# Countdown to retirement **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 25, 2023, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653 "2023-03-25T17:37:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/161 "2023-04-23T13:53:07Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > I have _Medicare For Dummies_, and I read and understood a lot, but it has been two or three years since I did that and I have to read it again. I have a couple of similar SS/Medicare guidebooks I bought probably 4 years ago as my late first wife was approaching 65 but I wasn’t yet. Which I read then and retain a vague notion of the gist of. Now approaching 65 myself I’d be inclined to buy / borrow the latest edition before re-reading them. There’s no other way for you or I to really know if some significant change has happened since the older books were published. And a “significant” change doesn’t have to be an obviously Google-able bigtime headline news item if it happens that you or I fall into some specific nuance situation that is majorly affected by some seemingly minor change. IMO the only thing worse than not knowing, is knowing something that just isn’t true (any more). ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/162 "2023-04-24T20:06:38Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > This is helping to alleviate anxiety bit by bit. Yes, this sounds like you are making all the right moves. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2023, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/163 "2023-04-25T20:29:26Z")
Somewhere, @JohnT has an excellent summation of Medicare (and Gap/Advantage plans). I found it as useful as any of the books I read. Not sure how to link to the thread, maybe this will work: [JohnT’s thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-elder-crisis-medicare-edition/937146) Apologies in advance if someone else has already linked this. I didn’t see it when scrolling. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2023, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/164 "2023-04-25T20:50:38Z")
I’ve actually sent the link to that thread to a couple of friends who were on the cusp of 65. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2023, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/165 "2023-04-27T17:47:26Z")
I’ve skimmed _JohnT’s_ thread and come to a basic conclusion that Medigap plus Part D is the way to go. I’m seeing a Medicare insurance specialist via Zoom next week and will get it all sorted out. My leaving here is causing a bit of a controversy. My file clerk wants to put in a bid for my empty position, and she’s pretty bright and familiar with the department. But I don’t think my attorneys want her. She is very flighty and easily flustered, and dissolves into a stammering mess when the pressure is on. She’s going into the attorneys’ offices and making her case, but it’s kind of looking like she’s getting the cold shoulder. She’s getting pissed. But it’s not my circus, not my monkeys. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2023, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/166 "2023-04-27T20:08:45Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > … But it’s not my circus, not my monkeys. That’s precisely the position to take, though sometimes more easily said than done. I had a bit of a problem with it — mainly caused by wailing and gnashing of teeth on the part of the users of the application I was supporting — until I realized it was management’s job, not mine, to fill the job with the best person(s). ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2023, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/167 "2023-04-27T20:15:17Z")
My selected replacement was not at all competent to do my job and I said so. I came up with a much better replacement. It was a bit of a stretch for him but I thought that he could grow into it. They took my advice and I understand that it worked reasonably well. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2023, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/168 "2023-04-27T20:55:08Z")
I had a pretty good idea of who my replacement would be, and I told them it made sense just to do it, and I could retire a little earlier, but they felt the need to Follow The Process and that ran on for a little while…. But in the end, they did hire her. ETA in fairness, someone could’ve come out of left field and in better position for the job, so I guess I don’t wanna blame it all on process… It was reasonable. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/169 "2023-04-28T16:25:23Z")
It was really hard for me to let go of worrying over how my employer would go on without me. The position was a low-pay, high-stress one, and they were looking for someone at a period of record low unemployment, so it was really hard to find anyone. Historically, school secretaries tended to be women with children in the school system and spouses who were self-employed, because they liked the schedule and health insurance but didn’t need to be paid all that much. That pool has dwindled quite a bit over the years. They had a couple of candidates who fell through, but they finally hired the parent of one the students at the school, and I hear she’s doing well. I’d have stopped worrying about it earlier, but my daughter works in the same school and knows a lot about how to do the job. I was really worried they’d talk her into taking it. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/170 "2023-04-29T03:25:54Z")
So today was R-Day. Had a small virtual going-away party with my team, packed up my laptop and peripherals and took it into the office. Left my badge on the desk of the person who handles such things and left. No big goodbye email, I did an out of office message saying, “I’ve retired. Any questions, please contact boss at [boss.name@company.com](mailto:boss.name@company.com).” I deleted the wake-up alarm from my phone. True, I’m always up before the alarm, but that may change when I don’t have a reason to get up. Admittedly a few butterflies, but I’m ready to fly with them. StG ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/171 "2023-04-29T04:05:33Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > So today was R-Day. Congratulations. And enjoy 🙂. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/172 "2023-04-29T05:31:53Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Admittedly a few butterflies, but I’m ready to fly with them. Congrats! And within a year you’ll wonder how you ever could stand going into an office. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/173 "2023-04-29T05:37:09Z")
Congratulations! Welcome to the world of comfy pants! ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/174 "2023-04-29T08:11:30Z")
Congrats! In a couple of weeks you’ll actually feel the stress slip away. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/175 "2023-04-29T11:29:21Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > So today was R-Day. Congratulations! When you watch the news this morning, try not to giggle when they do the traffic report. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/176 "2023-04-29T12:33:53Z")
Congratulations, **StGermain**. I’ll join you in two weeks. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/177 "2023-04-29T12:36:28Z")
Congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/178 "2023-04-29T12:38:58Z")
Go grocery shopping at midday Wednesday next week! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/179 "2023-04-29T12:54:18Z")
Though try to avoid the noon hour. I remind myself I’m retired and can go any time and I try not to be in the way of those still working. So I like to go around 10am or 2pm. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/180 "2023-04-29T14:12:12Z")
That’s right - one of the best parts of retirement has been going places at times when they aren’t crowded. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653.md?page=10)