View Full Version : I retired today!
After 42 years in the workforce, today was my last day of work. Up to now the longest I've been able to get away for a hike has been two weeks. I predict that in the next couple years that will change significantly!:banana
After 42 years in the workforce, today was my last day of work. Up to now the longest I've been able to get away for a hike has been two weeks. I predict that in the next couple years that will change significantly!
mapman,
Congratulations. Mnohaya lita!
I retired 13 months ago and it’s been one of the best years of my life.
The trails await.
:banana
:banana:banana:banana Good on you sir,
lonehiker
02-01-2019, 19:57
Congrats. I have relied on your data for my own hikes as well as passing it on to prospective hikers as well.
illabelle
02-01-2019, 19:58
That day is coming. Look forward to getting out while I'm still young enough to enjoy. And whaddaya know? You're the same age as me!
Congratulations Mapman! Have fun out there. :)
peakbagger
02-01-2019, 21:05
I am teetering on the edge but recently decided to cut back at least a day week and possibly two for another couple of years. It helps that I can go hiking after work because of where I live (by choice).
Woooooohoooooooo
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After 42 years in the workforce, today was my last day of work. Up to now the longest I've been able to get away for a hike has been two weeks. I predict that in the next couple years that will change significantly!:banana
I retired in 2000 after working for thr same company for 40 years. I than decided to do a thru-hike. Never regraded doing so. Greatest adventure in my life time.
wooo whoo! Congrats. I've been dreaming more and more about that day.
It's funny how work transitioned from an exiting adventure to necessity to mundane routine...with the occasional dread or burden thrown in here and there...but mostly it just transitioned to something I accept...something I need for my family, nothing more. Don't really dread it, don't really look forward to it, don't really enjoy it... i used to strive to climb that corporate ladder...to improve myself...to learn...to get promoted...to make more money. Now I have no patience for the politics and manipulation of it all. I have no time or interest for that. I just try to keep a positive attitude, keep my nose down, and just roll with it.
Was it like that for you?
HUGE HUGE HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to you MapMan!!!
Much more hiking in your near and continuing future is a Very Good thing!
u.w.
rmitchell
02-01-2019, 21:53
Today was my official last work day as well. However I had been on family leave and working part-time as a contractor.
Now I have a more important and difficult task.
Take advantage of your freedom while you can. You never know what can pop up unexpectedly to derail your plans.
Another Kevin
02-01-2019, 21:56
Congratulations!
Ideally, I'm a couple of years away from it, but at this point I don't know if the place will last that long.
I love the work, hate the politics, and have a bunch of pro bono projects in mind. I don't think I'm capable of being bored. I'll not be hurting for things to do. Some of them might even involve trails. (Or bushwhacks.)
oldwetherman
02-01-2019, 22:00
Congratulations! It may take awhile for the shock to wear off but soon you'll be wondering how you ever had time to work! As was mentioned in previous responses....you have done some valuable statistical analysis concerning hiking the AT and I suspect that since you will have more free time on your hands you will even uncover more helpful data. Hike On!
Slow Trek
02-01-2019, 23:07
Congratulations,from only 80 miles away!
Welcome to the pool, where the water is nice & warm!! My wife & I saw the increase in our annual hiking mileage double after retiring ... it's awesome.
I expect many more maps and stats from you now. :D
methodman
02-02-2019, 00:32
Good for you! I retired last September. I sure do not miss work. See you on the trail.
capehiker
02-02-2019, 01:17
Congratulations! And thank you for supplying so much data to the forum. Happy trails!
Feral Bill
02-02-2019, 01:24
I retired almost two years ago. Not a minute of regret. Enjoy:sun
SkeeterPee
02-02-2019, 01:54
Congratulations! I hope to be joining you soon. I have this feeling it will be this year or next that reorgs will finally hit. i'm looking forward to it really.
So happy for you!!!!!! I am counting off until my retirement in 2022! Enjoy your hikes!
Congratulations! I'm right behind you. 2 years, 4 months, 28 days to go for me. Not that I'm counting.
Congratulations!
I'm still 3 months away from retirement, but am training hard to not get bored then.
T.S.Kobzol
02-02-2019, 07:17
Congratulations! I'm probably 10 years away, maybe 5... I have cut to 4 day workweek...not bad but I'm looking forward to many thru hikes when I retire.
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Congratulations! Less than a year left for me, I can't wait.
So what are your plans? Where and what first?
hikermiker
02-02-2019, 08:59
Congratulations! I have been retired for almost 7 years. I go hiking almost every day. I have done big trips and small trips, dayhikes, backpacks, XC skiing, swimming, paddling. It is all good! Enjoy.
After 42 years in the workforce, today was my last day of work. Up to now the longest I've been able to get away for a hike has been two weeks. I predict that in the next couple years that will change significantly!:banana
Congrats map man. Hope you enjoy it to the fullest. :sun
wooo whoo! Congrats. I've been dreaming more and more about that day.
It's funny how work transitioned from an exiting adventure to necessity to mundane routine...with the occasional dread or burden thrown in here and there...but mostly it just transitioned to something I accept...something I need for my family, nothing more. Don't really dread it, don't really look forward to it, don't really enjoy it... i used to strive to climb that corporate ladder...to improve myself...to learn...to get promoted...to make more money. Now I have no patience for the politics and manipulation of it all. I have no time or interest for that. I just try to keep a positive attitude, keep my nose down, and just roll with it.
Was it like that for you?
It was good and bad, like a lot of jobs.
The good) I think, and I believe most would agree, that libraries provide valuable services to any cultures they exist in. So working in a library provided a sense of purpose. Also, my work there appealed to my sense of order.
The bad) I was a small cog in a big machine (a large library within a sizable university) and that caused a number of frustrations through the years -- I'm sure anyone working in a large organization can relate.
Congratulations! Less than a year left for me, I can't wait.
So what are your plans? Where and what first?
A couple longer hikes are at top of mind. Starting at Katahdin and hiking as far south as I feel like going is one idea (though probably not a thru-hike attempt). Another is putting together a Colorado hike from Durango to Steamboat Springs on the Colorado Trail and CDT with maybe a detour or two along the way.
One thing I look forward to is hiking in September and October. That was the hardest time of year to get away from my job working in a university and yet such a sweet time to hike.
All the best to you!
Wayne
Gambit McCrae
02-02-2019, 10:50
Congrats Mapman that is quite the accomplishment!! Now go hike :)
Congrats, way to go! Hope to see you on the trail. Retired 5 years ago and this will be my 5th year on the trail.
Dan Roper
02-02-2019, 11:33
Congratulations on retiring. We of the Peanut Gallery hope to read of your many hiking adventures in months and years to come!
ldsailor
02-02-2019, 11:33
Congratulations! When I retired four years ago almost to date, I discovered hiking and now I'm out every summer. The only regret I have is I didn't find hiking sooner.
Another is putting together a Colorado hike from Durango to Steamboat Springs on the Colorado Trail and CDT with maybe a detour or two along the way.
I like the way you think. That's a great hike. It's a bit hard though with it's elev. profile and higher elev. I did it in reverse from SS to Durango after doing the CDT and traditional CT. It's IMHO definitely better scenically than taking the traditional official CT into Denver. A better scenic way to do the CT is veer off into Lost Creek Wilderness with it's rock formations and history and ending at Roxborough SP instead of walking the somewhat mundane official route. The dam and a few overlooks are OK though on the official CT tread. Paul(Mags) recommended those as options. He has always offered up great options and every piece of advice I've read from him has been rock solid. He's terse yet offers high quality to the pt content. We should be happy we have him offering up all his sound advise.
Oh you lucky dog! It's been eight years now for me and I still pinch myself most mornings. After a thru attempt in 2014 my wife and I are still section hiking and traveling the country in an RV, our latest accomplishment was spending a month exploring the Old Mother Rd Rt 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica. We are currently wintering in the Florida panhandle and planning our next section in Virginia come spring. It's the life we both dreamed of after long careers as a medical assistant and a phone man and we are far from rich, but with a little common sense and planning we're having a ball! Here's wishing you good health and a long life!
handlebar
02-02-2019, 17:03
Congratulations! It'll be 14 years for me come June 30. Haven't been bored once and certainly don't miss the grind though I loved what I did (Info Tech Management). As you can see from my signature I've had a good time hiking long trails with more yet to come. I'm certain that long distance backpacking has improved my health immensely. For the alternates from the CT en route to Steamboat Springs from Durango, I recommend a side trip from Copper Mtn to Silverthorne hiking over both Uneva and Eccles Passes using the former Ley Main route of the CDT. You can return to Copper via free Summit Stage bus or continue on the alternate to Jones Pass. I'd recommend returning to Copper to take the hike over the 10 mile range on the "official" CDT route north along the Argentine ridge to Grey's and Torrey's Peaks.
Congrats, well done now the real adventures start. ENJOY!!
mapman,
Congratulations. Mnohaya lita!
I retired 13 months ago and it’s been one of the best years of my life.
The trails await.
Is that Ukrainian? I think those words were in a drinking song l learned in college...
Congrats!!!! I'm 3 months away. Can't wait. Maybe I'll run into you on the trail.
Yes, “Many years”, like for a birthday or congratulations.
Pringles
02-02-2019, 21:59
Congratulations! Iowa State, and its library will is you.
When you head to Yellowstone, let me know. I can provide a shuttle service, as your retirement gift. :-)
After 42 years in the workforce, today was my last day of work. Up to now the longest I've been able to get away for a hike has been two weeks. I predict that in the next couple years that will change significantly!:banana
Congrats!!!!
I'm only 14 years away.
cliffordbarnabus
02-03-2019, 02:10
totally not trying to "hijack" the thread or whatever. and map man, this has ~nothing~ to do with you. hell yeah to you brah. you're ~done~ and you've just begun!
but isn't america interesting? you work for 20-30 years, the first few years of those being when you are most fit.
then, once the hips/back/knees/ankles are almost at their limits, you retire. and you have free time. and (not for all but for most) everything hurts and is already sore. and so, often, free time means watching people's court.
tickspit
02-03-2019, 03:32
Congratulations.
chknfngrs
02-03-2019, 04:30
Congrats and continued good health to you! Enjoy!
l0ngterm
02-03-2019, 09:50
Congrats MapMan,
I tried to retire in December. When I told my boss and my wife I was ready they both freaked out. My boss asked me for more time and made me an offer I couldnt' refuse, 3 months vacation in 2019. I took it. Leaving 2/14 for a month on the trail, Springer northbound.
Turn 55 in Feb of 20, hopefully thru hike then. Needless to say, with that 3 months of vacation, I will get a lot more trail time this year.
hike on!
l0ngterm
Patrickjd9
02-03-2019, 16:19
Congratulations to Map Man and all our retirees. Expecting to join you before the end of 2019.
A couple longer hikes are at top of mind. Starting at Katahdin and hiking as far south as I feel like going is one idea (though probably not a thru-hike attempt). Another is putting together a Colorado hike from Durango to Steamboat Springs on the Colorado Trail and CDT with maybe a detour or two along the way.
One thing I look forward to is hiking in September and October. That was the hardest time of year to get away from my job working in a university and yet such a sweet time to hike.
Sounds like a great plan. Do it while you still can. After that the memories will still be there, still bringing smiles and pleasant memories.
I hope you do all that and more. As the miles pass behind you will come up with more ideas for more adventures and I hope you, and everyone else here, enjoys them all.
I sure as hell am going to try to. :)
Congratulations Mapman. I have been so impressed with the thoughtfulness of the AT data posted in the past. Am sure your future hikes will be equally classy.
Congratulations! I am jealous of your newly acquired free time for hiking. :)
Congrats Mapman! Hope to see you out there on the AT this year.
double d
02-10-2019, 21:56
After 42 years in the workforce, today was my last day of work. Up to now the longest I've been able to get away for a hike has been two weeks. I predict that in the next couple years that will change significantly!:banana
Hey, that is great news-congrats!!!!!!!!!!