I retired January 30, 2009, a date a few weeks short of 36 years’ employment at the same plant (if multiple owners) , where I was a quality guy. The plant makes hydraulic and industrial hose, and takes pride in its quality workers and quality product. So did I.
Since I am ineligible for disability help on income or housing, agreeing to take early retirement wasn’t, frankly, in my best interests. For that reason, when I was asked when I wanted to take early retirement, I didn’t give my company 90 workdays to complete my paperwork, the company’s preference, I named a date that was six workdays away. The mouse that roared. Ha! Also, I have health issues (in remission now) that make health insurance a major issue. The blog takes its name from the name of the disease, Wegener’s granulomatosis, that I carry with me for the rest of my life. (While grim, WG isn’t the end of the world, but the start of a new maturity.)
I was a few weeks short of age 61 at retirement, which means I require a source money not associated with Social Security or pensions to survive until my 62nd birthday. That’s working out, thanks to good investments and a superb financial advisor! I have what I need, and I am comfortable.
The managers where I worked – my boss, his boss, and the human resources manager – treated me well, didn’t force the issue of retirement, but it was in the best interests of the company that I retire this year, when this self-sacrifice could help one or two people newer to the job retain a job.
I started to agree with them. I didn’t really want to work until I was 66 to take full Social Security benefits. I’d promised myself that as long as I enjoyed my job and my work contributed to the bottom line of the company, I’d stay around, providing the company wanted me, of course!
The last few months of the last year, I started to feel redundant. More so than usual. I didn’t enjoy the work anymore. I didn’t want to get involved in any more change processes because I’d been through them all. Frankly, I didn’t care to buy any more books on how to implement anything else, only to have a new set of managers come in with new ideas, only to throw out the earlier changes to try something else the big guys heard about in a one day meeting, half of which was used for golf. Cynicism had pretty much replaced any positive thoughts I had on anything, which, in itself, is a good sign to move on if a person has any integrity.
I am much happier retired than I ever was working for a hose factory. I don’t look back and I have no regrets.
This blog is documentation of what I choose to do with my “free” time as a retired man.
I wish you well in your endeavor to overcome the lack of purpose usually associated with retirement. Cats have never done it for me–dogs are ‘man’s best friend.’ I too am now retired…
I just wanted you to know I’m watching your blog and would like a current e-mail address so we can communicate in a less open forum. Please advise…
By: Gene Stark on Thu - 11 March 2010
at 19:11
The fact that is written June 6, 2010, proves, dear old friend, that I don’t follow my blog as closely as I should. People actually reading it seems alien to me. “Why?” I ask myself, “It’s just the random wallowings of some fat, old guy with little to do.” Yeah! Like that!
By: weggieboy on Sun - 6 June 2010
at 11:37
[...] who I am Posted by: weggieboy | January 2, 2011 [...]
By: 2010 in review « Weggieboy's Blog on Sun - 2 January 2011
at 06:04
Hi Doug,
Long time no speak. A friend on WG forum and I were chatting about you the other day. We still miss youre learned input and sense of humour!!
Hope you and Louie are keeping well. Drop me a line.
By: Geoff on Thu - 28 April 2011
at 11:42
Thank you! While I appreciate the vote of confidence, I felt the forum and I needed to part ways. I can be contacted easily enough by e-mail. Phil has that. Also, if you visit DailyBooth, I am on there as @phainopepla95. Not only would you be able to wallow in my quirky sense of humor there, I post lots of photos, some videos of my cat Louie. I’m doing well, fortunately, and Louie and I has getting along swimmingly! (Which is to say , I believe he finally has me trained to his way to doing this….!) I’ll contact you by your e-mail. (since I see I have that as part of the process of you leaving a message!)
By: weggieboy on Thu - 28 April 2011
at 14:38
Hi Doug,
So sorry to read about Louie, your grief is tangible. Please accept my condolances. We lost ‘Rocky’ last year. He made 20yrs.
This is a bit of a double whammy as I bring bad news from the Forum. Jack from Birmingham, UK lost the fight with WG and passed away recently. He was a fountain of knowledge, like yourself, and will be sorely missed.
By: Geoff on Tue - 4 October 2011
at 10:08
Hi, Geoff ~ Yes, Phil told me about Jack. He was an institution, an inspiration, and a fount of experience and information (I agree!) we, well you on the forum, will miss. I’ve missed the contact with him especially.
He and I had some nice private messages between us over the time I was active on the forum.
Unlike some, he was respectful of where I differed on opinions from him, and I, the same with Jack. Hey! The forum isn’t the US Congress! Different points of view are necessary to form informed questions to take to one’s doctors.
That was the part I liked most about the guy: respectful of different points of view, but not afraid to question or challenge (respectfully) the views of others. I know he’d scoff that I prayed for him and his family when I learned of his death, but i also know he would have done it under his breathe because he knew it’s how I approach life and death.
Some days I cry when I think of Louie, but they are fewer than before. He was a great companion, a sweet cat (they loved him at the veterinarian’s!), a comedian, and a pretty good people trainer. Andy and Dougy, his Persian kitty successors will have less to do to turn me into a proper cat companion than poor Louie.
If you go to YouTube, I’ve posted videos of the kittens under phainopepla95. On dailybooth, you can see them (and lots of other stuff) under @phainopepla95. I probably will attach some of them to this blog, but I’m having problems adding to it lately. (I had so many visitors over the summer, it became a low priority. I was pretty run down, thanks to WG after effects, that wobbly business and general lack of stamina. I don’t have to tell you what I mean!)
Geoff, Phil can give you my e-mail if you prefer. I do like to know how people are doing. If I could sign up as a reader, not a contributor, I’d come back. I’ve pretty much told my story. I’ve been in remission for six years, so a lot of my direct experiences are fading.
By: weggieboy on Tue - 4 October 2011
at 14:00