How many retired reefers do we have?

Paul B · May 29, 2021

I retired about 14 years ago and am still celebrating.

That was the absolute best day of my life except when my Daughter was born.

I took the Long Island Railroad to NYC for 45 years. Every time I got on the train, everyone would yell out "HOW MANY DAYS" becuase I counted down the days for about 20 years.

I was a construction electrician in Manhattan and my last week I called my Union and asked them when "exactly" can I stop working? What day and what time?

At exactly 2:00 on Tuesday I was on a ladder. I threw up my hands, dropped my tools and walked out with my hands up.

I told the apprentice, the tools were his. I never looked back and it has been fabulous. Like whats not to like? Every morning I take a walk on the beach like 6:00am, Maybe go to my boat. party all the time with old friends and do anything I want any time I want.

I don't get that people are afraid to retire. If you have a plan of course. There are never enough hours in the day and I wish I didn't have to sleep

atoll · May 29, 2021

@Paul B your not retired your kidding yourself. Oh, you might not be working for money anymore, well not so often anyway but you never stop working, on your tank, in your workshop making things, doing art the list is endless.
It's a bank holiday weekend here, I am making a gate, hanging it and fitting 2 posts. However, typical bank holiday weekend it's now raining after fitting the posts, gate to make and fit next. The difference is I don't have to continue working in the rain and my start and finishing times are at my discretion even if I don't get paid for it.

Paul B · May 29, 2021

atoll said:
in your workshop making things, doing art the list is endless.

What things?

atoll · May 29, 2021

I have no idea @Paul B
I have a daughter and daughter in law that do all the DIY in their houses. My daughter is so good she completely refurbished a caravan making lots of things for it. Now and again she may ask my advice. She has over 3000 followers on her Instagram page and between working part time looking after the family she makes and sell things. Shes a chip off the old block.

ScottB · May 29, 2021

I retired after 25 years at a financial technology company. Awesome company and people. That was 2014.

It took a little while to "rebuild" a social schedule, but by now I am very good at this retirement thing. I now get to "oversee" about a dozen different reef systems through my LFS as well as the occasional new build.

Working on a new build now that is fun -- and the first one I've done a build thread for.

Peace River · May 29, 2021

When I first read the thread title I wondered why anyone would retire from reefing.

I’m glad for those who have been able to retire from their jobs and do reefing full time!!!

Don Lidtke · May 29, 2021

2014 was my “retirement” but not by my choice. I was working as a civilian contractor for the Navy, Linux sysadmin, and the government guy that the group reported to had a personal issue with me. Living in Silicon Valley, where there was no age discrimination, (wink, wink) I went to college for a couple of years thinking about a career change until we moved to Utah.

As we were planning our move, my Lovely Wife reminded me about the fish only saltwater tank that I had run many years ago so I started researching reef tanks and here we are.

RobB'z Reef · May 29, 2021

There's a new badge opportunity here for R2R... Association of Retired Reefers (ARR)?

fish farmer · May 29, 2021

I keep on saying to my coworkers 5 more years...but realistically will probably be longer.

dennis romano · May 29, 2021

Retired three years ago from a stressful and physically demanding job. I was laying in hospital bed with a severe full body infection , two months after a heart attack, and said that I had enough of work. Got out of the hospital on Wednesday, walked into the VP's office on Monday and retired. Now, I do handyman work for whoever I want, whenever I want and go fishing any time I want.

Lavey29 · May 29, 2021

I recently retired after 33 years in LE and am new to the reefing hobby and love it so far.

Bj’s Reef · May 29, 2021

Paul B said:
I retired about 14 years ago and am still celebrating.

That was the absolute best day of my life except when my Daughter was born.

I took the Long Island Railroad to NYC for 45 years. Every time I got on the train, everyone would yell out "HOW MANY DAYS" becuase I counted down the days for about 20 years.

I was a construction electrician in Manhattan and my last week I called my Union and asked them when "exactly" can I stop working? What day and what time?

At exactly 2:00 on Tuesday I was on a ladder. I threw up my hands, dropped my tools and walked out with my hands up.

I told the apprentice, the tools were his. I never looked back and it has been fabulous. Like whats not to like? Every morning I take a walk on the beach like 6:00am, Maybe go to my boat. party all the time with old friends and do anything I want any time I want.

I don't get that people are afraid to retire. If you have a plan of course. There are never enough hours in the day and I wish I didn't have to sleep

I plan to blow up my phone on video when it’s my turn to retire.

jrill · May 29, 2021

Retired in 2008 after 34 years in law enforcement.

Paul B · May 30, 2021

atoll said:
She has over 3000 followers on her Instagram page

I don't even know what that is. And No, I am not kidding

atoll · May 30, 2021

Paul B said:
I don't even know what that is. And No, I am not kidding

Well you know how Jesus, Buddah Mohammed and Joe Bidden have followers, will it's a bit like that only they do it via the tinternet.

Ardeus · May 30, 2021

When I was a kid and people asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up, I said that I wanted to be retired.

I chased my childhood dream for many years and I finally retired 7 years ago when I was in my early 40's.

Paul B · May 30, 2021

atoll said:
Well you know how Jesus, Buddah Mohammed and Joe Bidden have followers, will it's a bit like that only they do it via the tinternet.

Oh, OK. I will stay away from it.

To me if you live long enough to retire, You won.
If you croak before you retire, you lost.

That was always my philosophy and I am sticking to it.

Working was a means to an end which is why they call it "work" and not "Play"

atoll · May 30, 2021

Paul B said:
Working was a means to an end which is why they call it "work" and not "Play"

Quite right Paul, we were providers for our families. I had 5 young children inc 2 sets of twins and a wife to provide for. We didn't have a lot of money but my children never went without. Not sure if you use the same term as we do in the UK but at weekends etc I would do foreigners, you know jobs on the side besides your fulltime job.