It has been a long road for us but we are finally here. We are semi-officially retired! Tomorrow marks the final day of duty for my bride in the United States Navy. Officially her ID card expires on 30 November, but she starts leave tomorrow at 1600. She is 40yrs old and has served for 21yrs. I am 48 and served for 20, retired in 2008.

We are retired! Done! Never working again is the plan. We move out of Virginia Beach to our ranch in Arizona on 24 November. Sold our house here in the summer of 2016 in 1 day. Been living in our 42ft 5th wheel RV since. Paid off the credit card debt almost 1.5 years ago. Paid off the 70 acre ranch in AZ. 6mos ago. Finalized the solar and water system 3 weeks ago. Gonna spend 6-12 months getting the ranch set up and then spend time traveling to visit this great country that we have seen less of than the rest of the world. Plan to haul the grand kids with us in the summers as long as they will put up with it and have fun.

5 years ago we started a plan. We can never get back the time away from each other, kids, family and friends. We can never recover the Christmases, birthdays, anniversaries, other occasions we missed, or the seperated time. What we can do is do is, whatever we want for the rest of our lives as young as possible. And we are. We have struggled. We have lived auster by choice for the last 2.5yrs, but not without quality. And now that quality will be increased in ways that I can't just yet imagine.

But here we are. I am so giddy with excitement. It feels like it'll be Christmas every day from here to then. If you know how "channel fever" feels on your way back from deployment, then you know how I feel right now. It's there, I can taste it. That freedom that is coming. Only this time it will last forever.

Here is to 41 years of combined service and the rest of my life!

Great job! Congratulations, and enjoy!

Congratulations and enjoy. Please post some photos of paradise when you get there.

Congratulations and Thank You for your service (both of you). Enjoy your retirement. You both deserve it.

Thanks to both of you for your service! Ya dun ur time. It is time to relax, celebrate, and enjoy life. Seems like you got it knocked!

Have a great time.

Enjoy your retirement.

Congrats!!!!

Exellent! I raise a glass to both your accomplishments.

And I wish you the best on your future endeavors.

Congrats to the both of you, thank you for your service.

Enjoy the fruits of your/her labor!

Congrats to both of you. It sounds like a hell of a retirement you have planned.

Congrats!

Congratulations, Shipmates! Best of luck to you both!

Congrats!

And that is the way to do it. Have everything paid off when you punch out.

I did that as well but went later than you two as I did a civilian civil service stint on top of my military one and went out at 59.5.

Where in AZ?

Congrats to both of you! You should be proud. I don’t even know you and I am proud of you.

Outstanding! Congratulations and thank you to the both of you.

Congrats on your retirement(s) and Proper Prior Planning!

Congratulations, cheers.

Congratulations!!