The Planning
With enthusiasm and a willing heart, Carolyn undertook the task of moving her planned retirement date to 2015 instead of 2025. What was "sometime in the future" was now "NOW". Years shriveled into months, weeks or even days.
Coming to grips with such a goal change was not an easy task. Carolyn had to change some internal goals about positions and responsibilities. She would aim for and discuss those revised targets. She had to review long range plans with appropriate outside consultants to ensure that they didn't have unrealistic expectations about her part in them past 2015. Of course no one can guarantee their own future availability but groups can develop a sense of future direction.
Carolyn also began discussions with CalPERS to tie down dates and assumptions. Although many employees find this activity exciting, for Caarolyn it meant making major changes in her plans, Carolyn found it difficult. But she perservered. Fortunately things turned out close to revised expectations.
I continued to hold my breath. Not until Carolyn showed up with official retirement papers did I r\believe it was going to happen. Even at her retirement party, I had my doubts.
The Move
There's a certain finality in clearing out your desk and saying goodbye to your colleagues. You expect them to say they'll be in touch and really mean it but they're not as interested in our opinion on a decisions as they were two weeks earlier. Your (former) boss , your co-workers, your buddies, all now seem much busier than you. You didn't need to plan for so much time to wrap things up as you had expected.
There's a certain finality in clearing out your desk and saying goodbye to your colleagues. You expect them to say they'll be in touch and really mean it but they're not as interested in our opinion on a decisions as they were two weeks earlier. Your (former) boss , your co-workers, your buddies, all now seem much busier than you. You didn't need to plan for so much time to wrap things up as you had expected.
Moving into your home/office also goes faster than planned but you find that your husband and all the people you want to call have busy schedules and they want to move on. You pull out your trusty smart phone and To Do List and start jotting down the three things you remembered in the last 10 minutes. You'll find that moving home to retire is both quicker and slower than expected.
And frightening.
Changing
Everyone retires a little differently. Many people take off a mandatory 30 days or 6 months then come back into consulting positions that look identical to the position they just vacated. Others, like me, take on a whole different list of job duties, salary structure, and work hours. Carolyn wasn't exactly sure of what her situation was going to be but we expected major changes.
For one thing, we wanted to spend more time together. She can't spend 40 hours a week in the office. For another, my care needs continue to escalate which reduces her availabilities. 'Third, the job she stepped out of will necessarily change making it more difficult for Carolyn to just slide back into place.
And frightening.
Changing
Everyone retires a little differently. Many people take off a mandatory 30 days or 6 months then come back into consulting positions that look identical to the position they just vacated. Others, like me, take on a whole different list of job duties, salary structure, and work hours. Carolyn wasn't exactly sure of what her situation was going to be but we expected major changes.
For one thing, we wanted to spend more time together. She can't spend 40 hours a week in the office. For another, my care needs continue to escalate which reduces her availabilities. 'Third, the job she stepped out of will necessarily change making it more difficult for Carolyn to just slide back into place.
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