After counting down for the past two years, he said good-bye to the crew, the responsibility, the paperwork, the schedule.
Instead of some evening shindig, his boss and coworkers set up tables and tarps in the parking lot of the shop, lit the barbeque, iced the beer and sodas, and made room for the motorhome! Just what Bill wanted :-)
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| BBQ at the rig |
In addition to the crew, lots of vendors and former co-workers and customers showed up to wish him well, share the awesome meal, and take a tour of the rig. With his chair set up under the awning, and a cold one in his hand, Bill modeled his future for all these great folks. It was very fun.
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| Guarding the beer bucket |
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| Boss's BBQ'd ribs were awesome! |
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| It's the people you'll miss |
It was nearly perfect, but after six years, he's come down with a cold over the last few days! The man missed almost no work over the years, and his last week of work and he was out a day and a half :-( I think his "systems" were just ready to go early! Still, he felt fine for the grand event and enjoyed getting to say his good-byes.
They made a video for him and it was even more fun because we piled everyone in the rig to watch it on the flat screen! It was snug, but apparently we can fit 15 people (who like each other) in the living area. Good to know these things.
Everybody else still had to work so we helped clean up and with two loud toots of the air horn we pulled out of the driveway for his last time. About every two hours he says "I'm retired!"
One thing left on the list, Richie's (youngest) graduation on June 2. The next day - we launch :-)
Tuesday we leave for New Mexico for a family reunion in Ruidoso so I'm looking forward to a post from the road - just TWO retirees living the dream!
At last at last. Good for you guys & don't let that excitement get away from you:))
ReplyDeleteWe're working on it :-), seems like there's just so much to be excited about these days!
DeleteOnwards to the next adventure !!!..congrats to you both !!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue!
DeleteWahoo!!! This is the best feeling to finally leave it all behind. It did take me about a year to stop having teaching dreams. I kept dreaming that I had to go back...ugh!! I still, after almost five years, find it hard to believe I don't have to go to work again:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for a retirement party!! I love that everyone got to see your new home.
Will your son be traveling with you for awhile when he graduates?
Congratulations, Bill!!
After two years I rarely think of work anymore, the people yes, but not the work. I'm so glad he's finally able to join me in leaving it behind! It was his idea to take the rig, and it was a big hit :-)
DeleteI remember well just how you feel! Congratulations, I'm so happy for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you David. It is an awesome feeling for both of us!
DeleteRight On!!!! What a great send off. I had 18 in my 5er for a party. It can be done. Time to hit the road.
ReplyDelete18! Now that's a party :-) We are so ready!!
DeleteWoot! Woot! What a ride we've had together. Now it's time to start the rest of your life.
ReplyDeleteIt's fun having you along! It does feel like we can really, really, do it now - no more "Monday" mornings for either of us :-)
DeleteWhat a great send-off! Hope your little trip is loads of fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks Janna! Knowing there's no work to return to afterwards is already making it better for him :-)
DeleteCongratulations! It's hard to believe the day is finally here. More milestones to come! Last year, we did exactly this, including a retirement party with our rig as the star of the show, and two kids graduating! Can't wait for you to start your travels. It's gonna be awesome!
ReplyDeleteIt's really fun to show people where you're going to be living isn't it?! Giving the "tours" was really fun for me. Can't believe you've been retired nearly a year :-)
DeleteNow that is the best retirement party I've ever seen. What a great send off. You are coming down to the wire. Less than two weeks. I remember the excitement so well. Congratulations!! And Happy Trails! Can't wait to see where all you go.
ReplyDeleteLOL - isn't that wishful thinking on my part for you! Too funny. Well make that 2 months and less than two weeks. But still...........not far away.
DeleteBelieve me I wish that too! It really was a great way to end his career, just a fun and casual gathering.
DeleteCongratulations!! Looks like a great send off party. A few weeks and the grand adventure really starts rolling.
ReplyDeleteThanks! We're having a ball loosely planning our route after launch - it's very real now :-)
DeleteYIPPEE!!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with the rest: that was a terrific way to have a retirement party. So much better than a meal at a restaurant, IMO. Great photo of Tessa, the beer guard dog :-)
She had a great time as usual :-) It is very liberating to have both of us retired now!
DeleteCongratulations to both of you!!! What an awesome send off! Even Tessa got to join in on the fun! VERY nice! Friday was my one year anniversary of my retirement, and I never think about work at all anymore. I did for a little bit, but it all just disappeared after awhile. Enjoy...it looks like you did it up well, Bill!
ReplyDeleteJim (and Diana)
Same for me - hard to believe I ever worked sometimes :-)
DeleteWOOHOO! Welcome to the AWESOME land of retirement Bill!
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat send off...hopefully that cold goes away fast!
Feeling better today, but they (men) are so bad at being sick - like it's personal :-)))) I'm really glad he wanted to take the rig, it was a big hit!!
DeleteCongrats! The retirement party sounds perfect!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Patty!! It was exactly right for him, just what he wanted. And everybody had a great time :-)
DeleteOh YAY!!! How exciting to reach this milestone in life -- and to be beginning such a wonderful new chapter together! You guys have done an amazing job of preparing for this journey, including celebrating every step of the way. I agree that was the perfect retirement party. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to have him "join" me in retirement! It's like I retired all over again :-) We get impatient for our launch date, but yes we have had some wonderful celebrations along the way!
DeleteWhat a wonderful send off and having your rig there is a great mood setter. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteThanks Maura! Yep, everybody wanted to "stow away" with us :-)
Delete