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Comment by Mike W. on February 21, 2008 at 8:38am

On Monday, I am being promoted to the rank of Captain with the primary responsibility of the fire prevention bureau. Today is my last day on shift and I am having more than a little trouble dealing with the transition. There is a bidding war over my bunk space. I have to clean it out sometime today. I guess being here in the station 40 hours a week will help in the transition to retirement. The bump in grade and salary will also help when I retire. I wonder how some firefighters just make a clean break into cilvilian life.

My sons are coming home in a couple of weeks so taht we can all go to a hockey ghame together. My youngest is a cop in Denver - go figure. Both of my sons went into the military and ended up relocating to other parts of the country. I miss their presence. Once a year we get together for a Blackhawks game. This year my 2 sons, 2 sons-in-law, and two grandsons are going on March 16th. I am looking forward to it.

It sucks getting older. Your kids grow up and move away and then everyone starts talking about retirement. Too many changes, too little preparation to deal with them.

Be safe my friend and I wish you all the best .

Comment by Captain Chaos on February 20, 2008 at 8:47pm

Mike, thanks for the comments. I never thought that I'd get to retirement. Not like I thought I'd die, but it never really sunk in that I would get there. Now it's just around the corner and I wonder what happened to the time.

One of the topics of conversation when I'm at work is "When are you going to retire?" I don't really know what to tell them. When I was new, I used to get so frustrated with the old guys not being able to make up their minds about retirement, now I know what they were going through. It's a tough decision.

I get a bit tired of the BS calls too. Luckily, we just opened a new Station in a nice new area and I've been there for about four months now. Many more "Taxpayers" in this area than my last. We don't run a lot of BS calls there. I've slept through the night for nine straight shifts, it's almost like heaven.

Luckily for my wife, our kids came in two groups. My youngest will be 18 in 2 1/2 years, so more than likely I'll be retired before she decides to leave on her own.

Good luck with your schedule change, I hope it works out for you. You stay safe too.

Comment by Mike W. on February 6, 2008 at 1:06pm

A firefighter on the promotional exam recently asked me, "When are you going to retire?" I replied that I am not ready to be a greeter at Walmart. I will probably still have to work to stay busy. I love my job - so don't plan on me retiring anytime in the near future.

Like you, I have never had a lost time injury or been on workman's comp. Last week, I went for a stress test as part of my annual physical. While walking on the treadmill I thought of a friend who experienced a cardiac episode while on the treadmill at the firehouse. He is now in Florida on disability. I don't want to go out that way. I have lost many friends over the years due to cancer and heart attacks.

I never want to become a liability and will retire before that time comes. I do know that I can't do the things I used to, so now I look to the younger guys to pick-up the slack What I am having diffculty with is all the bullshit calls that we get in the middle of the night. It never ends and is only getting worse.

In a couple of weeks, I am going to days and I know that I am going to miss my rack and the nights at the station. Dinners - good and bad, the practical jokes and the friendships. I will still be the first one at the station in the morning and make the first pot of coffee. But, then I will be going home at 1600 hours.

My wife loves the idea of me being home for all the holidays and on weekends and I guess she deserves it. I worry about her alone at night. It's funny but when the kids were at home, we had a dog and I never worried. Now, the kids are gone, along with the dog, and I worry.

I guess that is part of growing older. Every ten years the department takes individual photos of all the firefighters and frames them. On the station wall there are five framed pictures. I am in three of them and I am planning on being in a fourth. I'm not to sure about a fifth.

Keep the faith and stay safe

Comment by lutan1 on February 5, 2008 at 4:40pm

Although not a FF, when my father retired at 55 due to poor health (Arthritis in every joint except the jaw- and now he's had three (yes three!) elbow replacements), he hated every minute of it. I reckon Mum and Dad could have divorced 25 times over in the first year or two, but they got through it- it was just sheer frustration and boredom for someone who worked outdoors and was always on the go.

Now, he's just gone 75 and doesn't know how he found time to work! He loves it. Every day is filled with things to do- sure it's at a slower pace, but that's what retirement is for!

Ironicially, a retired friend sent me this earlier in the week, so I'll share it with you-

And They Ask--- Why I Like Retirement????

Question: How many days in a week?
Answer: 6 Saturdays, 1 Sunday

Question: When is a retiree's bedtime?
Answer: Three hours after he falls asleep on the couch.

Question: How many retirees to change a light bulb?
Answer: Only one, but it might take all day.

Question: What's the biggest gripe of retirees?
Answer: There is not enough time to get everything done.

Question: Why don't retirees mind being called Seniors?
Answer: The term comes with a 10% percent discount.

Question: Among retirees what is considered formal attire?
Answer: Tied shoes.

Question: Why do retirees count pennies?
Answer: They are the only ones who have the time.

Question: What is the common term for someone who enjoys work and refuses to retire?
Answer: NUTS!

Question: Why are retirees so slow to clean out the basement, attic or garage?
Answer: They know that as soon as they do, one of their adult kids will want to store stuff there.

Question: What do retirees call a long lunch?
Answer: Normal

Question: What is the best way to describe retirement?
Answer: The never ending Coffee Break.

Question: What's the biggest advantage of going back to school as a retiree?
Answer: If you cut classes, no one calls your parents.

Question: Why does a retiree often say he doesn't miss work, but misses the people he used to work with?
Answer: He is too polite to tell the whole truth.

Question: What do you do all week?
Answer: Monday to Friday-- Nothing, Saturday & Sunday I rest.

Share this one with all the retirees that you know.
I'm sure they can relate to some of them!

AND, If you have not yet retired, look what you have to look forward to.

Happiness is a voyage, not a destination, there is no better time to be happy than...NOW!

Good luck brother!