Well I did it!
 

Started the process for collecting my pension next spring. Guess I'll be officially retired then. Rolled my work 401k into an IRA. Split it into a couple chunks, one in a pretty safe fund to use over the next couple years. The rest in a balanced fund that we shouldn't need to touch until 2014, hopefully. Income will be reduced, at least until June 2014 when both Lynda and I can collect SS. Well see how it works out, may have to or want to get a part time job for a couple of years.

I'm kind of excited about it but also a little nervous to. It's a big step and it's not like this was in the plans just 6 months ago. We talked about it and ran the numbers and they seem to work. Like I said, income will be reduced but should be pretty manageable. Now on to the next phase of my life.

Congrats

Maybe Tony can use you in his Harley business, but now that I'm writing this I think between you two, the profits would be reduced with all the beer and smokes you'd go through in a 8 hour day. Plus I think Tony starts at like 5:00 am.

But on the plus side, he may let you take the Hot Rod home for being employee of the month and you would get a special parking spot.

Yea, maybe he could use a flunky to sweep the shop floors, rake the leaves and pick up dog poop. Wait, 2 German Shepherds, I already need a raise and haven't even started yet.

Might not be a bad job though. I love listening to Tony's stories and he never seems to run out of them

Since I'd be his only employee he'd have to let me drive the hot rod now and then. Or maybe the hot rod one month, then the Chevelle, then the Nova and then the Nomad. Maybe even the Ford tractor now and then. I'm already liking this job, thanks Tony, what a guy.

Congrats Hank.
I'm jealous....just turned 59 last month and my employer was offering a decent early retirement package a few months ago.
I was SO tempted to take that...my wife, being just slightly younger than me but without an incentive package offer from her employer, shot that down ...for now.
Ain't no way in hell I'm going to retire only to take another job. Having to work for a living again would suck bigtime. :)
I hope you enjoy a long, fullfilling retirement!! :cool:

OK Hank. Be here at 4:45, AM, Monday morning. Bring 24 beers, a carton of winstons, 2 Starlite cheeseburgers, a "roll your own", if you have one, and we will get to work. What the hell, bring Ric and 48 beers.

Glad you guys made it up here yesterday. I had a good time. Come on back whenever you feel like it.

My step-daughter has been telling for years that I need to write a book about all my "experiences".

PS...I got the clock made for my brother from that NOS spoked hub-cap today. It turned out pretty good.

Congrats Hank. Imagine all that time you have to work on your "Honeydew" list.

What the hell, am I suppose to drink 24 beers....maybe after the "roll your own" and the Starlight Coney cheeseburgers.

I'd buy the book, I bet Rick and the other guy (sorry forgot his name) have some great stories from when they were on the Flint Police dept.

So did you take the internal clock workings out of the Camaro to make the NOS clock for your brother? Ha.......I felt better knowing the clock in the Nova and Chevelle did not work either. I did remember how I got my Chevelles clock working, when I took it out I sprayed the internal clock workings with electrical cleaner the blew it out with air and put it back in and it started working.

I didn't quit work, I was laid off back in March. We'll try retirement, if it works out, good. If not a part time job is okay but I'm not going back full time doing what I was doing before. So it's not like I'm retiring to take another job.

Congrats Hank ,I hope it works for you.Ive got about 25 years before I can even think about retiring and Im already 49.

Tony ,you got pics of the clock you made ? I like clocks of all kinds and would love to see it.

It's really nothing special. I found an American made quartz clock a few years ago, new in the box, and in 04 I bought a NOS Camaro spoked hub cap. I made some spacers, a wood shim, cut an access hole in the hub cap, and attached the clock.
I can get a picture if you are still interested.

No Ric, I didn't rob the guts from your Camaro clock. Well, not all of them.

I'll be your writer/editor and get them all down on paper. I'll make sure I capture all your gestures and faces, maybe clean up the language a little. I think we got a gold mine here Tony. I already have a name for the book.