Update

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Update

justcruisin01 · Guru

Mate. we have done our share so whats there to feel guilty about? Gen Y should be feeling guilt.

JC

gst · Senior Member

Yeah mate we all think twice about that big step but once taken you will still feel have I done the right thing but with bit of travel and a few happy hours you'll start to you have done the right thing. Best of luck we'll have a happy hour together.

dazren · Guru

smile My opinion for what it's worth Doug ? Yes you are making the right decision, you are just about ready, that's apparrent in a number of your previous posts. Personally I would refrain from telling the Boss, until you have All the relevant facts and figures collated from your super fund and centrelink, then you know Exactly what your position is ??

And when all is clear in those area's ?? the next step is setting the date, to take that Big step, As for the Guilt ??? hasn't it been good ?? to be employed by a company that you have enjoyed working for, That when the time comes to retire, you suffer a Guilt trip about leaving. I am sure your Boss appreciates having a solid reliable trustworthy employee, And Iam sure she also will be happy for you, it may create some hassles for her,replacing you, as Good employees are very hard to find, But this is her business and as in all businesses, she has faced these types of situations before,

AND once you have all the facts and figures in front of you, then you can have a chat with Her, you do not have to leave overnight, you could say . Look the time has arrived,you have made your final decision, You appreciate and enjoyed your time at the company, and would like to discuss a reasonable transition period of say 4-6 weeks, to enable her to find a replacement.

But when it all boils down Doug, You have to look after Number one, thats you ?? congradulations on making your decision, And I wish you Well. Daryl

BohemianGypsy · Guru

You feel guilty Doug because you have a strong work ethic and you are from a generation that does not want to let people down. But in all honesty if your health is in question and it sounds like it may be then there is nothing to feel guilty about. You have done your time for the company and now it's time for you to relax and get out there on the road for yourself Doug. Please keep us informed. Ray also retired the other day and he is not 65 either but he is now on a disability pension as he has heart disease and working hard physically is starting to affect him big time. So we will also be out there sooner than we thought. We are going to have to meet up out there on the road somewhere Doug smile smile smile

Take care

Michelle

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Thanks all for the feedback, I really appreciate it. I have an appointment with my super fund on 17/9, I would have liked next week but it just couldn't be fitted in with the fund.

I do really need to slow down and this seems to be the only way it is going to happen. I would like to have this all finalised within two months as one of my licences required for driving buses is up for renewal and I don't want to renew it, then I can't drive buses. I'm pretty sure even though I tell the boss I have retired she will be on the phone all the time wanting me to help out.

When I make the brake that's it.

I need to be free to get out in the playground when I want.

beiffe · Guru

A License is not heavy to carry and you never know when it will come in handy. It may be to buy a larger vehicle for your home or to help a traveler out by ferrying a large vehicle to a safe place in a fix or just to get a bit of spare cash while on the road.

I would love a larger vehicle license (going to try and get a MR) as sometimes in my voluntary work it would be nice to be able to drive a truck etc instead of waiting for someone to drive a few kilometers.

Hope your retirement goes well. I worked hard in my job with long stressful hours and now wish I had pulled out earlier as I feel a lot better now than I can remember for ever ten years.

Don't remove any bridges that may be of use later as you enjoy your travels around our great country.

Regards
Brian

BohemianGypsy · Guru

I disagree with you Brian sorry. If Doug has driven buses all his career then maybe that is what he wants to just cut all ties and never drive a big vehicle again. My husband gave up his MR licence as he no longer used it and he has never regretted it not once in the last 15 years. As a pensioner we need to save our money where we can and to pay for the upkeep of a licence that you no longer use but keep only with a possiblity of using down the track somewhere, then I would be getting rid of it.

At the end of the day Doug it is up to you smile smile smile

Michelle

Rip and Rosie · Guru

I agree with you Brian.

Keep your options open until you see how it goes.

It took me over 12 months to get used to being retired, you know, adjust to "this is life now" rather than "this is a holiday" .

Also, the cash flow is very different, and having been a wage earner all my life, with a fortnightly wage coming through, that took ages to grow out of!

I kept my registrations up, mainly because I know how hard it will be to get them back if I let them lapse, but also to give me choices if I want them. They will go when I'm ready.

They give me the opportunity to not only pick up a little bit of paid work if I need, (and I have) but they open up lots of volunteering possibilities.

When I was thinking of retiring, I did tell my boss over an informal chat and coffee, and I told her we needed to do some "succession"planning. Even though she knew I was just considering my options, (and tried to talk me out of it), I felt better being open. When I had made my decision, I had a formal chat and gave her my resignation in writing.

Whatever you do, Doug, it will be right for you, done after much thought and consideration, and will open up a whole new world. Good luck.

Rosie

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Thanks again everyone, as usual great comments from you all, any wonder I love this forum.

I am not getting rid of my Heavy Vehicle License or Driver Accreditation Licence just my working with kids one, I think it is only required in Victoria anyway, not sure on that though, it's also a bit exe. I would still be able to drive trucks and buses just not kids around. I've had enough of that side of it. I'm only thinking of not renewing it at this stage, it still has a couple of months left on it yet so plenty of time.

I would like to be out in the playground for a couple of months by then anyway.

Rosie, I am getting very close to having that "Informal" chat to the boss as if I leave it go much longer before telling her it will really throw the cat amongst the pigeons and the sh..t will hit the fan as well and as I park my car there it will get hit and I don't want to have to clean it all off. I would then be leaving some very sour grapes behind when the big day arrives. I would like to leave in a much friendlier way. I will wait until the 17th then decide. It's only a couple of weeks away.

Few!!! I think I will be that stressed out over all this I will need to be out there in the playground for a couple of months to recover from retirement planning.

Look out everyone dougwe will be heading your way real soon.

Happywanderer · The Master

Doug, your boss sounds like a bit of an evil b....h to work for if she would be that way when you retire. Probably better off to be out of it and away on the road, then you don't have to worry about what she thinks about anything. Good luck with that talk.
If she starts flying off the handle too much, just say, I can leave right now if you wish.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Hi Marj, yes my office keys would be put right on the desk in front of her, I have actually nearly done that a few times. Funny, she can be a really nice person but sometimes she can not and her husband who is the boss as well can be very rude and has been many times, he has been the main reason the keys have nearly been thown at him. We go through a lot of drivers for that reason, I just put up with it.

I could survive for a few months anyway before the super would start flowing my way so leaving sooner than later is not a major worry but I would still rather leave on a friendly note.

Happywanderer · The Master

That would be their choice, not yours Doug as to whether you leave on a friendly note. Take it as it comes and make the right decision at the time.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Its good for our sense of self-worth to think we are needed, Doug, but in reality nobody is indispensable! Go ahead and do what you need to do... as nicely as you can.

gypsy rover · Senior Member

Great news Doug. Glad you have finally made the decision to retire. If you keep your MR license, you will no doubt be able to find the odd driving job if the need should arise. Take each day as it comes and deal with any problems that come up when they come up. You will probably find that once you are not working, most of your problems will disappear anyway. Start planning my friend, there is a whole new world out there to explore. biggrin

Cheers!

Chris

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Thanks Rosie and Chris for you comments I have a HR Licence so can drive the big toys if I wanted too but I think when I make the brake that will probably be it for me but handy to keep anyway it's my drivers licence so can't get rid of that, how would I get around in the playground. As I said just one out of the three licences might go. The main thing to go will be ME. Into the playground.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

How was your trip away Chriss (gypsy rover)????