Almost out the door! OT

[Normspeed]

Hard to believe, back in mid-May I posted about my decision to take a flying leap into retirement. Suddenly, I'm in my last week! August 12 is it. After that, no more alarm clock.

Last week and this week, it's been lunches with friends and co workers every day. Nice to spend some time with folks outside the office. Especially when they're buying...

We've indulged in Thai, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, and tomorrow it's good old American Cheeseburgers in a downtown L.A. joint that serves their fries with bleu cheese melted on top. burp.

[mackster]

congrats normspeed!!!!, I honeslty didn't think you wanted to work a day more than what you had to. I am glad you are joining the freelance group, but beware you will probably end up more overworked and underpayed when you are fully retired...CONGRATS NORM!

[Don Coatney]

You lucky dog.

Those hamburgers sound great

[55 Fargo]

All the best in retirment Norm, are you still planning the move out of the big city to the countyryside in NM.........Fred

[JoelOkie]

Congratulations, Normspeed.

[Allan Faust]

Congrats Norm.... here's to a long and happy retirement.....

Allan

[greg g]

Welcome to 6 Saturdays and a Sunday. The first couple weeks feel a little wierd, then amazingly you get used to it real easily.

[Tony Cipponeri]

Norm, You are soon to be a lazy good for nothing, that only does what he wants to do. Well good for you buddy. Tony C

[Dennis Hemingway]

Norm.

This Friday I'll have been retired for 1 year and I love it.

Dennis:D

[Allan Faust]

Norm, You are soon to be a lazy good for nothing, that only does what he wants to do. Well good for you buddy. Tony C

He already is!!!! for years now!!!! (couldn't resist that one Norm, now could I.... especially after some of your retorts.... )

Allan

[RobertKB]

Norm, it will be the best job you ever had. I retired 3 years ago and have enjoyed every minute. I want you to do one thing. Make a note of when you say, "How did I do eveything when I was working?" Enjoy your time, enjoy your car, and enjoy New Mexico when you get there. I may have to visit you as New Mexico is a state I have alwas wanted to see for some reason.

[BobT-47P15]

Wellll......the Mrs just retired (again). She worked 27 years for the county,

and the past 3 1/2 years at a hospital in the office. But.....when I got to

be 65 (read that, eligible for Medicare) she retired from that job.

She's been busy with some thing every day since quitting.

Me---I just continue to show up at work and still play my music.

Maybe next year I might decide to join the ranks of the leisurely.

Oh, yes, congrats Norm and enjoy your freedom.

[Niel Hoback]

Congratulatons Norm.

Things will get better everyday now even when you think they can't.

Its been over five years for me and I am still constantly amazed at how wonderful life can be without that nasty four letter word "work". Nothing is work if you want to do it.

Enjoy.

[NatesSedan]

Congrats Norm! Hope the blue cheese fries went down well.

[james curl]

Let us know where you are moving to in New Mexico. My big brother lives in EL Paso, TX and once there a couple more hundred miles is nothing, maybe I can drive Flossie out to visit when I go to see my brother. He thinks that I am a little bit crazy to drive that old car that far but he has to tell everyone about it. You will find the mentality in the southwest is that a couple hundred miles is just going into the big city for supper and a picture show.

[Normspeed]

I agree. I'll be only about 1 to 1 1/2 hours from Paso. 45 minutes from Las Cruces, that's where the nearest mall is.

[james curl]

Are you moving to the mountains? Ruidosa/Cloudcroft area? Desert?

[Normspeed]

I'll be down in the southwest part of the state, Deming. High desert, with some small mountain ranges scattered around the area. My place is just north of the Florida mtns. Plenty of mtns and lakes within driving distance though.

With the Plymouth, teardrop trailer, and my 12 foot porta-boat on the roof, I look forward to exploring some backroads.

[John Mulders]

good for you Norm ! Enjoy

From a sunny Caribbean island. Funny I seem to work harder here then I did in the Netherlands .....

Ah well, have other things here that are lacking there !

[Grandadeo]

Hope you enjoy retirement as much as I do. Well maybe even more cause you'll be out of range of your old job calling you back all the time like they do me. I know, all I have to do is say no. But what could be nicer than spending time in Florida City, not the mountains. Have you been looking at any metal building info yet so we can plan a barn raising.

Lee

[Normspeed]

No, in order to move the date up a year I had to re-structure some plans and the big shed has to be put off for a while. Better to sleep in and dream about a shed, than to keep working to finance one.

[Grandadeo]

Well Buddy, enjoy your last train ride to downtown El Lay. Don't grin too much, your face might freeze that way, mine did. Remember you're still on the clock untill November so be polite to subordinates. By the way, will you be getting something new to hang from your rear view mirror now. Have fun.

Lee

[Normspeed]

Yup, tomorrow is the day. Another lunch with some of the old timers, then coffee and cake, then it's tail light time. Still can't believe it.

I got your card today, thanks buddy. I'm putting together a "dream trip" that I hope to go on in 2009 or 2010. It will be in the P24, teardrop on the back, and the porta boat up top. Includes the Lone Star Roundup and the Woodward Cruise. In between there will be short drives (one day or so) followed by long stopovers (a week or so) in National Forests, state parks, especially those that have a lake. I hope to include a stay on the SW Florida coast, 10,000 islands out of Chokoloskee, angling for snook and redfish. And the Paradise Road Garage in Jensen Beach. Along the way I hope to meet up with some forum members for some bench racing and local cruise nights.

Here's how I feel right now: :D:D:D:D:D:D

[Mr. Belvedere]

Well sounds fantastic! Good for you! Bad for those of us in SoCal who will miss your pleasent company at weekend get togathers and bbq's. Good luck and "Godspeed". Mr.B

P.S. Hope you have a laptop and access to WiFi to keep in touch and send pics from all those places your going!

[Dennis Hemingway]

Normspeed, Today is the day. Congrats on your retirement. Now relax and have fun.

Dennis