts or code.
2) secretly bring out any personal item I own the days before, so when I give notice, if my boss gives the slightest bit of crap I can immediately leave after saying, "You know what, two weeks notice is a courtesy I was planning on extending to you, but no longer am".
3) resignation letter:
<date>
This letter is to inform you that I am am resigning my position of <job title> with <company name>.  My planned last day will be <date from two weeks from now>
<signed name>
<name>
4) I walked into my boss with confidence, even though inside I was a bit nervous, shut the door and just said, "I'm sorry to have to dump this on your plate but I was offered a position with another company that I accepted, here is my resignation letter."  That was enough to get the ball rolling with an informal professional conversation, "sorry to see you go" "it was nice to work with you" "let me absorb this and meet up in an hour to talk transition" etc.
5) created my own transition plan on my own terms
----with 10 business days to go, spend the first 3 documenting, next 3 training, next three supporting, with the last day turning in laptop and going to lunch.  I'd show up at 10, leave at 3, and as of giving in the letter would take on no more responsibilities.

[The Money Monk]

you gotta do it like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT6gZmYSXXs

[Alabaster]

I intend to coordinate mine with my 31st or 32nd birthday (maybe 33rd if things don't go as planned). I think I'll bring in a big o' birthday cake that says "Happy Retirement!". Then I'll walk over to my boss' boss' boss (who is technically who I report to oddly enough - the standard corporate hierarchy doesn't mean much where I work) and turn in an informal resignation. We have a policy that you are encouraged to give two weeks notice but you'll probably be asked to leave the day you give notice and be given 2 weeks severance.

The speech should go something like this:
"Hey James;

You may or may not be aware but today is my 32nd birthday. That, of course, means its time to retire. I'm happy to stick around for a couple more weeks if you can use me, but I'm fine leaving today too. I've had a lot of fun here. I think the enviorment is great, the people are great, and I like what we do. Still, its been a long time dream of mine not to have to work and, frankly, at this point I don't have to. So I'd like to try not working for a couple years and see if I get bored. I've got some volunteer work lined up - it should be fun."

I like to get in early so as the rest of my team gets in, they'll find out that it finally happened. (As retirement gets closer, I assume my team will know I'm shooting for it since we are all on good terms and talk personally with some frequency.) They'll have cake, they'll likely take me out to lunch, and at 3 pm I'll be out the door for good.

I like my job. I don't plan to keep working once its reasonable for me to quit though. Should be a fun day. I'd do something crazy to celebrate that night but... I don't like doing crazy things haha. :P

[Snow White]

I retired on 5/2/14 and I gave my boss almost six months notice primarily to have time to recruit and train a couple of new people in my department. I actually liked my work and got along ok with my boss so it was all done very professionally and I could return to work there (or get a good reference) if I needed to. The triggering event for me was hubby sitting me down and running every financial what-if known to man and making me face that we have been FI for a long time. He has been retired for six years and wanted me to join him.  I was quite afraid cut the cord but I am amazingly happy and regret hanging on so long.  Which group sang the lyrics..."you live your life in prison and you never even know you have the key"?  That was definitely me as I had always worked and couldn't imagine a world with that kind of freedom.

Still...I'd suggest leaving as professionally as you can bear to do.  Good luck...sounds like you have a good plan.

[desk_jockey]

I dream of standing on my bosses desk, and pissing on his chair...

Been there, done that.   But didn't need to quit to pull that one off, just needed him to be OOTO for a couple of days.  Actually what lead to that was the thing that embedded permently in my brain the need for f-you money.  Long time ago / different company / I've grown up a little bit since. 

[Cap_Scarlet]

Still...I'd suggest leaving as professionally as you can bear to do.  Good luck...sounds like you have a good plan.

This I for sure what I will do - even though there are some things I would like to say to be honest they just don't care.  A young girl who used to work with me died about two months ago after a long illness.  The company sent flowers and one person went to the funeral and then its like - lets move on.  She was 35.

Besides that I would not mind some nice lucrative consulting work in the future ;-)

[The Borgs]

I dream of standing on my bosses desk, and pissing on his chair... lol

I might just do it, because at that point, who cares how I leave...

Would your boss be in the chair at the time?

[dude]

I'm thinking about having a tear-away suit (like the NBA players' warm ups), that I will tear off to reveal a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, at my going away.  Just gotta figure out how to do the same with shoes, to reveal flip-flops.

Then, I might spark up a gigantic fattie as I exit the door, just because I can (after 22+ years of random urinalysis testing).

:-)

[Dr. Doom]

The speech should go something like this:
"Hey James;

You may or may not be aware but today is my 32nd birthday. That, of course, means its time to retire. I'm happy to stick around for a couple more weeks if you can use me, but I'm fine leaving today too. I've had a lot of fun here. I think the environment is great, the people are great, and I like what we do. Still, its been a long time dream of mine not to have to work and, frankly, at this point I don't have to. So I'd like to try not working for a couple years and see if I get bored. I've got some volunteer work lined up - it should be fun."

Except for the birthday cake, this is very close to what I'll be doing, with one other modification:  I won't use the word 'retire,' instead preferring something like 'extended sabbatical.'  But everything else -- being polite, thanking them for the job, expressing gratitude and saying I was happy working for them -- and also offering to work extra for a <short> while if they really need it -- sounds just about right.  If you're not angry with your employer, some flavor of this is the way to go.  You'll be able to retain all of your work relationships into the future, and you never know for sure if/when they might come in handy.

I've held other jobs in the past where I would have planned to make an explosive exit, but I respect people and organizations that have respected me and my peers, and my current gig does exactly that.  Gotta reciprocate.

[Cap_Scarlet]

Over the last year or so I have become clearer on why I want out and its this........(I am sure everyone will have the same in  some combination).

1. Every year my employer expects more (in terms of revenues)
2. I am happy to provide more IF I get more resource to help me do that.......however
3. The "more" is overhead as I need more business development resource
4. Someone else's job is to reduce overhead

....you see where this is going don't you?

5. There is no more resouce (even though everyone says "hey, you need more resource"
6. I won't deliver on my sales targets
7. I will be criticised for not hitting my sales targets
8. My salary won't increase

Its a ridiculous cycle based on hope i.e. my employer knows I need resource but hopes that I will be able to increase sales without resource anyway.  They will hope that even if I do increase sales I will be happy with no increase in pay because "times are tough".

I will relish (like a fine wine) the day when I have the power to walk away.

[MikeBear]

I dream of standing on my bosses desk, and pissing on his chair... lol

I might just do it, because at that point, who cares how I leave...

Would your boss be in the chair at the time?

I'm not that crass, lol.

[The Borgs]

I dream of standing on my bosses desk, and pissing on his chair... lol

I might just do it, because at that point, who cares how I leave...

Would your boss be in the chair at the time?

I'm not that crass, lol.

It was just a question that leapt into my mind. Obviously I'm a bit more crass!

Incidentally I quit and finished my job yesterday. And didn't piss on anything or anyone, other than metaphorically.

[Jon_Snow]

Hey, I just resigned yesterday. I had been with the company 25 years - this didn't stop me from writing a polite, yet very succinct letter and giving 2 months notice. I expected push back on the 2 months notice considering there is no one in place to fill my management position. So far so good.

Actually, I'm surprised at the number of people who truly seem happy for me. One of my bosses, who is around 60, did mutter something like "I can't believe you retired before me". I'm 42.

[Rural]

.  Which group sang the lyrics..."you live your life in prison and you never even know you have the key"?  That was definitely me as I had always worked and couldn't imagine a world with that kind of freedom.

The Eagles, "Already Gone."

[RetiredAt63]

I went to a retirement seminar, and the psychologist who was doing the presentation on the non-financial aspects of retirement did exactly that!  She came in wearing a very formal business suit and pumps, and stripped in front of us. Under the suit was a very casual t-shirt and shorts, and she had flip-flops in her purse that replaced the pumps.  She gave her whole presentation dressed for retirement.  ;-)   This was a bunch of professors, so none of us wore suits anyway, but it sure did get the point across in a fun way.

I'm thinking about having a tear-away suit (like the NBA players' warm ups), that I will tear off to reveal a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, at my going away.  Just gotta figure out how to do the same with shoes, to reveal flip-flops.

[Workinghard]

Not retirement per se, although I probably could. Next summer I want to take a month off for a trip. I work Fri-Sun FT, so that's 12 days a month, although I pick up extra during the week. Because I don't have exact dates yet, my request wasn't approved. If it becomes a problem taking unpaid time (IF I don't have enough vacation days left), then I'll change my status from FT to per diem and have control of my schedule--which won't include every weekend!

[Snow White]

.  Which group sang the lyrics..."you live your life in prison and you never even know you have the key"?  That was definitely me as I had always worked and couldn't imagine a world with that kind of freedom.

The Eagles, "Already Gone."

Duh...of course! Thanks....

[dude]

I Which group sang the lyrics..."you live your life in prison and you never even know you have the key"?

I believe you are thinking of The Eagles' "Already Gone" -- "so oftentimes it happens/ that we live our lives in chains / and we never even know we have the key / me, I'm al-l-l-l-l-l-ready gone . . ."

:-)

edited to add -- oh shit, I shoulda read to the bottom!  Somebody else already picked it up!

[dude]

Hey, I just resigned yesterday. I had been with the company 25 years - this didn't stop me from writing a polite, yet very succinct letter and giving 2 months notice. I expected push back on the 2 months notice considering there is no one in place to fill my management position. So far so good.

Actually, I'm surprised at the number of people who truly seem happy for me. One of my bosses, who is around 60, did mutter something like "I can't believe you retired before me". I'm 42.

Fkn A!  Congrats!

[dude]

I went to a retirement seminar, and the psychologist who was doing the presentation on the non-financial aspects of retirement did exactly that!  She came in wearing a very formal business suit and pumps, and stripped in front of us. Under the suit was a very casual t-shirt and shorts, and she had flip-flops in her purse that replaced the pumps.  She gave her whole presentation dressed for retirement.  ;-)   This was a bunch of professors, so none of us wore suits anyway, but it sure did get the point across in a fun way.

I'm thinking about having a tear-away suit (like the NBA players' warm ups), that I will tear off to reveal a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, at my going away.  Just gotta figure out how to do the same with shoes, to reveal flip-flops.

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!  Awesome!

[Cap_Scarlet]

I can't believe I started this thread on 14th July when there was 100 days to go to my 50th birthday .....well just to show how quickly time goes by we are now down to 49 days!

I can do this!

[Gone Fishing]

Over the last year or so I have become clearer on why I want out and its this........(I am sure everyone will have the same in  some combination).

1. Every year my employer expects more (in terms of revenues)
2. I am happy to provide more IF I get more resource to help me do that.......however
3. The "more" is overhead as I need more business development resource
4. Someone else's job is to reduce overhead

....you see where this is going don't you?

5. There is no more resouce (even though everyone says "hey, you need more resource"
6. I won't deliver on my sales targets
7. I will be criticised for not hitting my sales targets
8. My salary won't increase

Its a ridiculous cycle based on hope i.e. my employer knows I need resource but hopes that I will be able to increase sales without resource anyway.  They will hope that even if I do increase sales I will be happy with no increase in pay because "times are tough".

I will relish (like a fine wine) the day when I have the power to walk away.

Ah yes, I know these demands well.  I'm not a big FU kind of person, but I am not above a few direct  comments. As much as I would like to make them, I believe I am going to do it by the book, as there are not enough bridges in this town to go burning any.  As much as it would pain me, I might need a job again someday if things go south.  If I was moving across the country I'd probably make them!    Instead I am going to tell them my children need more attention, which is so true. 

[Cap_Scarlet]

I'm not a big FU kind of person

In truth neither am I but I am also not sure what sort of person I am.

Externally very confident but internally realtively insecure - aren't we all?

I have been know to say things in my youth but with age I have become the master on constructing the well crafted response - even if that takes me a couple of days.

I suspect I am not going to quite as such - rather I am going to ask for a 75% reduction in my hours and see where that gets me.  i figure if i could work 10 weeks a year that would be enough to provide a significant income that I can then use to buy nonsense things.

[Cassie]

When I was young I was more likely to tell people what I really think.  But with age comes grace so I retired with grace & dignity. Besides since I wanted consulting work it always pays to leave on good terms.  It was easy because I liked the job & the people I worked with.

[Daisy]

When I was young I was more likely to tell people what I really think.  But with age comes grace so I retired with grace & dignity. Besides since I wanted consulting work it always pays to leave on good terms.  It was easy because I liked the job & the people I worked with.

Love it! I like the humble attitude displayed by your words. I'm finding the same thing as I get older. No need to rub anything in anyone's face. Exit with style and dignity. First, because it's the right thing to do. Second, because if your plans fail for some reason, there's nothing worse than having to "eat crow" after boasting of your intellect and riches.

One of my favorite sayings:
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
- Plato

[Malaysia41]

It was in April of this year.  I had just decided a week prior that I would retire at some point, maybe this year, maybe next.  In a conference call 1:1 with my boss, he let me know that once my expat assignment was up, my job was going to move back to San Jose.  My response was:

"Okay, you know what, I'm done.  I'll just retire.  My heart's not in it anyway.  You can find someone with more enthusiasm in the states I'm sure.  Besides, we've got enough $ to live off so I'll stay here."  OMG it felt WONDERFUL.  Within four months I was retired (I agreed to stay on to finish out my expat assignment (duh - the perks were freaking awesome) - and an extra month to help interview replacement candidates).

That was it.  In subsequent meetings he expressed envy that I had the option to retire.  Toward the end he asked if I'd stay in the role staying put, in Malaysia.  I declined. 

I left with almost no fanfare.  I asked for no party no cake no nothing.  I had nothing to rub in anyone's face, no grudges.  I'd been at that company since 1996 and while I liked many folks I worked with, and despised a handful of tools, it was just a job... a job that provided a money gusher of compensation that in the end, led to freedom.  All I have is gratitude. 

[domustachesgrowinhouston]

When i think about that day, i tend to think about it from the other perspective, how would i tell the people working in my group.  I have the honor of working with some truly fantastic and talented people. Its still a ways off though.

[stealthrabbit]

So here's my question:

- How did you exit?
- What would you write in your resignation / early retirement letter?
- Will you go our with a fanfare or just slide out the back door?

Get ready
Get set
GO !!~!~!~

I Volunteered for an early out @ age 49, tho I wanted out at age 35 (while kids were home).

I only communicated it with my manager and walked out the front door to a new life, no one else knew!!!
I had 32 yrs service at age 49 with a great company that funded 5 college degrees and gave me 3 foreign assignments allowing me homeschool my kids around the world (PAID travel)!!!

It was great while it lasted, and great to leave.  I missed the superb staff, but kept in contact with many (round the world voyages... and helped 4 move cross country).

No fanfare, no long goodbyes... I hear they bought me a cake, but I decided to leave early that day and missed it!

Oh darn... more for them! (those STAYING needed it, not me).

suggestions:
Read "Dying Broke" get a new attitude toward enduring work!
Prepare, but realize the perfect time may not come and YOU will need to pull the plug at some point.
Move on IMMEDIATELY  (sell the house, sell the stuff and get out of there - PRONTO!)

Something that helped me endure... Working nights!
more pay,
no bosses
no stinkin day shift whiners!  (politics)