Community Chat

[JeanLouiseFinch]

I didn't know I was going to retire until it just happened.  I took a break and never returned. 

[wildcherry]

I am retired and love it.  I got a nice sendoff when I retired because I was also moving out of state.  It was a nice little gathering with a gift of a bracelet from Tiffany.  I don't like a lot of fuss, but it was nice what I got.  

[wagirl]

No fanfare for me--I retired in 2017--quit my job late 2009, went thru lots of health issues including breast cancer in 2012---the last day of all my treatment was early in Jan of 2013--that was my hip- hip hurray day. 

[monicakm]

@QVCkitty1 

I've never worked but DH retired at the end of last year.  We were having a large family Christmas dinner (after Christmas).  DH's birthday is Dec 29th so our daughter (a cake baker) made him a surprise birthday cake and a retirement cake.  She announced to the crowd that it was his birthday and he was officially retired.  He is a construction contractor so there are no co-workers but he's had a lot of congrats and well wishes from various tradespeople when they call for a job and he tells them he's retired.

[BunSnoop]

I retired a couple of years ago.  I worked from home for several of the last years.  When I worked in the office the coworkers would have a nice luncheon in the office and we would all contribute towards a gift for the retiring individual.  Since I had been working from home there was no luncheon, etc. from my fellow coworkers.

On my last day my supervisor called me around noon to wish me the best of luck, etc.  I thought he was going to mention that the company was going to send me a gift card, or something, but there was no mention of anything. 

Next, I thought, perhaps he'll tell me to sign-off early after we finish our phone call.  Nope, no early dismissal for me.   (He called around noon and the end of my day was typically at 3:30).   I signed off at 3:30.

It sure would of been nice to receive some type of recognition from the company after almost 30 years of service.   Oh well...........

[twinsister]

I retired at 57 after working for 40 years at a large Wall Street firm.  I told my boss many times that I did not want a party or luncheon, just wanted to walk out quietly.  I'm not one for a lot of hoopla. He respected my wishes, but still did a small get together at my desk.  Right before lunch time, a group of my co-workers came to my desk with a cake and bouquet of flowers, which was nice. They also surprised me with a beautiful pair of diamond hoops and sent me and my goodies home in a limousine. A nice way to retire.

[shoekitty]

---

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:

I'm not the type to want a big to-do. I know someone, though, who I really felt badly for because they should've gotten a big send off but didn't. They put in many long hours for many years but they left during the pandemic and people weren't back at the office yet. They really should've been acknowledged but instead it was like they were never even there.

---

@ThinkingOutLoud   That's sad.   Hope they sorta understood.  It was a rough time for everyone who worked for sure. I know it was a time where many friends decided to call it a day and retire.  They didn't have parties either although I think one had a zoom farewell with a couple friends

[LavernLuvsShoes]

After 42 years in the workforce, I retired 10 years ago. 

My office threw me a very nice "Retirement Party" and current and former co-workers attended, along with several of my "favorite" clients.

It included a huge spread from Maggiano's (including dessert), greeting cards and funny speeches.

The Partners (in the firm) all chipped in and gave me a HUGE bonus check, and their wives gave me an amazing Pandora bracelet (with meaningful charms from each of them) - Since their husbands considered me their "work wife" - LOL

I absolutely loved every minute of it!!! ♥

[lynnie61]

I retired a year ago next week.  They had a very nice send off.  My boss had a dinner party at her house for just our group of 10.  It was very nice. Although, I certainly was ready to retire, I had a few weeks of some tears.  I enjoyed my coworkers, many people in our corporation, that I worked with over many different jobs. I worked for the same corporation for 44 years.   

Took me about 5 minutes to adjust to retirement.  Corporate America was so changed, even from 10 years ago.  I miss the people, but not the work.  

I also work as a server one day a week for 46 years, and I have kept that one day a week job.  It was always just different from my corporate job.  

[linky1953]

OMG...your story sounds similar to mine.  I retired at 57 after nearly 41 years of service.  I didn't want a big party and asked for a small luncheon with a few of my dearest friends that I worked with.

I walked out too and never looked back.  I did miss the people - 95% of the folks I worked with were wonderful...I did not miss the company and its politics.  That was back in 2011 and so far I have enjoyed 14 years of retirement.

Mary Beth was the best.  I will miss her so much.  So many of the currents hosts are so silly and the presentations are just not like Mary Beth's.  I still shop on the Q because the clothing lines I like fit me so well and I like the ease of getting pkgs and trying things on in my own home.   Yes, prices have gone up but I try to buy 'as is' items - or - I buy things at a quarter of the price on eb ay.