All In

Today I filed my paperwork for retirement.

I am 55 with 34 years plus a one-year buyout to get to 35 years of service. When we ran the numbers it actually benefited me more by going now than it would have had I stayed the additional 5 years I was planning on.

The buyout was unexpected, given the state of the state's economy. At least 7 of the top 10 employees in seniority have taken the money and are running. As of the end of July, I will relinquish my title as #1 employee (in seniority!).

Unlike a number of my current and former co-workers, I never dreaded going to the office each day. On occasion, granted, it was a pain in the backside, but those occasions were few and far between. The man who sits next to me almost daily swears his undying hatred for his job and "this ******g place". I won't miss him.

If he is that unhappy, he should go elsewhere, but deep down he probably knows he would be just as miserable at another job. It must be a real drudge to go through life so thoroughly miserable.

I had previously scheduled the last week of July as a week of vacation, long before this came about, but I am going to take it! My last day in the office will be July 21, so my current crop of co-workers have 41 days left to appreciate my greatness; but who's counting?