Retirement. It is a big dream for many. And since I made that decision, my mind has been so busy remembering and reflecting on all the years. So I decided to share some of my thoughts as I approach retirement. Or maybe this is just a note to my younger self. Anyway, after 40+ years in data processing, software development, software engineering, or whatever you want to call it, I am going to retire. I am not sure I ever really truly believed this day would come, because it has always felt like it was a fantasy. But finally. Here it is.
So I find it interesting the things your mind begins to reflect on as the day gets closer. The various jobs. The people. The projects. The software. Computers. Languages. And WOW…..all the changes in the industry along the way! And that is in addition to the things you wish you had known much earlier.
In The Beginning…
My professional career started on November 2, 1981. Even though I had gotten a degree in Accounting, I started that day at Republic Steel as a Computer Programmer Trainee. Note that this was before there were even Computer Science degrees! I was working and learning a now ancient language known as COBOL. Additionally, the code was running on large mainframe computers. IBM 370’s if I recall correctly. And when I first started, we still had to use card decks to run things. As I think about it, several of today’s cell phones stacked together would be larger than one of the card decks. AND….with a lot more computing power!
The “jobs” would actually be a deck of cards, and they were kept in a cabinet with drawers. Operators would take out the cards for the job and load them so the job could run. I should also mention that data was not yet stored on hard drives. There was another ancient technology known as tape. If you know what they are, think of a tape recorder, only bigger! So the “job” would request a tape when it needed it. This would display a message on the operator’s console. Then the appropriate tape would be located and mounted on the tape drive, so that the job could continue running.
Just in case you are freaking out at the thought of this, remember that payroll checks were actually printed using this type of system at that time! And it was an actual check, because direct deposit did not even exist yet!
Moving on…way too soon for Retirement
Well, the steel industry was not doing very well financially in the early 1980’s. So after a couple of years, I moved on to a small company that provided school bus routing and scheduling services to school districts. Keep in mind that this was also LONG before Google Maps and other navigation software that we now take for granted. These projects were also in COBOL, along with some other ancient language known as PL/1. And, we had to build the map data ourselves.
I also was learning that there is a BIG difference between a large corporation, and a small family owned company. Additionally, this was shortly after the time that “personal” computers came along, because the ones we used actually had hard drives! So as the software moved from mainframes to personal computers, along came another language known as “C”. I never did find out what happened to “A” and “B”, but we started writing in C. So I became multi-lingual!
At this point in life, I was still happy learning new technology and was not as concerned with the “other” stuff. However, in a small company that can change quickly, as I would soon learn. At some point, “just the work” becomes not enough. Personal relationships, or at the very least, personal interactions become just a little more important in the workplace. Seriously. You spend 40 hours per week there, so good relationships can be extremely helpful just to get through the work days. But when the problem comes down from the top, you just move on. So I did.
On the move again…
This time I landed in a place developing automotive parts catalogs in 1989. By this time, I have over 7 total years of experience, in 3 primary programming languages. And I will be continuing to work in the C programming language. The only difference this time is that I am now older than most of the other developers. Unfortunately, those younger ones had already reached the age where they knew everything. We will fast forward, as some of that time was ugly and no fun.
Also unfortunately, I did not have the guts to make another change, especially not for the first 19 years.
Life Changers – Will I make it until Retirement?
But then I had TWO life-changing events. The first was in 2006, when I was in a head-on car accident. You can get more details here, because that is its own story, but it could have been the end of the whole story!
So the second event was in early 2009, when the economy went into the toilet. I was part of a “reduction in force”. Welcome back! How was your holiday? Happy New Year! Oh….by the way, this is your last day! Seriously????? This is what I get just a few years after putting in 800+ overtime hours in a single year, and helping to save a good customer? (Gory details omitted). As I drive away from the office, I realize that if God got me through the car accident, He would also get me through losing my job. In any case, I was in shock.
There is really no choice other than to start doing what you need to do. File for unemployment. Sign up for COBRA medical insurance. And start looking for a another job. The main problem was that it was a MAJOR economic downturn! However, I did benefit from the reduced COBRA cost, and the 99 weeks of extended unemployment.
Retirement – Is there an Impact?
After the first year, I decided to go back and get a Master’s degree in IT and Information Security. Then when I finally got some interviews, I could at least explain that I did something rather than just sit around for 2 years. But during that time, I did have to use some of my 401k funds just to keep going. All the time wondering if I would ever be able to retire!!
At one point panic set in! One of my creditors was planning to garnish my bank account! Since 401k funds are protected from creditors, the only way they could get them was if I had made a withdrawal to keep the bills paid! I did not realize it at the time, but this may actually have saved me in the long run. The only option to protect my 401k was to file for bankruptcy! OUCH! Actually, a really big OUCH!
However, once I did that, not only did it protect my 401k, but it also reduced my monthly expenses! Just another reminder that things are not always as bad as they seem. There is usually a silver lining. Once I found work again, it was as a self-employed contractor. Again, the silver lining is that you are able to put so much more towards retirement as a self-employed person than as an employee. That was a huge help to get retirement back on track.
Lessons along the way to Retirement
So, I have learned a lot of things along the way to retirement. First, I would have started investing and saving much earlier. You never have as much time to save as you think you do, so it is better to start the saving habit right in the beginning. Not only that, but life happens, and you never know if you may need some of the funds to keep going at some point in your life.
Next, you can survive catastrophic events! And….there is SO much to learn from them, mostly about yourself and what capabilities you have. For example, one of the most important things I learned in over 2 years of unemployment was that I would definitely be fine once I was able to retire. The biggest lesson from the car accident is that life is short and can be taken from you at any time! So you need to build your own dreams and follow your own passion!
Finally, do not be afraid to make a change. Yes. The next thing could actually be worse than where you currently are. BUT….it may also be much, much better. And there is only one way to find out! Unfortunately, I spent way too many years believing I was right and could change things. And there were a few times that I was able to do that. But eventually, that did not work and only led to a lot of frustration on my part. So, even if you are right, this may not be the place for you. Just let them be wrong, walk away and pursue your own dreams!
Now What?
I am not worried that I will be bored, because I am actually excited and looking forward to retirement! After growing up and helping to care for siblings, I then ended up helping my mother after our step-father died. Then as she got older she had dementia, with all that entails. Now it is finally time to live and enjoy my own life! I have projects around the house to work on, and I have always loved doing those things. I also plan to fix up the garage so I have a workshop to get back to making things like small tables and wooden crosses.
Additionally, I have chosen to pursue time and financial freedom with my own business. See I Am a Marketer! I can grow it as large as I can dream! And in my spare time, I will be Enjoying Fine Wines from Napa!
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