SunnySideUp wrote: ↑
I (a self-taught software engineer with a BS EE) "retired unexpectedly" (was laid off) late in August at age 58 with a decent severance package after working 33 years in tech. In anticipation of this event, our household had relocated from SFBay to southern AZ almost exactly one year ago; post-move I continued to work remotely (as had been the case since COVID struck) and did not suffer a pay cut. We have passive investment income at a level exceeding my last base pay, and will be leveraging COBRA to the max, so are in a good financial position with plenty (an excess?) of safety margin.
Hi SunnySideUp and congratulations on being "retired unexpectedly" after 33 years working in tech! Sounds like you made good plans and won't need to worry about financial stress
What does "leveraging COBRA to the max" mean?
SunnySideUp wrote:Now at 4 months after being laid off, I've been engaging in a passive "see what comes my way while being very choosy" job "search" by advertising my availability on LinkedIn for the past 2 months (just because I love the
work), and having recently (unsuccessfully) concluded my first interview, I'm now realizing with something approaching finality that after 4 months away from the BS that accompanies full-time employment in 2021, and facing the aggressive screening of job applicants in my industry (which IMO favors new grads), I am unlikely to be pursuing reentry into the working world unless a true "bolt of benevolent lightning" strikes. So I guess I'm retired as of 2021!
Yes, without question, being "retired unexpectedly" and "with something approaching finality" and "unlikely to re-enter the working world unless a
true bolt of benevolent lightning strikes" qualifies as "retirement" for this Wildly Insane Retirement Roll Call - in fact, even if benevolent lightning strikes, you can still be a paid-up member in good standing so long as you have
punched out of the rat race
SunnySideUp wrote:Lament: I don't really want to "hang up my SW dev spurs", however part-time (or other "ease off the throttle") employment in my profession does not seem to exist, and per above I've had time to get used to being free of the 9-5+ rat race, and realize my tolerance for the BS is almost gone. COVID was for me a blessing as it removed one of the most stressful aspects of my daily life: commuting in gridlocked SFBay traffic twice a day. And since it has proven also to have broken thru management's aversion to remote working, I had hoped that I could find somewhere in the country an opportunity aligned with my skills and druthers. But I think it's not to be . . .
Don't give up! We like the idea of benevolent lightning strikes - just be aware of the strike to take advantage of it. Please let us know what it looks like when it comes
SunnySideUp wrote:. . . so finding "other things" to do with my copious free time is now my #1 challenge.
Aahh yes, the #1 challenge of so many retirees, adrift in a sea of endless free time without routines.
Well perhaps the Bogleheads Series on Retirement with Jill Steinberg would be interesting and helpful - see above post to shapeshifter ^^^^^^
Welcome, SunnySideUp, to the Retirement Roll Call and this Awesome Class of 2021
We wish you a long exciting sunny-side-up retirement with lots of new adventures and fun with family and friends.