Where did I go ? 8 days ...

gball said:
For the last 5 years or so I have not taken a computer or phone with me on vacations. It is the most liberating thing imaginable and has honestly become the best part of the trips - no other factor allows me to unwind and destress more than the excusion of technology.
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You are lucky!!!

I'm still a worker bee and I'm constantly scheduling or otherwise being asked for input on a myriad of projects.

Alcohol is my escape 'solution.'
 
Robert Herndon said:
You are lucky!!!

I'm still a worker bee and I'm constantly scheduling or otherwise being asked for input on a myriad of projects.

Alcohol is my escape 'solution.'
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That's exactly the problem. When I used to take the Tech with me there was still a contant barrage of work-related e-mails and calls. I of course felt obligated to respond regardless of circumstance. So I decided to just unplug - things won't come crashing down if they can't reach me for a week or 10 days. I realized a long time ago there are only two types of problems in the World: Those that will still matter in 6 months and those that won't. I don't get worried about those that won't and If I am on an island somewhere sipping a Mai Tai I can't really commit fully to fixing the ones that will, so I trust the team to deal with it.
 
gball said:
That's exactly the problem. When I used to take the Tech with me there was still a contant barrage of work-related e-mails and calls. I of course felt obligated to respond regardless of circumstance. So I decided to just unplug - things won't come crashing down if they can't reach me for a week or 10 days. I realized a long time ago there are only two types of problems in the World: Those that will still matter in 6 months and those that won't. I don't get worried about those that won't and If I am on an island somewhere sipping a Mai Tai I can't really commit fully to fixing the ones that will, so I trust the team to deal with it.
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My youngest and his wife have a difficult time disconnecting. Even time off, they stay connected to business. Bugs me…. But I keep my mouth shut.

As for me. Working behind a parts counter most of my adult life, there really was nothing work needed from me when I was on vacation. I might get a text the first day gone asking where so and so’s part is. Apologize for bugging me. I’d tell them. Wouldn’t hear from them again till I was back to work. They’d just handle things.

Now. I did take my phone. I would text friends, family and coworkers with the required beach shot with the “wish you were here don’t you!” I’d usually get appropriate swear words back in response.

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iblive said:
My youngest and his wife have a difficult time disconnecting. Even time off, they stay connected to business. Bugs me…. But I keep my mouth shut.

As for me. Working behind a parts counter most of my adult life, there really was nothing work needed from me when I was on vacation. I might get a text the first day gone asking where so and so’s part is. Apologize for bugging me. I’d tell them. Wouldn’t hear from them again till I was back to work. They’d just handle things.

Now. I did take my phone. I would text friends, family and coworkers with the required beach shot with the “wish you were here don’t you!” I’d usually get appropriate swear words back in response.

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I got ya. My wife does take hers and she is an amateur photog, so she always has her nice camera with her. So there is a backup plan in emergencies and we do always have the photos when the trip is done. But for me, all I need is a beach and good book. Hell, I even unplug the TVs in the hotel rooms as a reminder to myself to avoid the news while I'm gone.
 
gball said:
I got ya. My wife does take hers and she is an amateur photog, so she always has her nice camera with her. So there is a backup plan in emergencies and we do always have the photos when the trip is done. But for me, all I need is a beach and good book. Hell, I even unplug the TVs in the hotel rooms as a reminder to myself to avoid the news while I'm gone.
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Oh. I get it. We had airline credits to use up from our canceled vacation in 2020….. for obvious reasons. Finally got them used up when my wife was on spring break in March. Spent 5 days on St Thomas. Used my phone for photos and playing solitaire while sunburning on the beach a couple days. Didn’t even rent a car. Used taxis a couple times and she actually had a coworker there the same week who has a condo there. So they picked us up at the airport and hauled us around a couple times. It was nice.
 
iblive said:
My youngest and his wife have a difficult time disconnecting. Even time off, they stay connected to business. Bugs me…. But I keep my mouth shut.

As for me. Working behind a parts counter most of my adult life, there really was nothing work needed from me when I was on vacation. I might get a text the first day gone asking where so and so’s part is. Apologize for bugging me. I’d tell them. Wouldn’t hear from them again till I was back to work. They’d just handle things.

Now. I did take my phone. I would text friends, family and coworkers with the required beach shot with the “wish you were here don’t you!” I’d usually get appropriate swear words back in response.

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I'm the only person I know in my age category who isn't retired...
 
Mitch Pearrow SJMP said:
Say what you will — I am not retired, and I believe I still have a couple on ya,, lol
I retire when I die ..
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Larsen Marine - Marina on Lake Michigan. We sold and serviced BIG boats.

I had already decided Dec 31, 2020 was going to be my last day. I decided to go Oct 2 for a couple reasons. (1) Pandemic. We'd already had a couple people test pos. I had not been "socially distanced" to either one of them and dodged the bullet both times. That was my story to management.

I had no quarrel with my bosses. All 5 of them. Family business since inception in like 1933. Five siblings and cousins currently own it (offspring of two dads). Only one was considered my immediate boss. He pretty much let me run the parts department without a lot of input or interference. The other four pretty much left me alone.

(2) I left early for one reason and one reason only. I heard the Service Manage throw the Parts Department under the bus while talking to a customer and at that moment decided I was not going thru the Fall busy season. One thing that's never accepted is to use another department as an excuse or scapegoat when talking with a customer. Totally unprofessional and disrespectful.

At the end of the day. Don't know financially if it was the smartest move. Although, by that point I'd been in the work force full time for nearly 50 years. I just didn't want to do it anymore. My wife has been teaching for about 35 years. She just retired herself. She'd been doing it long enough her retirement is adequate. At the end she pretty much doubled up what I made... and rightfully so. Never been one of those guys that felt I needed to be the main bread earner. She has a bachelors and a masters.... and way more responsibility than my job ever carried. Also. She's a Special Education teacher. She made a legit difference in kids lives.

On my last Friday, I sat in my car for a few moments. A bit of emotion. And then drove home. Woke up the following Monday and I have not missed going to work for one minute since.

But that's just me. Your result may vary. ;)
 
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I am ready to retire but not financially. In a few years if I can get through it.
This trip was planned for about 1 1/2 years ago. Before I got my current job.
I had to take a leave of absence to go since they cheated me out of my vacation until after one year.
 
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