As of June 19 2025, I officially hung up my government badge and stepped into the mysterious, uncharted realm of retirement. After 42 years of dedicated service, I realized I just couldn’t see myself pushing through the current situation any longer. I was aiming for 45 years—but hey, 42 has a nice sci-fi ring to it, right?
These days, I’m slowly shaking off my “desk legs” and learning to walk upright in the wilds of retired life. I’ve launched into some massive house projects, am finally sleeping like a human again, and have even lost 15 pounds—mostly from reduced stress and, probably, from no longer eating a daily mountain of junk snacks.
I’m also tackling my absurdly bloated music library—CDs, vinyl, digital files, cassette tapes, and possibly a few rogue 8-tracks lurking in deep storage. Turns out, parting with old gear and albums is way harder than parting with a paycheck.
But the real win? I’ve carved out sacred daily “music time.” I’m diving into artists I’ve had on my “someday” list for years and rediscovering the legends and deep cuts that got me through it all.
Retirement: not so bad. Especially when the only “meetings” I attend now are between my sound system and my easy chair.
Now if I could just stop treating every day like Record Store Day…
Welcome to retirement. I can’t believe it’s been 12 years in for me already. Arguably the best years of my life. I decided early just to be good to myself and avoid things that I didn’t want to do or didn’t enjoy. I toyed with working part time but quickly rejected that notion and let my pharmacy license expire so I wouldn’t even be tempted. Quickly latched on to the hi fi hobby that was always in the background, more or less, my entire life. Never looked back. Life is good!
I feel ya there. I did 12 years private sector, 16 years military, and 5 years federal. I was going to do 10 in federal until the shenanigans started in January of this year. I walked away and haven’t looked back. Enjoy the retirement and ensuing reduced stress!
Retired in '17, a few years earlier than I had expected, and I haven’t looked back once, and have enjoyed every second of my new life. I’m still amazed at the young guy who looks at me from inside my bathroom mirror every morning—all those worry lines and bags under my eyes have vanished.
COVID and the regular invasion of wildfire smoke every August and September prompted us to add central AC to our old house and empowered me to upgrade my ancient audio setup. Life is now very good.
Welcome to the party.
Congrats on the new digs (slang for home).
I trust you, your spouse, and your other significant other, your system, with find happiness in your new abode.
You took great care in assembling your system and
the complimentary room. Hope all goes well in your new place.
Thanks, I’m facing a few months of troubles (new room with sloping ceiling is really intriguing sonically speaking). I’m planning to start without any treatment this time and adding pieces one by one along the way just listening.
One of my golf bodies retired from his high-stressed job (top Diaso executive for N. America). Then he was bored and took a so called parttime consultant job (brining Japanese businesses to here). Soon he was busy than ever and traveled carzy like before.
So, he retired again and only concentrates on his golf game.
