Topic: Just A Heads UP! (Read 3868 times)

Dan_Lockwood · « **on:** December 03, 2019, 02:35:09 PM »

I turned 70 this past October 20th and am retiring at the end of this year. I've been in the plastics industry for 37 plus years and it's time to pull the plug.

Five years ago I was sitting at O'Brady's Pub & Grill in Hesperia CA while working in Victorville. I had been there off and on for five weeks on a startup at a plastics company. I figured this is going to be my five year countdown. So I told all the right people when I got back to work in St. Louis and then it was a joke of sorts, "how many more days Dan?" So I set up a countdown on my iPhone and it tells the days, hours, minutes, you get the idea.

Well I have 12 more working days to go as December 19th will be my last work day and then I'm technically on vacation until January 6th or 7th. This should get me my 2020 4 weeks vacation pay, I hope!

I've got tons of projects to work on. I still have to finish my Boardtrack racer V-Twin bike project to get money for my next V-Twin project. Can anyone say, "Harley powered car that will look similar to an early 30's MG M-Type?"

I'm not going anywhere and will continue to annoy you all as much as possible here on the forum...

I hope you all have a GREAT Holiday Season and drive safe! Cheers!

Twolanerider · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2019, 02:41:35 PM »

Dan, congrats and have fun with all the projects and the travel

ultrafxr · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2019, 02:44:55 PM »

Fantastic Dan. Enjoy and look forward to your continuing posts.

Jerry

Joel · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2019, 03:26:06 PM »

Congrats on the soon to be retirement. The count down notification sounds like good idea, I have reset my departure from the working world for a little bit [ 4 + years ]. but as long as I have my rechargeable flashlight, I can still see the light way down the tunnel.

grc · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2019, 05:17:32 PM »

Congratulations Dan! Retirement is great as long as you have something to occupy the extra time; with all the projects you do I assume you'll have no regrets at all.

Jerry

Phantom309 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2019, 08:16:37 PM »

Good deal! I'm counting down too .... only 18 YEARS to go, lol.

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2019, 10:15:31 PM »

Congratulations on your retirement, Dan! Enjoy!

Dan_Lockwood · « **Reply #7 on:** December 04, 2019, 08:14:23 AM »

Quote from: Phantom309 on December 03, 2019, 08:16:37 PM

Good deal! I'm counting down too .... only 18 YEARS to go, lol.

When I started my countdown I had 1825 days. When I did my iPhone countdown app, it has the option to do days or weeks. I chose weeks to start with as it was a smaller number to deal with. In your case it's only 6570 days, but doesn't 938.5 weeks sound better?

Apple App store Retirement Countdown!. Look for the palm tree logo. I tried others, but this one does seem to be easy to use, for an old school type of guy like me...

This is my wife before I knew her. It was in '71 and she had just made a Coors run to KC as in St Louis you could not purchase Coors. She said it was not that great of beer back then, but if you can't have it, you want it kind of thing.

Ghost Rider · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2019, 01:14:18 PM »

Congrats Dan. I'm very jealous. Apple doesn't have an app that can count the days until I can retire.

Phantom309 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 04, 2019, 04:18:05 PM »

Quote from: Dan_Lockwood on December 04, 2019, 08:14:23 AM

When I started my countdown I had 1825 days. When I did my iPhone countdown app, it has the option to do days or weeks. I chose weeks to start with as it was a smaller number to deal with. In your case it's only 6570 days, but doesn't 938.5 weeks sound better?

Apple App store Retirement Countdown!. Look for the palm tree logo. I tried others, but this one does seem to be easy to use, for an old school type of guy like me...

This is my wife before I knew her. It was in '71 and she had just made a Coors run to KC as in St Louis you could not purchase Coors. She said it was not that great of beer back then, but if you can't have it, you want it kind of thing.

Thanks for handing that to me with a little lube ... it doesn't hurt so bad now, lol. You missed your calling in life, maybe you should've been a salesman instead of plastics. You're right, it does sound better ... but it's still a long road to go anyway you look at it. You earned that retirement so be sure to enjoy it! She's sitting on all that brew in those fancy bell-bottoms & not enjoying a cold one???

ultra13 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 04, 2019, 04:53:21 PM »

Congrats buddy. It is a great feeling to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Dec 91th will be here before you know it. Then it's your time! I retired this year after 38 years in the AF. I recommend it! lol

MIKEYTEE · « **Reply #11 on:** December 04, 2019, 10:18:14 PM »

Congratulations Dan, enjoy your retirement!

Mike

danner55 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 05, 2019, 06:22:04 AM »

Congratulations on your retirement! I hope I can enjoy mine soon.

Apple has an app to track anything you want. It's called Final Countdown. I use it & my FRA (full retirement age) is 643 days & counting days. 65 is 278 days for me. Right now I'm counting down 6 different events. It's a good App.

Yellow09SERG · « **Reply #13 on:** December 06, 2019, 09:27:59 PM »

Congratulations Dan, hope retirement brings you the chance to do thoses things you never had time to do.

Dan_Lockwood · « **Reply #14 on:** December 09, 2019, 04:06:13 PM »

I appreciate all the encouragement guys, really I do. I know that some of you are already retired and I'm glad you're still doing what you want to do.

I have 8 working days left after today!

I thought I may have to come back to work to collect my next year's vacation pay, but they agreed to pay me anyway! That's another 4 weeks pay going into the first of the rest of my life.

I will keep all posted on old and new projects.

My first project finally get around to finishing will be my Boardtrack Racer that I've had on the back burner for 8 or 9 years now. Once done, it's going to be sold to raise money for my Harley powered 4-wheel project car. That I'm really looking forward to very much!

FLSTFI Dave · « **Reply #15 on:** December 10, 2019, 07:37:46 AM »

Quote from: Dan_Lockwood on December 09, 2019, 04:06:13 PM

I appreciate all the encouragement guys, really I do. I know that some of you are already retired and I'm glad you're still doing what you want to do.

I have 8 working days left after today!

I thought I may have to come back to work to collect my next year's vacation pay, but they agreed to pay me anyway! That's another 4 weeks pay going into the first of the rest of my life.

I will keep all posted on old and new projects.

My first project finally get around to finishing will be my Boardtrack Racer that I've had on the back burner for 8 or 9 years now. Once done, it's going to be sold to raise money for my Harley powered 4-wheel project car. That I'm really looking forward to very much!

That board track racer project looks pretty cool. Must be nice only 8 days of work to go. I have several years to go.

cyco1450 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 10, 2019, 10:55:27 PM »

Congrats brother. You’ve earned it. Ride the wheels off it!

ultrarider123 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 11, 2019, 10:30:28 AM »

Quote from: Dan_Lockwood on December 09, 2019, 04:06:13 PM

I have ~~8 working~~ 6 working days left after today!

6 now and counting...not much longer, Dan

Dan_Lockwood · « **Reply #18 on:** December 12, 2019, 07:59:13 AM »

Quote from: Haird on December 11, 2019, 10:30:28 AM

6 now and counting...not much longer, Dan

Yes a week from today and I'll be work day done. Although as usual, I'll be replying to work e-mails during my "vacation" through the end of the year as which time they will forward all my e-mails to the president of the company. He's pretty much clueless as to what I exactly do and they've not hired a replacement and plan on working without me.

Got the two Harleys loaded up in the new toy hauler last Saturday and out to the storage lot. So I have some "new" floor space in my house garage to do some of the projects on my to do list.

Linda and I may be able to meet some of you all when we're traveling around in the next couple years. For now though we have reservations at Larsson's Crooked Creek RV campground just south of Hill City SD for 14 nights over the Sturgis Rally week. I plan on hitting the Rapid City HD on the pre week for their vendors and hopefully score a deal or two. Our niece and nephew will be joining us in their toy hauler from MI for around 9 nights. This will be our 6th Sturgis and their 2nd.

Thanks again guys for all the encouragement about my retirement, greatly appreciated.

FLSTFI Dave · « **Reply #19 on:** December 12, 2019, 08:07:24 AM »

Enjoy Sturgis again. This will be the 80th anniversary so it should be pretty packed.

My wife and I have been in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2017. Hoping to make 2020, but not sure of work schedule yet.

D-N-D · « **Reply #20 on:** December 12, 2019, 08:34:30 AM »

Dan, Good Luck wish you the best and hope you have a long and healthy retirement. Have Fun Brother !!!!

Dante

ultrarider123 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 12, 2019, 10:45:17 AM »

Quote from: FLSTFI Dave on December 12, 2019, 08:07:24 AM

Enjoy Sturgis again. This will be the 80th anniversary so it should be pretty packed.

My wife and I have been in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2017. Hoping to make 2020, but not sure of work schedule yet.

Well, we are planning for next year. We have reservations at Hisega Lodge again...maybe run into y'all at some point. Lord willing, 2020 will be Vickie's 4rd trip and my 9th (1994, 95, 96, 97, 98, 2013, 2015 and 2017)

Dan_Lockwood · « **Reply #22 on:** December 17, 2019, 06:41:48 AM »

Well folks, two and a half more days. The half day is Thursday when we shut down at work for our annual Christmas party at the Saratoga Bowling Alley. This is a neat little second floor bar, pool room, 6 lane bowling alley. We have all the pool, bowling, drinks and music we want for a few hours. Everyone enjoys it very much.

But for me it will technically be my last one, although they've invited me back next year already.

I will miss not having all the goodies in the machine shop and the welding area to play with, but again, they say I can come back on weekends and work on stuff as needed.

Sturgis is always a blast. We were there for the 75th in '15 and this will probably, as was said, be another larger than normal event. We usually only do Sturgis downtown one day mid week and then go back on Sunday for the cheap stuff...

Having 14 nights there will give us plenty of time to do some of the rides a bit slower and also take in a few more areas less traveled.

Thanks everyone for the well wishes on my retirement, greatly appreciated.

Dan_Lockwood · « **Reply #23 on:** December 19, 2019, 10:09:05 AM »

Well everyone, today is my LAST day of work in the office. I'll technically be on vacation through the end of the year, but will be doing work e-mails through my phone etc. So not much work if any after today.

My first stop tomorrow will be the Des Moines IA area to have Christmas with son's family / grandkids. Then Sunday off to Clare MI to spend the holidays with my brother and our extended family. The Clare / Farwell areas are our parent's home towns.

I'll be checking in with everyone here just the same as before.

So for now guys, Merry Christmas and a very Prosperous New Year!

fastfreddy · « **Reply #24 on:** December 19, 2019, 06:20:46 PM »

congrats Dan... now go enjoy and have great holiday

FLSTFI Dave · « **Reply #25 on:** December 20, 2019, 07:55:19 AM »

Sounds like a great way to start your retirement.

Dan_Lockwood · « **Reply #26 on:** December 25, 2019, 11:18:34 AM »

We're up in MI now with family through the end of the year.

Now that I don't have to get back home to go to work, we may stay a bit longe. Just because we can!

Merry Christmas everyone!

danner55 · « **Reply #27 on:** December 25, 2019, 07:56:05 PM »

Congratulations Dan on your retirement!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year & many miles of enjoyment riding the great roads of this country.

I hope one day our roads cross paths!

Dan_Lockwood · « **Reply #28 on:** January 07, 2020, 10:02:55 AM »

Well guys, it's official...

January 2nd and 3rd were technically my first two days of retirement, but it still felt like I was just on my normal holiday season vacation. Yesterday had a bit more of an attitude adjustment day off of work, not yet truly a retirement.

I feel that it may take some time to get the "skipping work" feeling gone and into the retirement mode. I've worked all my life and it's weird to just "not" be at work.

I still have my Boardtrack Racer bike project to finish up and sell. That will be the start of the funding for the next adventure in my life. I also have the new to me '88 Cadillac Allante to get all the faults figured out and on the road. We may just drive it a little and then sell it, but not sure how many cars and bikes a person really needs to have around. Right now we still have our Nissan Murano AWD that we purchased new and the one I drove to work the past couple years. We have a '16 GMC Terrain Denali that my wife has been driving, our new to us '12 RAM crew cab dually 6.7L diesel along with the '12 Keystone Raptor. Then two motorcycles, the '09 CVO SERG and my '76 FLH Shovelhead. This is REALLY too many vehicles to keep in a subdivision and insure. I have a three car garage, but the vehicles are piling up in the driveway. When I had the Raptor home for seven weeks in our driveway, we had some fun parking wise...

So I do plan to cull the heard a bit, the Murano will be put up for sale, the '76 FLH is for sale but not advertised very mush yet (The Shovelheads are dogs on the market right now), and of course the Boardtrack Racer will be finished up and sold, hopefully.

Then I have many more around the house projects to keep me busy for many years!

Thanks for all the kind words and encouragement...

I hope you all are having a GREAT NEW YEAR!

scotman623 · « **Reply #29 on:** January 07, 2020, 03:36:20 PM »

ENJOY my friend!!! I was fortunate enough to retire at a very young age...38.. I now have been retired for 11 years, lots of time to ride and work on my bikes, crazy house projects too... The key is too keep busy... I’m sure you will have lots of projects... 18 years in the Military before I got hurt overseas... Enjoy my friend..

Dan_Lockwood · « **Reply #30 on:** January 18, 2020, 03:06:01 PM »

I'm not at the end of my second real retired week and it's getting better!

It's starting to feel less like fake sick days with a return to work at the end, to something I can get used to for a LOOONNNGGG time...

I've spent most of the past two weeks just doing little things and getting the unfinished part of our basement organized. I have a couple pieces of exercise equipment now all set up on carpet pieces and an old TV with a VHS player in it.

I have tons of old VHS tapes and some I will dupe onto my HDD and have for streaming if wanted. I'm doing the same with all our family's old 8mm reel film. Also have tons of old photos to scan at some point and get out to other family members.

I still have to "I" beam my basement wall as the "streetcreep" has pushed my driveway into my garage floor and then pushed my foundation basement wall in about an inch at the top. I've made up six 98"x4" "I" beams with .5" steel pads on the bottom and floor joist jack bolt push brackets that I will bolt into the floor joists so I can then use the weight of the house to jack the wall back out or at worst maintain no further movement inward. I've already cut a 4" wide groove in the driveway that has in the past two years closed back down to 2". The city says they have no responsibility to any land owner with streetcreep. Streetcreep is only in a few Midwest states as it has to do with temperature differential for a certain period of time etc. Also all the streets here are concrete, not asphalt like up in MI. I digress.

So once the basement is completely organized, it's out to the office area in the finished part of the basement for it's annual clean up and more organizing since I brought home lots of stuff from my work office. Then the garage and onto the Boardtrack bike project.

I have tons of stuff to keep me busy and the wife has started a LONG list as well.

Thanks again for all the encouragement...

Author Topic: Just A Heads UP! (Read 3868 times)

ultrarider123

ultrarider123