Fifty Plus (50+) - Do I still have a job? ....N+1

I'll find out on the 31st of this month if I'm being forced into Early Retirement or not.

I went out today and prepared myself in a manner that will be very suitable either way.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=8607455#post8607455

.....oh please boss, don't kick me out of work just as the cycling season is ready to start.
(insert maniacal laughter) :innocent:

If they don't give me the boot, I'll be able to pay for it (quicker)!

I do believe I've got all the bases covered this time. ;)

Nice....very nice.

Way cool. First Mrs. Cranky gets a new bike, then Cranky himself comes up with a beauty of a 'bent. All is right in Rochester tonight.

As far as work goes, sounds like you got 'em right where you want 'em.:thumb:

Nice bike !!! I always like opening the door to the garage and seeing the reflection from the Schwalbes.

Just had redundancies at work and I was not one of them. Will be another round in the Autumn and might be lucky enough to retire early then.

Lenny,

Good Luck to you. As YOU know, I am much happier since I got the boot, and I am adjusting well to life outside of the CUBE Farm that I worked. I work HARDER now, but I SMILE more and appreciate the good things more.

Chris

I sell industrail floor resurfacing which is, almost always, funded through capital expenditures, at least the projects that pay real money. Haven't made a cent since January. As I don't need my car for sales calls, I ride my bike to the office (when I go) then, sit and cold call answering machines for a few hours. This would drive me insane, but the bike ride home keeps me "above ground" mentally. I just wish the weather would be better on a consistant basis.


The world ends when you’re dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man.......and give some back.-- Al Swearengen

Last year my husband's sales commissions were so bad that we lost our company-sponsored healthcare, one of the few reasons he stayed working for a large insurer (almost 20 years). He was already a "disgruntled employee" - the company was constantly pushing to sell products that weren't suited to his clients and he fought hard not to compromise his ethics. We also run a small retail business.

Two years ago, the local historical site offered my husband a part-time weekend gig making sure nobody walked off with any of the "exhibits" from the barracks and storehouse buildings, and answer questions about the site. Last year the site offered him a "seasonal" job working nearly full-time in the spring/summer/early fall as their "historical interpreter".

We discussed the pros and cons of him taking the job (and actually there were more cons than pros at the time), and decided that opportunities like this didn't get offered twice -- and he could always return to insurance sales if this didn't pan out. Frankly, I doubt if he'll ever return to insurance sales...

He's much happier now, more relaxed. He's lost weight and his BP is down. He doesn't grumble about going to work. He still has time for his other business; the site works around his schedule. His medical plan now covers only our daughter and him -- and has a high deductible and no prescription plan; I've got other coverage for myself.

We're making it. We haven't had to make large sacrifices (yet), and hopefully with diligence we'll continue to live within our means comfortably. The bills are being paid on time, nobody's going hungry, and the only large debt we have is our house.

Two years ago, the local historical site offered my husband a part-time weekend gig making sure nobody walked off with any of the "exhibits" from the barracks and storehouse buildings, and answer questions about the site. Last year the site offered him a "seasonal" job working nearly full-time in the spring/summer/early fall as their "historical interpreter".


I worked as a historic interpreter for four years after retiring from my "career". It was intellectually gratifying, I actually enjoyed going to work for the first time in my life.

I worked as a historic interpreter for four years after retiring from my "career". It was intellectually gratifying, I actually enjoyed going to work for the first time in my life.

Sometimes it's a blessing to find an occupation that is your avocation. :thumb: Hopefully this site is able to withstand some economic downturn -- it's a private site, not run by the PHMC (PA Historical and Museum Commission). Our esteemed Governor has proposed closing many of the state-managed historic sites in PA.

Bicycling content? OK - The Fort Pitt Museum at Point State Park in Pittsburgh is on the closure list. Point State Park is situated on the Great Allegheny Passage, a premier bicycling destination (IMHO).

Judy

Sometimes it's a blessing to find an occupation that is your avocation. :thumb: Hopefully this site is able to withstand some economic downturn -- it's a private site, not run by the PHMC (PA Historical and Museum Commission). Our esteemed Governor has proposed closing many of the state-managed historic sites in PA.

Bicycling content? OK - The Fort Pitt Museum at Point State Park in Pittsburgh is on the closure list. Point State Park is situated on the Great Allegheny Passage, a premier bicycling destination (IMHO).

Judy
I left before the big economic crisis but I hear my old living history museum is now trying to operate with mostly volunteers.:twitchy: Oh, (bike content)and a major bike route goes right past the place.:)

Best wishes to your husband.:thumb:

I am currently trying to downsize and downscale my career. I don't need to make anywhere near the kind of money I used to, but I do need some income. I need to tone down my resume and aggressively pursue jobs for which I am "overqualified," but which sound like fun. Health insurance was a huge concern, but I got my wife and myself covered at tier 1 rates by Blue Shield.

I am thoroughly convinced we are just two years into Great Depression 2.0, and I can only hope that employment, traditionally a lagging indicator, picks up before I am too old to work.

Laid off in October 2008. I do freelance, but it's so much more work than the 9-5, searching for jobs, bidding for jobs, dealing with cheap clients.

still, it keeps me busy and that keeps my mind off other things. when I'm not freelancing onsite and can work from home, i do get to ride whenever i want. and the riding has totally helped with the stress.

I am currently trying to downsize and downscale my career. I don't need to make anywhere near the kind of money I used to, but I do need some income. I need to tone down my resume and aggressively pursue jobs for which I am "overqualified," but which sound like fun. Health insurance was a huge concern, but I got my wife and myself covered at tier 1 rates by Blue Shield.

I am thoroughly convinced we are just two years into Great Depression 2.0, and I can only hope that employment, traditionally a lagging indicator, picks up before I am too old to work.

I toned down my resume because I was finding out I was overqualified for the positions I was applying for. I have sent out one so far since redoing it and have a job interview next week Thursday. It will be about a ten dollar an hour cut in pay if I get lucky enough to get it but I also don't need to make the money I used too, kids are gone and house is almost paid for. Just looking for a job thats half the responsibility and more free time.

Nice bent!

Last fall I had the option of buying either a new '06 RANS Stratus for $1000 or an '07 slightly used (500-600 miles) Tour Easy EX for $1200. Was really torn between the two as I liked both very much. Eventually went with the Stratus because I found it a little more comfortable on rail trails, but would have been very happy with either. Might have gone with the TE if I was only going to ride asphalt surfaces. I wanted to buy both.

Best of luck to you on your career situation. May you reap what you really want.

Lenny,

Good Luck to you. As YOU know, I am much happier since I got the boot, and I am adjusting well to life outside of the CUBE Farm that I worked. I work HARDER now, but I SMILE more and appreciate the good things more.

Chris
Thanks Chris.
Being retirement eligable, I'm not in dire straights either way. I would prefer to continue at my current job, but we can survive without it.


Nice bent!

Last fall I had the option of buying either a new '06 RANS Stratus for $1000 or an '07 slightly used (500-600 miles) Tour Easy EX for $1200. Was really torn between the two as I liked both very much. Eventually went with the Stratus because I found it a little more comfortable on rail trails, but would have been very happy with either. Might have gone with the TE if I was only going to ride asphalt surfaces. I wanted to buy both.

Best of luck to you on your career situation. May you reap what you really want.
Thank you Sir,

I paid more than I believe the bike is really worth, but I'm a firm believer in grabbing hold of an opportunity when it presents itself as the next one may well be a long way off. My two options were also a Stratus and a Tour Easy. I personally liked the Tour Easy better. My EZ Sport will handle the trails of crushed limestone quite nicely while the TE will conquer the asphalt. The bike literally took me up the hill during my test ride, and the fit and feel of the bike is undescribable. If any bike can make a road warrior out of me, this is the one. This bike may actually leave me fulfilled. I see no more N+1 in my next few years.

Like I told Chris, we'll survive which ever way the job takes us. One way will be financially easier and the other will give me more bike time. This has been the first of our annual layoffs that I've not been at all concerned about.

How can a guy be depressed with a garage full of great bikes?

There's life after forced retirement. I got bought out from a newspaper job in November of '07, and after about six weeks of doing "what I've always wanted time to do," I'd done about enough of it. I was offered a radio talk show and I've been doing that ever since. It's a lot of fun, and I just got moved from mid-morning to afternoon drive.

Oh Darn!

I've got to keep coming into work, at least until the next downsizing.

Oh well, less ride time but more income and certainly less financial strain to cover the Health Care insurance.

Looks like I lucked out again.

Well, I keep hoping the owner will give me the boot but my wife has told me she won't fire me until I fire her... :rolleyes:

I just picked up a 1-week short course teaching gig and the title of CTO in a still-unfunded startup company, plus three public speaking engagements, so things might start getting interesting around here.

Well, I keep hoping the owner will give me the boot but my wife has told me she won't fire me until I fire her... :rolleyes:

Don't be a jerk. Your posts are full of your vanity.

I just picked up a 1-week short course teaching gig and the title of CTO in a still-unfunded startup company, plus three public speaking engagements, so things might start getting interesting around here.

:thumb::thumb:

Well done! Hope they work out for you.

Don't be a jerk. Your posts are full of your vanity.

????

Your comments seem unusually harsh.

Oh Darn!

I've got to keep coming into work, at least until the next downsizing.

Oh well, less ride time but more income and certainly less financial strain to cover the Health Care insurance.

Looks like I lucked out again.

Congratulations, I think!

Don't be a jerk. Your posts are full of your vanity.

wtf?

Don't be a jerk. Your posts are full of your vanity.

If I may.... On the one hand, many people are losing jobs due to the bad economy, so to be so casual about the whole thing does seem a little.... insensitive to people whose jobs are in danger or already lost.

On the other hand, if I was eligible for retirement but didn't mind working a while longer, I might be kind of casual about layoffs.

I can kind of see both points.

Well, I keep hoping the owner will give me the boot but my wife has told me she won't fire me until I fire her... :rolleyes:

You've gotta admit, those wives can be pretty sharp. I keep telling mine that I've worked my 38 years, now it's her turn. She just laughs and I keep going to work. :cry:

I have the same question. I had a partnership in a scarp yard got sick and couldnt pull my wieght. So that came to an end. Had no coverage to pay for the treatments [ $2400 a month ] So l found a job with benifits driving readymix truck I went off work a little over a year ago and Im done the treatments. Company call back after winter layoff is April 15th. But with the econamy they may not open my plant this year. Things can only get better.

Don't be a jerk. Your posts are full of your vanity.

Interesting reaction. I haven't felt any part of this reaction, I've been interested and entertained by the perceptions of someone who has chosen a big life change.

Costa Rica Tree Dude, all the best

Interesting reaction. I haven't felt any part of this reaction, I've been interested and entertained by the perceptions of someone who has chosen a big life change.

Costa Rica Tree Dude, all the best

Thanks, not meaning to be anything than honest. Sometimes I am a bit giddy from the fact that we followed our dream, and it didn't turn into a nightmare.

What I was meaning to indicate is that as an owner, people think that you are immune to the pain. Not really, you will be the last out the door if something goes wrong and you are left with a lot more than a loss of job. :eek:

And Old Goat, no goats are allowed on our tree plantations, sorry. :D

In all honesty, losing a job can be the best thing that ever happened to you. It won't feel like it at the time, but it might convince you that working for someone else isn't as secure as you might have thought.

And make you think living in a tropical paradise is not as insane as everyone told you.

You've gotta admit, those wives can be pretty sharp. I keep telling mine that I've worked my 38 years, now it's her turn. She just laughs and I keep going to work. :cry:

I even tried naming the company after her... no going, the buck still stops here.

You know, once when she was criticizing my driving, I asked her "so, if you are so much better, why is it I am the one always driving?" She immediately shot back, "because you need the practice!"

Sigh, it comes from marrying a smart woman. :o

I dodged two layoffs last year. I thought I was in the clear, then there was an announcement we are being purchased by a larger firm.:notamused: So here we go again. Just when I thought I could breath again.

A good friend of mine, and a fellow 50+'er (but not on this forum), was just informed that he was one of 4000 being laid off by Sun Microsystems.

A good friend of mine, and a fellow 50+'er (but not on this forum), was just informed that he was one of 4000 being laid off by Sun Microsystems.


Our company has had a major layoff almost every year around Christmas time since 1982. Our local workforce has dwindled from over 65,000 to less than 6,500 employees. Not a single downsizing has gone by where I didn't see a good freind / work mate get cut loose.

It's devestating to see the pain that the families go through, and then later (sometimes much later) joyful to see those same families recover as those laid off find alternate employment. Most recent was a very close freind who after a year and a half of financial struggles from being laid off, stumbled into a production job paying over $20 per hour with benefits, a defined retirement pension and seasonal overtime.

It's never easy facing a down sizing, but it's become a regular fact of life.

I wish your freind the best of luck. Jobs are out there, you just have to find them.