/m1330, I totally agree! I retired over 4 years ago with almost 40 years which is a heck of a lot more years than anybody retiring early today, but it could have been considered a time when finances were failing. I even remember the "Powers that be" where talking about being unable to make payroll as far back as 2002.

4 more days!!! Let the countdown begin!!

/m1333 Last day on Halloween - Is it going to be Trick or Treat? I dare you to soap your supervisors car windows or egg his car.

Hey everyone! First of all, congrats to all of you who are taking the plunge and retiring. I am scheduled to leave on Oct.31st as some of you are. Can I ask a silly question? Are any of you feeling any anxiety over your decision to pull the plug? I never thought in a million years that I would feel this way, but the closer the day comes the more anxiety ridden I am. Of course I realize that this is one of life's major moments. I did not expect my emotions to be as heavy as they are right now. I guess I need some hand holding.LOL! Another question, if I may. Now that President Obama has signed the Fers sick leave credit bill yesterday, are those of us that are retiring on 10/31 will be getting the advantage of this newly signed bill? It is so close to the wire that I thought I would ask. Thanks everyone!

richdor: Congratulations on your upcoming retirement and congratulations to all who have been able to take advantage of the VER. I retired with the March 31st, 2009, group-age 56. I was like you-afraid that I would regret making that big decision. I laid awake the final two evenings, contemplating calling Greensboro and backing out. BUT.......I didn't and am so very glad that I did retire. From some of the feedback that I am receiving from people who didn't retire---The USPS is really getting worse. Now, with all the clerks/mailhandlers going, there is no back-up whatsoever. My friend had a family member lifeflighted to the hospital-but, couldn't go-due to not being able to find someone to work in her place, for 3 or 4 lousy hours. Believe me, friend, you will find a burden lifted off of your shoulders, when you wake up and realize that you no longer have to put up with the back stabbing, peer pressure and harassment. Good Luck to you--and Trust Me-You will not regret it.

Thank you, Future Retiree, for your empathy and kind words. I have already begun to see and experience the stress of having no bodies around to work the jobs that people have vacated on my pay location recently. I am a Nixie clerk and the mail is piling up to the rafters in the plant because I get pulled off constantly to fill in for those people who have retired or have been fired. I have over 25 years seniority and it means nothing to management anymore. And you are absolutely right about the backstabbing,peer pressure and ridiculous pettiness of some of the employees! I won't even address the harrassment issues. We all can attest to that. I am sure that once I get over the jitters, I will be fine and will probably have a good laugh over my hesitant mindset. Thanks again for your empowering and kind words. I feel much better now!

richdor: I just logged onto postalnews.com and there is an article referring to the FERS sick leave/retirement issue. I am assuming that since this law was passed on Oct. 28----and your retirement date is Oct. 31, that you would be eligible for 50% of your FERS unused sick leave to be credited to your retirement. It will remain 50% until Jan. 1, 2014---which FERS would get 100% at the time of retirement. I am glad to hear that it did finally pass. I left the PO with 1800 hrs. of sick leave. Postalnews.com is usually an up to date website-with good articles, and comments posted by readers. Hope this helps.

Richdor, like Future Retiree I too left on March 31, 2009, at 55 with 29 years. Yes, there has been a little anxiety on my part, but it is more than offset by the feeling of freedom I have every day. Like Future Retiree, it was a good decision for me, and I believe it will be a good decision for you, too. Mostly, I wonder how the hell I got all my honey-dos done AND worked 50 hours a week. It truely is a great feeling, richdor, get ready to enjoy it, and I hope you get your SL credit.

I left two years ago and it has been wonderful. The one thing that I do "miss" is the idioticy of what were my fellow employees. Notice that I do not use the word "workers". They were usually good for a laugh or two. I always made sure that I stayed far, far away of the one's that I knew were trouble. Which means that I only had contact with 3 or 4 people, the whole time I worked. You have to also understand that most of the people that I socialized with were not postal workers. As to what to do with your time. I finished all the half done projects and the repairs that were deemed "that it'll get us by for awhile". Life is calmer, the homestead is not on the verge of falling apart and now my spouse and I are doing the traveling we wanted to do. Good Luck and laugh out loud the first time that you don't have to ask permission to be sick, take time off or wait for someone to complain about how you offend, harassed or "dissed" them.

Orncollect: Your post really made my day and left me LOL! You are so on the money about the idiocy and foolishness of some folks there. My immediate supervisor was the most awful gossip hound on the planet and made no bones about who were the "favorites" on the pay location. Spiteful as well. I will surely not miss getting all the documentation letters for my various ills and the idea of having never to ask for certain days off etc. etc. is just heaven! My nervousness is subsiding but I realize now that my reaction is totally normal about withdrawing from something that has been a constant in my life for almost 26 years. Yes, I will miss the comraderie of my little group of friends but I know I will see them all again as we are a tight knit group. So, I am diving in head first. Retirement here I come!

richdor-I just want to say good luck to you. I too have had thoughts of whether I was doing the right thing. But, it's done and won't change now and I'm glad I stuck to my guns on this one. The days leading to 9-25-09, (the last day I could back out), were nerve-racking for me to say the least. I couldn't sleep well, eat right, nerves all torn up!! But after that day passed and I didn't fold under the pressure; everything has been great. The only thing I think about now is how to make the money go further since it's no where near what I was making. I have faith though that all will be okay. The Best of Luck to you with your NEW LIFE!!

Sasahmae: Your explanation of your last days prior to your retirement are EXACTLY what I have gone through recently. Middle of the night pacing the floors,not eating well and just over all angst about the whole business. Hubby is laughing at me now and counting down the minutes till 5:00pm! That is the last moment in time when I can pull my papers. I know I will adapt and adjust in time. Thank you so much for the well wishes and you are totally right.... I have a new life now and with the grace of God I will be around so I can keep up with you guys on this blog. Happy Trails and God Bless!

richdor, after 19 months into retirement, I've found that it is VERY easy to cut back on things and never hardly change your life style. For instance, eating out. When my wife and I were still working we ate out A LOT. Now about once a month, and have BETTER meals at home. Don't use NEARLY as much gas! Don't spend my time buying a bunch of crap I don't need. I like to travel,but that doesn't mean I have to take a around the world cruise. I enjoy doing stuff around the homestead, and just enjoying the day. Usually NO SCHEDULE. I'm LUVINIT! HAPPY RETIREMENT EVERYONE!

Congratulations to all new retirees and welcome to the ranks! Someone asked me what I did all day, I said whatever, whenever and if I wanted to do something. My hubby, too, made fun of my apprehension when I drew close to those final withdrawal minutes. Well, I sat down and made a list of all the "little" projects that needed to be done, and a list of places I would like to go. Since April, 32 out of 35 projects are completed-the way they should be done--not just done----and we have traveled to nearby places-that are right under our noses-but never had the time to enjoy. We, too, found that cutting back is very easily done--and look how much you will now save in gasoline. There is a close group of retirees and their spouses, who we try to meet each month for a breakfast, or dinner. We all were from the "old school" and did our jobs to the best of our ability. When you see what is coming up to fill in for us--USPS will be in alot of trouble, because no one has the work ethics like our generation did. God Bless You All and Enjoy Each and Every Day of Retirement.

Future Retiree--You said it so well!! God Bless!!

Another chapter closes, albeit a very lengthy one, and a new one begins. Best of everything in all your future endeavors. If anyone hears any updated news on the incentive bonus, please post. thanks, and take care all