Yesterday was a day of mixed emotions. I finally retired from the state of Michigan. I was there for 9 years.

I started working part time at age 16, making $2.20 an hour. Seven yesrs later I graduated with an associates and bachelor degrees. So I worked in IT for 43 years!!

I delayed retiring several times. First was waiting for my stepson to graduate college. Second wss getting my current manager job that I absolutely loved. The last delay was due to Medicare enrollment snafus and the fall US government shutdown delaying my social security benefit request.

I would be a liar if I didn’t fell a little weird about it. Just seems unreal to be working for 50 years to just stop. I have a little mental interia to get over. I am sure I will. For now it’s a bit surreal.

Here are some photos from my retirement gifts.

My next door neighbors put this on the front porch while my wife and I were at my farewell lunch.

These are the last dozen donuts I would buy for the office. I would buy donuts or bagels once a week

One of my employees would buy me a Mountain Dew before our monthly project status meeting. She was very emotional seeing me leave the office for the last time.

Thus is my formal retirement gift from my boss. Instead of a gold watch, it is a very nice working compass! So no matter where I go, i will find my way back home!

My boss knows I am a single malt scotch man!

This is the present my wife gave me!!

I need to take pictures of what my team gave me. I will post them here shortly.

Congrats, Frosty! ☃️ Bet it will feel nice on Monday to do nothing!

Those are some pretty nice gifts. Can get drunk and still find the way!

Thanks Ringo.

You bring up an interesting point. I hadn’t considered it -yet!

Congrat's ol buddy. Lay down the law now about the to do list..... When and what will be looked at. Will look at the list on Tuesday, (Leaving room for extended weekends.) If she has something to add..... get in line for next Tuesday! You will enjoy retirement, trust me.

Way cool Dennis !!!!so so deserved !!!

You have been paying tax for 50 years now its time to get it ALL back ! ........we wish !!..

opps that looks a bit like All Blacks !

enjoy mate,

I am not comfy with this getting older thing ! can you start a thread on how to cope with being wheeled out to the rubbish bin ?

Like how to not look like your 65 ! or, how to not freak out when some kid gets your old job !.

pfffft , i am justA pulling your leg mate !!!!

suck it alllllll in, sit back .... hit control alt delete and do what the F you want !!!! cheers

Congrats Snowman!!!

Frosty - sincere congratulations. You have earnt the rest.

I have been working for 46 years and am almost done - it'll be this year for sure.

We have all paid enough in taxes and endless government surcharges & revenues to have earnt a pension. They'll cut it out altogether one day - too many oldies are around right now so not just yet...when Kiwi retires the axe will fall!

You'll have time to come to Australia for a vacation now!

Ten bucks says they chop the retirement age before I get there !!!

when Kiwi retires the axe will fall!

have been working for 46 years and am almost done - it'll be this year for sure

Hay fitzy !!! When did you start working ?????

I was 15 when I got my first taxable pay check !

Edited February 1Feb 1 by 64 kiwi boni

13 hours ago, JUSTA6 said:

Congrat's ol buddy. Lay down the law now about the to do list..... When and what will be looked at. Will look at the list on Tuesday, (Leaving room for extended weekends.) If she has something to add..... get in line for next Tuesday! You will enjoy retirement, trust me.

Frosty, formerly in IT, will probably establish a ticket system for his wife's honey-do list. Didn't submit a ticket? Can't do work, sorry hun.

Congratulations Frosty! What trouble will you get into first? Plan who your one call might be ... Now for this weather to get warm!

5 hours ago, Ringo64 said:

Frosty, formerly in IT, will probably establish a ticket system for his wife's honey-do list. Didn't submit a ticket? Can't do work, sorry hun.

That's not a bad idea Ringo. There is no time limit to finishing said requests either.

"Honey, what are you going to do today?" "Nothing" "You said that yesterday!" "I wasn't finished yet!"

3 hours ago, JustAG6 said:

Congratulations Frosty! What trouble will you get into first? Plan who your one call might be ... Now for this weather to get warm!

Interesting question. No idea. I do know better than to call your dad. He either never has his phone on, charged, checks it or he's missed placed it until the damn thing died - especially in the house! WIth the twin!

FIrst thing will probably be babysitting my grandson (sound familiar?). Daycare is closed this Monday and Tuesday, and do you think for one minute that Mom and Dad plan ahead and decided to take a day off work to watch their own kid? Nope. They just assume that Grandpa and Grandma can simply re-arrange our schedules and we have nothing better to do than watch Jack all day, even though Grandma still works.

Atta Boy Frosty! That’s what you call a tasty freeze!

As far as the mental inertia; it’s hard to say! For you I hope it wains in time. For me it never really has! I worked a long, long time, 56 years! I would have worked longer, but Buffet bought LZ & that was a bad thing! Like you I love what I did! How could you not love what I got to do everyday.

All that said, you will find things to sink your teeth into! To stir your soul! May not be the same, but still it will excite.

Remember: All things must pass! (The Bible & George Harrison)

Most important! Don’t slow down! Other wise this thing will run into you!

18 hours ago, 64 kiwi boni said:

Ten bucks says they chop the retirement age before I get there !!!

when Kiwi retires the axe will fall!

have been working for 46 years and am almost done - it'll be this year for sure

Hay fitzy !!! When did you start working ?????

I was 15 when I got my first taxable pay check !

I was 17 when I got my first real job and that was 46 years ago - I am currently 63.

I will TRY my hardest to stick it out to end of June - that'll be a nice neat end of financial year end date but do not fret - like Frosty I will gladly broadcast my new status when it actually happens.

18 hours ago, Fitzy said:

I was 17 when I got my first real job and that was 46 years ago - I am currently 63.

I will TRY my hardest to stick it out to end of June - that'll be a nice neat end of financial year end date but do not fret - like Frosty I will gladly broadcast my new status when it actually happens.

Good luck to you Pete! I hope the best for you! You’ve made it this far just put the blinders on & trudge forward. Nothings forever & nothing is irreversible, well until it’s not.

Congratulations Frosty. Enjoy your retirement.

Thank you Rick! I appreciate it!

Day 2 of retirement. Have you lost your phone yet? You don't need it stuck to the side of your head 24-7 anymore! AHHH sleepin in on Monday and Tuesday.

2 hours ago, JUSTA6 said:

Day 2 of retirement. Have you lost your phone yet? You don't need it stuck to the side of your head 24-7 anymore! AHHH sleepin in on Monday and Tuesday.

That Made me Smile JustA ....... frosty, you know your in cruise mode when you forget what day of the week it is!!!!

Edited February 3Feb 3 by 64 kiwi boni

First day of retirement was no picnic. The grandson's daycare was closed, so grandpa had to get up at his normal work time so he could be showered and dressed before Jack got there. The wife was wall to wall meetings. Fortunately Jack was extraordinarily good for me. He played with his toys, watch the Disney channel. He took 1.5 nap after lunch. He didn't fuss.

Today I slept in until 10:30. Much better. Next Monday and Tuesday, day care is closed again. So I guess I am spending my days baby sitting it seems. Sound familiar Justa? JustaG6? LOL!

4 hours ago, JUSTA6 said:

Day 2 of retirement. Have you lost your phone yet? You don't need it stuck to the side of your head 24-7 anymore! AHHH sleepin in on Monday and Tuesday.

Nope. The boss won’t permit it! She gets mad when I leave it in the house to go shovel the driveway sometimes. It feels like a semi-permanent leash.

I dumped mine two weeks after I retired! Only turn it on when I go out. Never have it on when I’m home. Had enough of that thing when I worked. My wife use to get irritated with work! They didn’t care what time it was or what day. Even when I first retired they would call & bug me. So that was when I put an end to it.

4 hours ago, Frosty said:

Nope. The boss won’t permit it! She gets mad when I leave it in the house to go shovel the driveway sometimes. It feels like a semi-permanent leash.

Break the chains that bind you buddy. You lay down the law before she does. Ahh....talks begin on the new contract.

1 hour ago, Last Indian said:

I dumped mine two weeks after I retired! Only turn it on when I go out. Never have it on when I’m home. Had enough of that thing when I worked. My wife use to get irritated with work! They didn’t care what time it was or what day. Even when I first retired they would call & bug me. So that was when I put an end to it.

I stopped at the door on my way out the last time and threw my watch in the trash can. Never again.

5 hours ago, JUSTA6 said:

Break the chains that bind you buddy. You lay down the law before she does.

….and that’s when the fight started!

On 2/3/2026 at 6:26 AM, Last Indian said:

Good luck to you Pete! I hope the best for you! You’ve made it this far just put the blinders on & trudge forward. Nothings forever & nothing is irreversible, well until it’s not.

"Put the blinders on and trudge forward..."

My employer should contract you as a motivational speaker! One of my co workers today complained of a sore shoulder. She said there was some pain but she also felt numb. I suggested that be our new company motto.

Roll on June.

5 hours ago, Fitzy said:

she also felt numb

If you're numb, you can't feel that you've been let down or angry. I always say they don't pay me enough to care that much