I have been supporting myself since age 15 when I began roughnecking for my Dad on oil rigs. Since then I have had full time employment or was agressively looking for a job .
Over 34 years ago I got out of the U.S. Navy having taken a job with a company 3 months before my enlistment expired. That company was bought by Johnson and Johnson. Some years later they sold us to a much bigger corporation. Due to the sudden death of my left ear last July and the profound loss of hearing in my right ear, I haven't been able work for safety reasons. Thus after 24 years, today is my last "working" day for this large corporation . I haven't had to look for a job in 34 years.
My wife has decided to retire too and since yesterday was the last day of the semester, she retired yesterday. I spent most of the day attending the celebrations for her at the elementary school where she has worked with special education children for 25 years. She became a CNA because some of her students had to be fed by a stomach tube or had other medical needs. In her years there she had to attend funerals for some of her students as they can often not live to be adults. They held a surprise luncheon for Sharon and 30 or so teachers and aids attended up including many who were retired before her.
The last 2 weeks I have spent cleaning out my office of used parts, and shipping them to recycle. My test equipment and special tools were either reassigned to my local coworker or returned to the test equipment pool.
Later this year I hope to have a cochlear implant implanted into my left inner ear.
It's gonna seem strange........
More shop time! Woohoo!