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Monday 10 January 2011

Is the end in sight?

Recent events have made my wife and I reappraise our lives. Currently we both work; in my case five days per week and in hers, four. In theory, we could both stop tomorrow, but until our mortgage is fully paid off – which will be in a little over a year’s time – that would not be an easy thing to do. However, by the summer of 2012, we will have done more than enough service to give up working for good … if we want to … and we have now decided that is what we plan to do.

Now I know that plans can change – and there is every chance that circumstances may well force us to re-consider our decision before 2012 – but it is a plan, and we intend to try to stick to it if we can. The downside is that we will still be working for the next eighteen months … but the upside is that we should not be working in nineteen months time!

We are both feeling a lot more positive about life in general and our family situation in particular … and that is no bad thing.

12 comments:

  1. Knowing that you will, relatively shortly, have much more time to spend on the things that matter must be a wonderful feeling. I'm sure it must put a hell of a lot into perspective. A shame for the future students who won't reap the benefits of your experience but much, much better for you and your family's quality of life and well being. I'll bet a smile begins to increasingly play on your lips whenever the SMT/SLT start droning on about future plans and inane policies. Enjoy the countdown.

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  2. Hurrah!! Now that's something to look forward to!

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  3. Jfidz,

    I would not say that the stress I have been under over recent months went away as soon as my wife and I made the decision to aim to stop working in 2012 ... but I did feel a lot better this morning than I had for many a working Monday.

    Many things can happen over the next 18 months that may well force us to re-think our plan ... but the sheer fact that we have a plan has given us a new incentive to get on with life.

    The countdown has begun!

    All the best,

    Bob

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  4. Steve-the-Wargamer,

    You have hit the nail right on the head!

    All the best,

    Bob

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  5. Sounds like a good decision to me. I've known too many people who didn't make it to retirement or who didn;t have time to enjoy it.

    It'll be interesting times for the next 2 years!

    -Ross

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  6. Bob

    Having just retired myself just over a year ago after over 41 years of working at Edinburgh University I can only recommend retirement as a next phase of life.

    You certainly have a change of priorities and many things which were once difficult now become easier. Old challenges can be forgotten and new ones taken on.

    The only thing I must suggest that you do is to actually execute whatever plan you can come up with rather than fine tune and fine tune ad infinitum.

    Just get out there and get on with the rest of your life.

    Jim

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  7. Ross Mac,

    I have so much that I want to do with what life I have left (and we never know how long that can be) that worrying constantly about work – when I have more important things that I should be dealing with – is not worth the income it generates. If I could, I would give up working tomorrow (No! Correction ... today!), but my wife and I need a bit of time to get our financial house in order. After that has been done ... the World – as they say – is our oyster.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  8. Jim Duncan,

    Thanks for your very helpful advice ... especially about getting on with our plan and not constantly tinkering it.

    We have friends who have done what we are planning to do, and they have never been so busy doing things that they want to do rather than have to do.

    My wife and I both have hobbies that exercise our minds as well as our bodies, and we know that this will help keep us mentally active for as long as we are capable of being so.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  9. Excellent plan, Bob! Hopefully Clausewitz's dictum won't apply in your case! But remember another remark by Old Nosey, "The French make their plans of chains; when a link breaks, the whole fails. I make my plans of rope; if a piece breaks, I tie a knot and carry on."
    [not 100% accurate, but I have the sense of it].
    Enjoy winding SMT up as you approach your departure - and think how rude you can be to any Ofsted inspectors who show up during your last few months!
    I feel much better since I quit my last job - I may be poor as the proverbial church mouse, but far richer mentally.
    Arthur

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  10. Arthur1815,

    Your quote is exactly right (and very appropriate). We have already had a problem arise that could derail our plan ... but rather than say 'Well that's it' and give up, the attitude has been 'We'll find a solution or a way around it'.

    I must admit, I would rather be rich and happy rather than poor and happy … but the latter beats being miserable most of the time by a long chalk … and anyway, true richness is not measured in financial terms but in the quality of the life we lead and the friends that we have.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  11. That sounds like a big change-- but a nice change! Good luck!!

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  12. Andy,

    Thanks for your good wishes.

    All the best,

    Bob

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