Yesterday was my last as an employee

[Crazyraceguy]

After being talked into staying longer twice in the last couple of years, I finally did it. I finished the last little bits of a couple of jobs and started breaking down my set-up. The company is/was really great about it. They let me keep most of the "furniture" that I have built since we moved to this facility.
I spent the afternoon and most of today cleaning up and disassembling things. I threw away (or gave away) 6 years' worth of jigs/templates and bundled up a massive collection of off-cuts/scrap.
I also pitched almost all of the folders, saving a couple of special ones. I have saved (and filed in order) the folder/shop drawings for nearly every job I have done. It was mostly for an easy back-up, in case of issues later. I often write notes on the pages, depicting "as built" rather than what the drawing might have shown. Sometimes those are not the same thing. They made a great reference. It would have been nice, if there was an easy way to add a "finished" pic to each of them too, but it would have taken more space. I do have a lot of them on my phone, but they weren't all interesting enough to bother with it. Some were just what I call "cocktail napkin drawings). Most of those didn't have a proper folder, just a page or 2 with a hand drawn scribble, along with some of the dimensions.
The very last job I did was one of those. It was just a few pics of something existing, with the explanation of "duplicate, with the only difference of adding casters"
I'm already feeling weird. It's an unnatural thing, that I'm going to have to get used too. I'm just tired of driving nearly 50 miles a day, at one time 6 days a week. Challenges have morphed into annoyances, and I just need to do my own thing. 50 years of working for someone else is enough.
I'm not done building/making things, but my concentration will shift more toward furniture for myself, family, friends. etc. as my space drops from a few thousand square feet, down to under 400.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Congratulations/commiserations on the change in life CRG!

Having been made redundant a couple of time in my career it can be a bit weird when the day to day stops, but it's just a natural progression.

Think of all that lower pressure time you'll have to work on projects you want to work on, without the expense and loss of time driving to/from work!

I seriously can't wait to retire so I can get more work done, I'm counting the days! ;-)

 

[onocoffee]

Congratulations! The work you've shared has always been impressive. Hope your next chapter is happy and rewarding!

 

[jonnyrocket]

Congrats, CRG! I look forward to seeing more posts of the things that you have been waiting to build for yourself. And to see how you adjust your setup and methods from the nearly limitless space, (and some very cool production shop tools), to something more similar to the rest of us in terms of space. Congrats again, on a well deserved break from the daily grind!

 

[Cheese]

Congratulations on cutting the cord.

That's a more difficult decision to make than most folks know. Doing what is regular on a daily basis is easy and familiar, things just happen automatically, doing what you've never done before is more difficult. It's liberating yet still sometimes, difficult to cope with because of the additional freedoms that you have to choose between. Most of us worked in our various job positions because we enjoyed what we were doing...and then suddenly...it's over. Things change rapidly and that's both a boon and a bane.

If I were to tell the truth, I'd say I was more productive with completing personal projects in the 40 years I was employed compared to the 20 years I've been retired. Be careful not to take the retirement years for granted. It's easy to back off and relax a bit and think "I can always do that tomorrow". The other factor is age, you just don't have the energy as you get older that you had in your earlier years.

So on those positive notes......embrace your retirement and appreciate every day...you deserve it.

 

[hdv]

I hope it will be the same for you as it was for me when I stopped working (I sold the company). I had expected it to be very hard to leave things be and start thinking more of what I *wanted* to do (instead of *had* to do). I really liked my job and suddenly it was gone. I thought that I would feel miserable about my choice and would regret it. Luckily the transition was a lot smoother than I had expected. Quite soon after I stopped I got used to it. Now I am very glad I did it. I have a whole new outlook on life. No stress, no deadlines, no customers to keep happy (although some of the good ones can always depend on me and have been told by me they can always call me if there are problems they need help with). And now we can do all those things I always wanted to do with my wife, but never had the time for. Not that life wasn't good, but now it is better. I wish the same for you! Start enjoying what you have. You have done your part. Carpe diem!

 

[Muttley000]

Congrats and enjoy! I am sure you will make the most of it. Still several years away from this day myself, but understand the feelings you describe.

 

[Vondawg]

Enjoy setting up your retirement shop and being on your own clock after all the projects you’ve shared I look forward to seeing what you share down the road

 

[kevinculle]

Welcome to the wonderful world of the formerly employed! I am about midway through Year 17 of blissful freedom from alarm clocks, meetings and status reports and I have zero regrets...OK 1, should have retired 2 years sooner.

 

[rvieceli]

Congratulation CRG!!! Enjoy the next phase of your life.

I have been enjoying mine for about 10 years now. Looking forward to seeing your new shop at home and the projects you will complete there.

Ron

 

[Mini Me]

Every morning is a Saturday and work just gets in the way of living a better life.

 

[Packard]

When I retired, I was concerned about two things.

First, was I going to be able to keep busy? Hobbies resolved that issue.

Second, would my money run out? After 5 years of retirement, I can say that the only way I see to having my money run out is if I tried to make more. Either by a stupid investment or by making a product and getting sued.

When people ask me to do a job for them, I say, “The only way I will run out of money in retirement is if I tried to make more money.” It shuts down the conversation about “doing a job” and life goes on.

Of course, that won’t hold true for all retirees, but if it works for you, make it a mantra. It makes retirement, an actual retirement.

Enjoy the freedom.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Congratulation - I really enjoyed your posts of these impossible reception desks, etc. I retired about two years ago and woodworking is the hobby I keep going back to. I'll be interested on how you set up your home shop in limited space. My garage is my shop but need to keep one bay of the 2-1/2 car garage available for my wife to park her car. I'm lucky to have large lathe, 8" jointer, 15" planer, Voyager DP, BS, router table ... in such a small space. At times I'm boxed in and need to move things to use them so interesting to see you solutions to working in a smaller shop.

Keep the posts coming!

Good Luck!

 

[Crazyraceguy]

As dumb as it may sound, I think it's the feeling of being needed, will be the real change. I have been a vital part of that place, for a long time. Everybody looked to me for something, whether it was advice on an up-coming project, completing the current challenge, or teaching the next generation. Every day, someone would interrupt me for something.
They'll manage, but things will always be different.
The new kid (my apprentice, for the last 2 years) is the one who is really going take the hit. I'm out, the other "old guy" in our department, was planning to retire in December. Now that has been accelerated because of knee surgery. Next month, he's out. So, the kid is going to be on his own.

Years of collecting off-cuts and leftovers, left me with a huge stash of hardwood pieces. Once I get the tools home, I might get back to that TV stand project, that I essentially abandoned a while ago. Some of the parts were "lost" in the mix.

 

[tjbnwi]

Congrats CRG.

Make sure you keep busy.

Tom

 

[luvmytoolz]

As dumb as it may sound, I think it's the feeling of being needed, will be the real change.

If my life is anything to go by, I suspect there'll be plenty of acquaintances and family members getting you to utilise some of that new found "free time" in productive ways!