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Retirement . . . Sort of

Posted by
Steven (Chicagoland, United States) on 29 June 2022 in Lifestyle & Culture and Portfolio.

Staff members from Village Hall threw a surprise retirement party for me on Thursday, June 9th. My official last day was not until Friday, June 24th, so this definitely took me by surprise. While I am not of the typical retirement age, my pension plan offered an early retirement incentive if I had a certain number of years invested and was of a certain age. The pension plan also allowed me to purchase five additional years of pension and boost my actual age by five years as well. So I thought I would take the leap. I hope that it is not one that I will regret.

Now we need to get our house listed and sold. And once we are settled, it will be time to find a part-time job that will defray the health insurance costs. So, in the meantime, the coming month or so will prove to be a busy one. But hopefully some relaxation will be squeezed in during and after.

Yours truly is spotted to the right in the white, long-sleeved shirt getting hugged by a colleague.

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Marie from Parc régional naturel de Chartreuse, France

Happy retirement Steven. It is a great moment when one arrives at retirement, one is a little lost at the beginning and very quickly one occupies so much time that one is almost less available than when one was working
https://laphotoselonmoncoeur.wordpress.com/

29 Jun 2022 5:11am

Ginnie Hart from Netherlands

Oh, WOW, Steven! It looks like you took advantage of a seriously GOOD retirement plan that was a no-brainer, from where I sit!!! I retired early, too (at age 62), not knowing some of what would be happening to me in the years to come (like leaving my partner and moving to another country!). My advice is to never look back. Never second-guess this decision. Work with it as long as you have left to live and may you have much success and JOY ahead!

29 Jun 2022 5:23am

Martine Girard from Brest, France

Joyeuse retraite bien méritée.

29 Jun 2022 5:43am

Jypyä Pop from Turku, Finland

Delicacies, delicacies and good taste in the mouth. It's awesome, you can sometimes enjoy ...

29 Jun 2022 5:45am

lisl from Winsley, United Kingdom

That sounds a great thing to so, Steven. I retired just 3 years early and never regretted it - all that extra time for you and yours to enjoy. Your plans are so good. Wish we could see more of you in this picture!

29 Jun 2022 5:45am

Claudine/anelle from lorient, France

Bonne retraite Steven , profité tranquillement des choses de la vie est toujours mérité..
Belle surprise ...

29 Jun 2022 5:47am

Pascale MD from Parc National Causses et Cévennes, France

Belle nouvelle vie au jeune retraité.
Bonne journée Steven

29 Jun 2022 6:57am

jpla from Anjou, France

tu seras occupé crois moi

29 Jun 2022 7:00am

Hooting Anni from Corpus Christi, United States

Yum!!
Happy retirement!!
Both hubby & I took early retirement years ago, and never looked back!! Hope your day's will be the same for you as was)is four us. Enjoy.

29 Jun 2022 7:43am

Gérard Flayol from Château-Gombert, Marseille, France

So, good retirement Steven !!!!!!!

29 Jun 2022 7:44am

Hiro from Kyoto, Japan

happy atmosphere !

29 Jun 2022 8:33am

Shaun from Massachusetts, United States

Excellent picture Steven. Have a great retirement.

29 Jun 2022 11:24am

Marjolein from Westvoorne, Netherlands

What a beautiful and nice surprise that was for you and good luck with all plans.
I get hungry... ;-0

29 Jun 2022 12:08pm

Ruthiebear from Titusville, NJ, United States

COngratulaions! It sounds like an awesome deal. LOve the festive image.

29 Jun 2022 12:58pm

Rick T. from Toronto and Elora, Canada

Congratulations!! We are not meant to toil our entire lives away and it's wonderful that you have so many good years ahead of you where you don't have to punch the clock. Your co-workers hold you in high esteem and that makes the image such a happy one.

29 Jun 2022 2:35pm

Devi from Chennai, India

Congrats Steven...Even we have this "voluntary Retirement Plan " and it is good!!
Once you get a good relaxed part-time job, you can catch up with all the things you have been wanting to do all these years. No more stress and take life as it comes.
Wishing to see some exotic images from you whenever you post them..
Wishing you the Sweetest Retirement time like those cakes out there and may you heart be light and soar like those balloons there :)))

29 Jun 2022 2:38pm

Joëlle C. from France

Bonne retraite Steven !.., je te souhaite de beaux horizons et projets en perspective
Amitiés

29 Jun 2022 4:20pm

Ray. B from Charentes-Poitou, France

Hum... jolie et délicieuse surprise !... :))
Sautes le pas tu ne regretteras pas, bonne retraite Steven.

29 Jun 2022 5:02pm

Lougris from Toulouse, France

Bien appétissant !

29 Jun 2022 6:08pm

Mhelene from Villiers-sur-Marne, France

Great photo of the nice surprise of your colleagues. It’s not an easy decision and your life will change but it’s good . I see the hug in part.

29 Jun 2022 7:25pm

B. Thomas from Arlington, Texas, United States

Congrats Steven! So happy for you. I hope all of the next steps go well, and you can relax and enjoy.

29 Jun 2022 7:56pm

Brian from Christchurch, New Zealand

Great plant great shot.

29 Jun 2022 8:03pm

Harry from Apex, NC, United States

Happy retirement! After a few adjustments, you will wonder how you ever had time to work! Keep the good photos coming.

30 Jun 2022 2:05am

Elaine Hancock from Olney, United States

Congratulations Steven! I am so happy for you! I think that you made the right decision. That sounds like a good deal. Now you can do more of the things that you have wanted to do!

30 Jun 2022 2:38am

Darkelf Photography from Perth, Australia

Happy retirement Steven! Hope it brings you many moments of peace and relaxation, once you settle down.

30 Jun 2022 3:50am

rem_la from Villiers, France

il ne reste plus qu'a te souhaiter une bonne retraite

30 Jun 2022 6:21am

Stephen from Canberra, Australia

Happy retirement, Steven! I like the emotion we see in the glimpse of you at the edge of frame. The bright colors and cupcakes all signify good times ahead for you. Best of luck with all your plans.

30 Jun 2022 7:19am

Jason Kravitz from Brussels, Belgium

Looks like a good send off. Congrats on your retirement and start of a new phase of life.

30 Jun 2022 2:45pm

Willem from Noord-Scharwoude, Netherlands

Have a great retirement and above all enjoy yourself.

30 Jun 2022 4:49pm

fotoblog from Brussels, Belgium

bravo au jeune retraité...

Profites bien de cette nouvelle période de la vie Steven

greetings

30 Jun 2022 5:58pm

yo from Entre Seine et Loire, France

Tu as été gâté ! Superbe buffet festif !
Je te souhaite une heureuse retraite et courage pour le déménagement ! :)

30 Jun 2022 7:19pm

jeanmadis from CHONBURI, Thailand

Sugar in its best expression, a very attractive sweetness but which can produce damage to health.

1 Jul 2022 4:05am

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

That does look delicious!

1 Jul 2022 11:49am

Remus from Portugal

Life in the United States is complicated.
Around here, when you reach the age of 65 (more or less, as there are other conditions) a person goes into retirement and will not need to work anymore. The amount of the pension you receive each month is indexed to the number of years you have worked and the amount of your salary in recent years. As a rule, a person goes into retirement when he has worked for at least 40 years. Selling the house when it comes to retirement is something unthinkable here.

1 Jul 2022 2:01pm

Elizabeth Buckalew from Flagstaff, United States

Congratulations, Steven! I'm so pleased your plan is coming to fruition!! How wonderful that they threw this surprise party for you!

2 Jul 2022 4:57am

Claudine/anelle from lorient, France

Bonne et heureuse retraite à vous

2 Jul 2022 6:16am

suzanne from Belgium

Bonne retraite Steven.
Profite bien de chacun de ces moments :-)

3 Jul 2022 9:24am

Roland Theys from Loverval, Belgium

Hello, joyeuse retraite Steven.

3 Jul 2022 5:15pm

Diane from Parksville, Canada

Congratulations! And how nice of them to throw you a retirement partly last month. How fortunate to have a retirement plan. May everything go smoothly for you and may retirement bring you all of life's best.

5 Jul 2022 2:45am

Urspo from Phoenix, United States

I too join the chorus of congratulations!!!

5 Jul 2022 4:05am

Steve's parents from Chicagoland, United States

We are very proud of our son, Steve who has devoted his career to urban
planning and development. Also for sharing his photography with people
worldwide. Keep up the good work and congratulations.

5 Jul 2022 9:11pm

Anna Cherer from LA ROCHELLE, France

I am very happy for you Steven ! you will enjoy your time as you please ! this little impromptu party shows that you were appreciated by your colleagues !
Happy retirement and congratulations !

8 Jul 2022 7:01am

@Anna Cherer: Thank you, Anna! It's been two weeks and I am finally starting to settle down and get away from my rigid schedule. This morning, I went for a long walk and listened to the morning birds before trucks, cars and horns disturbed the peace.

sherri from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

congratulations on your retirement. i hope you have many years to enjoy it.

11 Jul 2022 4:05pm