I'm officially semi retired!

Kerry Brown

Kerry Brown

Ambassador of the Great Northern Bar Jams
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For the past couple of years I've been working two jobs while I collect CPP (Canada Pension Plan). I run an IT consulting business out of my home. I had a part time job as the night auditor/front desk at an Inn. It was enough to get by and keep me in guitars and other gear. COVID-19 changed that. I got laid off from the Inn. The IT work devolved into remote only with four reasonably sized clients. My wife also got laid off. I immediately applied for OAS (Old Age Security) on top of CPP. I can also get GIS (Guaranteed Income Supplement) next year. I made too much last year to qualify this year. I took my car off the road. We've been using my wife's car. I'll probably sell my car. I cut expenses like cable TV way back. Because of COVID-19 we no longer eat out. We shop once a month at Costco. I found I can easily survive, although I have less money for GAS. I got an email from the Inn asking me if I wanted to come back. I thought about it and decided no. I enjoyed working at the Inn but it was graveyard shifts which my wife hated. I am now officially semi retired. I will continue with my four remote clients but no new clients and no service calls. Life is good.
 
Kerry Brown said:
For the past couple of years I've been working two jobs while I collect CPP (Canada Pension Plan). I run an IT consulting business out of my home. I had a part time job as the night auditor/front desk at an Inn. It was enough to get by and keep me in guitars and other gear. COVID-19 changed that. I got laid off from the Inn. The IT work devolved into remote only with four reasonably sized clients. My wife also got laid off. I immediately applied for OAS (Old Age Security) on top of CPP. I can also get GIS (Guaranteed Income Supplement) next year. I made too much last year to qualify this year. I took my car off the road. We've been using my wife's car. I'll probably sell my car. I cut expenses like cable TV way back. Because of COVID-19 we no longer eat out. We shop once a month at Costco. I found I can easily survive, although I have less money for GAS. I got an email from the Inn asking me if I wanted to come back. I thought about it and decided no. I enjoyed working at the Inn but it was graveyard shifts which my wife hated. I am now officially semi retired. I will continue with my four remote clients but no new clients and no service calls. Life is good.
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I am sorry for the bumpy road, but I am happy that you have been able to ride through the bumps and settle at a place that makes you happy. You seem to be very good at that, and it is very admirable. So congrats!!
 
syscokid said:
Good for you, KB... (y). Is your wifey going back to work?
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Eventually yes. Right now she is getting the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit. She qualifies for employment insurance if they stop that. Her previous employer was very good when they let her go and paid her a good severance package.
 
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Good move Kerry.
I took the plunge 10 years ago and never looked back.
I had been doing heavy equipment repair since 1978 -79, both on site and mobile.
My body had enough...
I wanted to enjoy my retirement while I still could.
The wife & I talked it over and the rest is history.
Instead of paying others to do things, I became the pool service, the lawn service and even though I suck at it, housekeeping service.
Haven't worked since.
Well, I do a lot of guitar repairs for people, but that's not work, that's my version of R & R.
Like you, we modified our lifestyle and spending somewhat, and as a result life has been a much happier place for us.
Now I can finally claim retirement benefits next year.:cheers:
 
Kerry Brown said:
For the past couple of years I've been working two jobs while I collect CPP (Canada Pension Plan). I run an IT consulting business out of my home. I had a part time job as the night auditor/front desk at an Inn. It was enough to get by and keep me in guitars and other gear. COVID-19 changed that. I got laid off from the Inn. The IT work devolved into remote only with four reasonably sized clients. My wife also got laid off. I immediately applied for OAS (Old Age Security) on top of CPP. I can also get GIS (Guaranteed Income Supplement) next year. I made too much last year to qualify this year. I took my car off the road. We've been using my wife's car. I'll probably sell my car. I cut expenses like cable TV way back. Because of COVID-19 we no longer eat out. We shop once a month at Costco. I found I can easily survive, although I have less money for GAS. I got an email from the Inn asking me if I wanted to come back. I thought about it and decided no. I enjoyed working at the Inn but it was graveyard shifts which my wife hated. I am now officially semi retired. I will continue with my four remote clients but no new clients and no service calls. Life is good.
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There are some similarities, I am officially "semi-conscious."
 
As long as you are happy with all the cutting back That's great for you Kerry if it is ultimately doable! I needed a break from photo retail afetr 25 years so I quit in 2012. Stayed that way! No hoopla, no biggie, just retired I guess. The wife n her bro sold all the farmland off just last 2 years so we are set through retirement.

Not that it defines her but she had major brain surgery in 2016 for a thankfully BENIGN tumor. It was deep inside, they needed to go through her right ear to get at it rendering her deaf in that ear. It ahsn't been that big a deal oddly.
16 hrs surgery, 3 weeks in hospital, came home with a walker. Got out about 75%. Still some balance issues and had to get a VP shunt the foloowing year. So she retired too!!
Life is good for us.

Anyone interested it was a Right angle CerebelloPontine meningioma that is related to the cavernous sinus region (look that up for perspective of where it is) also half enveloping internal carotid. It was compressing brain stem so it had to go, as much as she (neurosurgeon) could resect safely.
Glad she retired no point in working after that.
Cheers fellows
 
Jethro Rocker said:
As long as you are happy with all the cutting back That's great for you Kerry if it is ultimately doable! I needed a break from photo retail afetr 25 years so I quit in 2012. Stayed that way! No hoopla, no biggie, just retired I guess. The wife n her bro sold all the farmland off just last 2 years so we are set through retirement.

Not that it defines her but she had major brain surgery in 2016 for a thankfully BENIGN tumor. It was deep inside, they needed to go through her right ear to get at it rendering her deaf in that ear. It ahsn't been that big a deal oddly.
16 hrs surgery, 3 weeks in hospital, came home with a walker. Got out about 75%. Still some balance issues and had to get a VP shunt the foloowing year. So she retired too!!
Life is good for us.

Anyone interested it was a Right angle CerebelloPontine meningioma that is related to the cavernous sinus region (look that up for perspective of where it is) also half enveloping internal carotid. It was compressing brain stem so it had to go, as much as she (neurosurgeon) could resect safely.
Glad she retired no point in working after that.
Cheers fellows
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So sorry to hear about your wife but glad it’s working out for you. Part of my reason for slowing down is medical as well. Not life threatening but it does impact the day to day. I want to enjoy life now while it’s still enjoyable.
 
Jethro Rocker said:
As long as you are happy with all the cutting back That's great for you Kerry if it is ultimately doable! I needed a break from photo retail afetr 25 years so I quit in 2012. Stayed that way! No hoopla, no biggie, just retired I guess. The wife n her bro sold all the farmland off just last 2 years so we are set through retirement.

Not that it defines her but she had major brain surgery in 2016 for a thankfully BENIGN tumor. It was deep inside, they needed to go through her right ear to get at it rendering her deaf in that ear. It ahsn't been that big a deal oddly.
16 hrs surgery, 3 weeks in hospital, came home with a walker. Got out about 75%. Still some balance issues and had to get a VP shunt the foloowing year. So she retired too!!
Life is good for us.

Anyone interested it was a Right angle CerebelloPontine meningioma that is related to the cavernous sinus region (look that up for perspective of where it is) also half enveloping internal carotid. It was compressing brain stem so it had to go, as much as she (neurosurgeon) could resect safely.
Glad she retired no point in working after that.
Cheers fellows
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She is a warrior, that woman! Stay happy at home together every day - you both earned it!!
 
Thanks lads we are totally fine. I hope things improve for you Kerry! Yes enjoy everything while you can. Because you never know.
I suspect many people that passed today planned on tomorrow.
 
Don O said:
I retired 1/31 this year and it’s one of the best thing’s I’ve ever done (this assumes you can afford it). Good luck in you new adventure as every day is a Saturday !
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nope --Ill work till I drop -- but I know this and am "good" with it -- poor decisions decades ago --
no altering the course now not enough time-- steady as she goes and all that rot--

I might wanna borrow that murder room at some point though.............................do you rent like by the hour or week?
 
eSGEe said:
I might wanna borrow that murder room at some point though.............................do you rent like by the hour or week?
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You make it out this way and you can use it all ya want. I just have to finish it first.
 
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