Love retirement. Property taxes frozen, free health services, get moved to the front of the line, no alarm clock. My fingers are tired.

The only 40hr work week for me is when they're negotiating the budget and OT is suspended. I average 55-60hrs every week. Extra $ is for stuff I want done before I retire at the end of the year.

I work 12 days on and two off, been doing that for over 20 years, I don't handle days off or vacations very well, I get bored real quick. I was going to retire 5 years ago and just couldn't make myself pull the trigger, I've pretty well convinced myself that I'll just keep going until I physically can't.

Completely retire? Or retire from law enforcement but still work other jobs? I only know one non-federal law enforcement - he's not retired and he's early 50s, so not a useful sample.



Makes sense. But that's a part of what I was saying with my work smarter comment. Get a single better paying job. There are other benefits besides pay; you cited life expectancy. Make no mistake, I understand that somebody has to do the job and I have utmost respect and appreciation for those that do. I couldn't do it, for reasons beyond selfishness, and thank you and all others that suck it up. I'm talking in general terms that I couldn't do it and appreciate those that do and even more so in the current political climate.



I feel I'm following you and please don't take any of what I said as challenging or rude. It's not supposed to be. I know law enforcement doesn't do it for the pay (well, I guess if you're the chief of a big city it's not so bad but we won't talk about big city chiefs because they're... uh... making generalizations, well, we'll just leave that alone). You must absolutely love what you do to continue to put yourself between a rock and hard place. Yet, separate from what it is that you do, just looking at love of a job there are too few people that love their jobs and that sucks for them. I'm fortunate that I do. Though my work is coming to end. It has been for several years since I can't pull the trigger on closing that chapter. Once I figure out what to do when I grow up I'll be able to move on. Hopefully you can too. But sooner rather than later.

Feb 3, 2024. After that day I don't have to fish the Tennessee River on weekends.

I've got 20 years left in me till I retire. It's a scary number when I look at it that way, but I need the back half of those years to make up for the next decade where I'm shifting some focus to my family while the kids are still at home

I'm retiring to the tropics. After having traveled the world for work and some pleasure I found the spot I want to sink in to. It won't be much of a retirement as far as work goes but it will be work that doesn't cause stress and anxiety.

I hope you figure out this one secret before it is too late.
We only get so much time on this earth. Be sure to slow down enough to enjoy life with the woman and child/children you made a commitment to. You do not win any prizes if you retire early, only to realize that it was all for not.

Just my

I retired last month no time to be bored. Working in corrections their was long hours and weekend work. In 20 years I was able to take a 2 week vacation twice.
I was always a P/T handyman doing electrical and plumbing on the side plus tractor work. Been building fence, making my daughter an outdoor kitchen, doing some dirt work been hog hunting during the week and have been camping. Heck even built my grandsons a zip line. I am working this weekend clearing out around a tank. Doing stuff I like doing.

[quote=Espy]I retired last month no time to be bored. Working in corrections their was long hours and weekend work. In 20 years I was able to take a 2 week vacation twice.
I was always a P/T handyman doing electrical and plumbing on the side plus tractor work. Been building fence, making my daughter an outdoor kitchen, doing some dirt work been hog hunting during the week and have been camping. Heck even built my grandsons a zip line. I am working this weekend clearing out around a tank. Doing stuff I like doing.

Congrats, you've made it

Working two or three jobs right now myself. Looking forward to retiring from one of them, and keep doing the other two. Making my own daily, weekly, and yearly schedule sounds pretty good. 16 hours awake, 8 hours asleep EVERY day sounds pretty good. I'm the same as BigPig, gotta be busy, gotta be productive. There's plenty of that away from the FD, and I'd rather just do those things at this point. My how your attitude changes after 20 years.

Yall guys are crazy, I've been thinking about retirement since I was 18. Hell every day I go to work and someone ask how I'm doing. I reply, hey you know one day closer to retirement.

I can't wait to do things I want to do. Mostly fish, hunt, build a car, or most of what sniper john is doing. Seem like sniper is living right.

Ever seen a tomb stone with?:

"I wish I had spent more time at work"

I dont understand the people who do not have things to do. I will have absolutely zero chance of a problem finding things to occupy my time in retirement... but I have a ways to go.

I dont put in a lot of hours at work. I show up at 7 have an hour + walk at lunch and im gone by 5 or a little before, I get done what i need to. I absolutely adore my children and love my wife, but my after hours productivity has plummeted since i got married and especially since i had kids. Cooking dinner, bathing kids etc. every day has significantly cut into my daily tinker time and it bothers me.

I know several that this fits

Never before in my life have I heard someone say they thrive on stress. I can imagine that is a very unhealthy thrive.

That is what I was thinking reading this tread. Although I work a full time job and have 2 side hustles with another one about to start up everything I do is in front of a computer screen and I'm very efficient at it. So I don't work long hours and I do not work weekends. Weekends are for my Son and Wife. I can't wait to retire, I'm pushing for around 50ish to retire. So still another 13ish years, but it can't come quick enough.

yeah but can't you do those things now?

This is my wife...... they are built differently for sure. I been telling her its time to get out of the fast lane, but she thrives off of being in the mix. I told her she's retiring at 60 no ifs, ands, or buts.

I'm one of the very few LEOs that I know of who doesn't work off duty gigs. I would much rather spend it with my family doing things I enjoy. I love my job but it isn't my life.

Very Well said Doc.

I'm in the same boat. 3 kids, all in School and After School activities.....changes your priorities quick. I fought it at first and was hard to adjust but eventually accepted it as the season of life I was in. Not gonna lie I am anxious for the day when its all over and I can spend that time at the coast, lake or in the mountains, with the kids in tow.

I just looked out side at my kids play fort and now I feel like I really need to up my game!!! Lol

That’s awesome

Nope, I work a lot now so I don't have to work later. I have to go as fast as I can. In order to coast in retirement.