Thee is a chance that I might be retiring unexpectedly. No, I don't mean "fired", but I might have a chance to retire after 31 years with a severance package and full benefits, only it is a few years before I was planning to go. We are fortunate that we have no debts and have put aside enough for the children to attend college (should they require it). There are a lot of things I think I would like to do, but I haven't had tome to map out a plan quite yet.

Have any of you faced similar situations? What did you do with your new "time off"?

A nice problem to have...


Lyndel

Am I reading a secret message in your post?

I don't have that problem (unfortunately!) but if I did, I'd...

1. Play more bridge.
2. Work on the magic.
3. Spend more time at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (insert your favorite travel spot)
4. Go back to school and study something interesting and enjoyable...for me, that would probably mean pursuing a graduate degree in English.
5. Play more bridge.
6. Work on the piano & guitar.
7. Play more bridge.

Enjoy it, whatever you do! As Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) says in The Departed, when told that the mother of an acquaintance is "on the way out":

"We all are; act accordingly."

You can do everything you've wanted to do in life now...

You worked to live, now its time to live to have fun.

Not that I know of. I'm not that smart...

First thing. Take a break. Do nothing at all. Sit around the house in your underwear eating bologna sandwiches for a month.

Then, when you're bored out of your mind... all the things you have ever wanted to do but haven't ever had the time to do... will come to your mind readily and you'll be dressed and out the door before you know it.

Amos, I've always liked you...so what ever you do I hope you enjoy it. I will tell you this, I've only met one guy who really disliked retirement and he was a doctor who just missed his patients, everyone else loves it.