Shifting Gears   Baby Boomer…Member Life 2.0…Wife, Mother, Grammie…Bicyclist…GoldWinger…Mensan…Girl Scout…Reader…Knitter…Rotarian

Many of my friends associated the name of my blog with my love for bicycles and motorcycles plus my association with Rotary – but I doubt anyone knew the true meaning of this moniker.  I’ve written this posting in my mind for the last several months but as of today I can finally reveal the real story behind the name – it refers to the biggest shift my life will ever take – retirement!

Yes, you heard correctly!  I am retiring!  I talked to both my boss (the COO) and his boss (the CEO) today and told them the news – my last day will be in early June.  Even though I’m not thrilled about being a lame duck for 5 months I know it’s the right thing to do given the budget cycle at work and all the preparation that is required – not to mention passing the baton to the next director and allowing that person to make some key decisions for the 2008-09 budget.  It was the toughest decision I’ve ever made since it means I give up a nice paycheck (to be replaced by even nicer checks from Social Security and my pension, but still………), company-provided health insurance (made sure I had that aspect covered), uh……….and I’m sure there are other benefits I’ll miss but for now they allude me.  But I’ll be on permanent vacation so won’t miss those paid vacations, I can buy my own cell phone/blackberry and I’ll actually get my life back in the summers!  Yeah!

 I already know there is not enough time in whatever life is left for me to read all the books I want to read, to do all the knitting I want to do or all the volunteer work that awaits me.  My first major volunteer position starts on July 1 and I’ll be ready.  While I don’t plan to join Burl on the golf course, I do look forward to getting reacquainted with my bicycle and making a daily appearance at the gym.  Beyond that………..the world is my oyster. 

When I started this blog I had considered making it a guide for making the retirement decision – but then I realized that I had too many friends at work who read my drivel and I couldn’t reveal my plans.  Suffice it to say that I arrived at this juncture after meetings with our financial advisor, broker, CPA, health insurance agent and a myriad of others who thrive on giving informed advice.  They provide assurance of my decision and I’m relieved to have it public with my boss.  There is plenty to be done in my office in the next 5 months so I doubt I’ll be twiddling my thumbs – but I know that after June there are a couple of little girls in Iowa who will certainly see their Grammie more often than they have. 

Burl is thrilled that I am going to leave corporate America behind and be ready to hop on the Goldwing and travel at any minute – he’s already plotting our trips for the next several years and they definitely involve a passport and a motorcycle.  Being the sweet man that he is, he treated me to dinner tonight at one of our favorite spots and we shared a bottle of wine that reminded us of our honeymoon in Napa and Sonoma.  Friend Becky is already thinking about a party……life isn’t good, it’s excellent!  Tammy keeps reminding me to spend her inheritance so I guess I’d better get cracking!