Looks like I'm retired

[jbmaine]

As the title says, it looks like I'm retired, just not quite the way I had planned. I've been a tool & die maker/ machinist for the last 40 + years, and standing on cement floors all that time has taken a toll on me. 7 years ago I screwed up my back and ended up having surgery. It's better, but never came back 100%. 5 years ago my right foot started hurting. I was found to have tassel tunnel syndrome, and had surgery to correct it. A year ago it started hurting again and 7 months ago my doctor told me to get off my feet. I was sent home from work, and since then I've been home ( thank heavens I had disability insurance). I've had tests, shots, PT, you name it, and have seen three different doctors.

 As of today I have been diagnosed with Osteoarthritis, Tendinitis, bone spurs, sciatica in my leg, and to make it more fun, it looks like the scar tissue from my old surgery has some how interfered with my Tibia nerve, causing nerve damage in my foot.

 Last week I found out my right hip/leg is shifting out of alignment.

 With all of this going on I'll never work my chosen profession again, and as I'll be 64 soon, my wife and I have come to the conclusion that for all intents, I am retired.

 Looking everything over I think we'll be OK $$$ wise, and to continue fishing we'd need a more comfortable boat. Towards this end  we made the decision to sell our old boat, and some time ago we ordered a new one. We pick it up tomorrow. So from now on I'll mostly be a sitting down fisherman, but with everything considered, I'll be happy with that.

 All in all it could be a lot worse, and my wife and I feel blessed it's only as bad as it is.

                                               Jim

[TOXIC]

The most important thing is to keep your spirits up.  I would hope that your new lifestyle will help in the health problems.  I will call it quits a year from this June and be totally happy about it.  No major health problems and fishing any day I want.  

[A-Jay]

Very Sorry to hear about your health challenges. 

My wife & I both retired from the military a while back.  She was medically separated for some serious heath issues which sorted made my choice to retire a little easier.  All of that happened fast and although we were OK financially, mentally we had some adjusting to do.  It was a challenging time.  It's been a learning experience for sure.

So I can relate to where you & you're wife are at and have an idea of where you're headed. 

Your posts here lead me to believe that you guys will be OK.  

Hope the best for you both.

Finally the best thing about being retired is from that point on . . . .

"Jim's on Jim Time".      -    And that's REALLY Nice. 

A-Jay

 

[Scott F]

I had a very similar situation. After working for 36 years as a service technician, my back gave out on the first day of my vacation in July 2016. I was 61 at the time and I never went back to work. I had short term disability insurance but the company policy wouldn't approve my long term disability benefit but I was approved for Social Security disability. Retirement is great. Aside from the back issues, my only other problem is my face hurts from smiling so much! I've had issues where standing for long periods was painful so a seat in the front of the boat has been needed for a while. You've worked for a long time, it's time to enjoy yourself. Congratulations on being retired! 

[Fishing Rhino]

I'd suggest checking around for an exercise class.  In our town, The Council on Aging has exercise classes for women and men.  It's not body building or competitive.  It centers around increasing flexibility, strengthening the muscles that support joints, and a bit of cardio.  Not much cardio since it is easy enough to get out and walk, or swim, or whatever that gets the heart and lungs more efficient.

 

There will also be exercises to avoid.  We have a pretty good group and have one hour classes three times a week.  I do play hooky once in a while to go fishing.

[Gundog]

Although its not the scenario you wished for, I'm glad you are looking on the bright side. Enjoy your retirement. Spend time doing what you want to do. You worked long enough to earn it. And every once in a while drive by the place you use to work at and laugh. 

[senile1]

I'm glad your money situation is solid.  I hope that allows you to enjoy the time you now have to spend the way you want to.  My wife is retired and I will be retired fairly soon.  We did not have any disabilities play into any of our decisions so we should count our blessings. 

 

I am happy for you with the new boat purchase.  Post a pic when you have it in hand. 

[jbmaine]

Thanks for the kind thoughts everyone. It took me a while to decide to post this. I guess the reality finally hit a few days ago that I was just not going to get much better, ( my doctor kinda told me this a while ago ). I'm getting used to my limitations. As I said, it could me worse, I can stand for up to an hour before my foots done, sittings a little better, driving is OK for and hour or two, and although my foot swells up like a clown foot by the end of the day, the pain is mostly doable. 

 My long term disability case manager has put me in touch with a sister company of theirs who is helping me go through the process of applying for S.S. disability, so that's good.

 Moving forward--- My wife has been disabled for the last dozen years and can't work, so we are home together and loving every minute of it.

 Our old boat was a tiller drive " skiff". I was twisting around to run the motor and tossing out an anchor 20-30 times a day. We were so sore and tired by the end of the day, we were only going fishing once every couple of weeks.

  Our new boat is still some what small, but gives me a steering wheel drive, a trolling motor ( ulterra) , a casting deck, and very comfortable seats for us with room to stretch out.

  If all goes well we will be some of those "lucky" people that are posting here with fishing pic's and stories all done during the week . 

                                              Thanks again

                                                              Jim

[Dwight Hottle]

Enjoy your retirement. I'm glad to see you got an ulterra as that piece of equipment will make your boating life a lot more comfortable. 

[lo n slo]

welcome to the club jb, and btw......you have earned it! great advice here from all the guys as well.

 

now go out and enjoy those sunrise mornings on the water. catch as many fish as you can. try to eat something every now and then. take in those sunset evenings. then get up the next day and do it all over again.

[Redlinerobert]

Congratulations on retiring, sorry for all of the health issues. 

 

I'm not so sure I'll ever really be able to retire.  Work less for sure, but retiring 100% will be tough.