Things were just going to smooth……….

Just when you think that things are rolling right along someone up above throws a curve at you! I was planning on retiring at the start of 2020 but due to unforeseen health issue with my significant other I am retiring at the end of this month. Right not things are moving like a whorl wind plans we were counting on are up in dust but it seems the new direction we are headed are slowly coming together. Our planned move to England is off now as my retirement medical benefits would stop if we moved out of country.....we very much need those benefits now. Julie hates the city life and really I don't blame her as it's very crazy here in downtown Toronto. We are looking at the East coast of Canada where the pace is slower and at the end of July once I am done at work a road trip is in order to the East coast of Canada. My medical benefits will be intact, it's a slower life and with my pension no financial issue will be encountered with neither of us working all will be fine. These next few months are going to be very busy with few blog posts and radio time. I will keep up with blog reading and commenting and maybe a post here and there.

Mike Weir, VE9KK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Brunswick, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].

12 Responses to “Things were just going to smooth……….”

  • Dave, WD8CIV / VA3CIV:

    Mike, I’m very sorry to hear about the sudden change of plans. If it’s any comfort, my fiancee had a similar situation starting a couple of years ago. Her job was causing her a lot of stress to the detriment of her health, then she fell and got a serious concussion. Her doctor told her to quit work and see a specialist or it would just get worse.

    She sold her home in Brampton last summer and moved to eastern Ontario, along the St, Lawrence River. The slower pace has done wonders for her health, although she has a long way to go yet. I’ve tried to convince her to move here to the States with me but we both can see that the health benefits in Canada are much better.

    I hope both of you find an environment that gives you peace, healing, and rockin’ DX. (grin)

  • Mike VE3WDM:

    Good afternoon Dave, with regards to retirement I’m only early by 7 month so I take a little bit of a hit on my work pension BUT that his is well worth a beneficial lifestyle. We are keep our heads up and hoping for the best. I am sure you will ask me in another 7 months how things are and I am sure it will be a positive report.
    Thanks for stopping by Dave.
    73,
    Mike
    VE3WDM
    P.S. Lots of two letter calls available down what way…….already online checking out the best call for CW!

  • Dean KC9REN:

    Mike, I know what it’s like to retire before you want to. I was scared at first but I have a pension and Social Security so I found out I did have enough money coming in to support myself and wife. She retired 2 years after I did and now she gets Social Security too so it’s going pretty good right now. Hang in there and I hope the health issues come out OK for you guys. BTW I’ve been retired 8 years now.

  • Mike VE3WDM:

    Good evening Dean and very nice to hear from you, well you hit the nail on the head I am very nervous about the whole thing. My mind is very preoccupied for example I was food shopping today and dinner this evening is nachos and cheese with a bunch of other fixings…..got all the fixings and not the nacho chips!! It was Caesar salad for lunch shopped for all the fixings once again then got home and no dressing was purchased! Oh well I am sure that 9 or so months from now I will look back with a smile on my face. Thanks for sharing your experience Dean. As for the health issues it is in gods hands and no sense working about it that is not going to change anything.
    73,
    Mike
    VE3WDM

  • Rick KE6LL:

    Hi Mike, I just wanted you to know that I’m in the same boat. I wasn’t planning on retiring until next October, but got laid off after 37 years . It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as my 97 year old father needed more care than he could do by himself. So I have a new job, elder care! I’m pretty good at it now, considering I was laid off 2 years ago, I should be! One thing I did before my Dad came home was to take my wife of 29 years to Hawaii for our long delayed honeymoon! I hope all turns out well for you, and wish you all the best. I’m dealing with some health issues myself, and know that whatever happens, I’ll be okay.

    73,
    Rick
    KE6LL

  • Larry VE7VJ:

    Mike
    Sorry to hear of the health issues but I have learned that life is good a tossing curve balls your way.
    I retired about 3 years back and moved from NWT to Vancouver island. Stressful but happy I did it. We have also been hit with some unexpected health problems but fortunately they waited until at least some of the dust settled. I think the slower paced life will do wonders. I could not imagine living a city of any size.
    One thing a lot of people seem to forget about retiring is that some of your expenses do drop. For instance, you will no longer have all the deductions coming off. For me this was pension, CPP, union dues, EI and RRSP payments. It does add up.
    Hope it all works out. Maybe you will luck out like I did. Gave up my VE8 and on a whim decided to see if any 2 letter VE7 calls were available. There it was, VE7VJ 🙂

  • Walt N5EQY:

    Hey Mike, thats the way it goes, first yur money, then your clothes. Not to worry, we both are retired here with a military pension 25 yrs and social security we manage to stay above the drowning point, lol. Things do change as the years pile up and all else slips down. We have lived all over the planet and initially retired to North Carolina until our folks all passed. Now we live close to our kids in Texas and life is good. Things have a way of working even when we dont think its possible. Now if we only had good DX too. 73 to U. N5EQY

  • Mike VE3WDM:

    Good evening Rick and thanks for taking the time to comment, all I can say is WOW after 37 years they say “thanks for coming out” it just goes to show you that we all are just a number! Thanks god my health is good and I hope it will contuse to be. It was GREAT that you were able to be there fo your dad and I bet that was time you will remember forever. As for us I hope that months down the road we will look back and say this was the best move for us.
    Have a great week Rick
    73,
    Mike
    VE3WDM

  • Mike VE3WDM:

    Good evening Larry and thanks very much for taking the time to leave a comment, I sure will not miss the big city mind you it’s a great view from the condo but the traffic and noise I sure will not miss. I have heard over and over again about how the slower pace will make a huge difference. I have never had a slow pace but am very much looking forward to it. How it feels I am not sure since I have never had it…..BUT the way it sounds it will do Julie and and I nothing but good. I to when I retire will stop union dues and all the rest of the expenses you mentioned. There will be far less going out to eat which is a huge expense. In some cases its cost is worth a week of groceries. With regards to the call I have already gone online and checked out a 2 letter call that works with CW.
    Have a great week Larry
    73,
    Mike
    VE3WDM

  • Mike VE3WDM:

    Good evening Walt, it’s funny how I hear the slower pace is going to make a huge difference and I’m excellent with that. When you are in the rat race like we are it’s hard to imagine how a slower pace will help……BUT I have to listen to the many who have said yes it does make a difference and take it that yes they have been in both places and it does make i a difference. Yes Walt it’s true good things do come of things I am just a person who worries and I can hear my mom now……” 99% percent of what you worry about never come to light” Over my many years it has been so true but when your in the bunker it’s hard not to worry. My prayers are that in about 5 months from now my post will tell a much better story and to hones I am sure it will!
    Walt have a great week
    73
    Mike
    VE3WDM

  • Gareth - M5KVK:

    Hi Mike
    The best laid plans of mice and men.. Good luck with your new direction. I hope it all works out well for you both.

    73
    Gareth

  • Mike VE3WDM:

    Good evening Gareth, it’s so true you have plans and that does not mean they are cast in stone…..there are outside influences that come our way. I am sure 6 months from now when the water has settled I will have seen I worried about a lot of things that never came to be…….
    73,
    Mike
    VE3WDM

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