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Today Is The Day I Hung Up The Keyboard - Retired

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February 27, 2026, 11:20 AM
Bytes
Today Is The Day I Hung Up The Keyboard - Retired
Today was my last day of working for a salary. The wife and I saved and should be fine financially, but dang, writing software was fun as hell. Making something from nothing was very rewarding for me. Hard deadlines were intense but fun. I feel very hollow inside right now but every retired person tells me this will pass. Probably going out for a nice dinner with the wife and kicking back will help for sure.

That is all
February 27, 2026, 11:22 AM
HRK
Congrats, enjoy the EDIS club
February 27, 2026, 11:23 AM
6guns
Retirement is great, but I retired from a job I didn't really love.

Congratulations and I'm sure you'll learn to love it.




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February 27, 2026, 11:23 AM
slyguy
Fantastic!

Congratulations on the next chapter of life.

Some day I hope to be ready and able to retire.

Best of luck to you and the Mrs.

Cheers~
February 27, 2026, 11:30 AM
WaterburyBob
Congratulations!

Yes, it will feel strange for a bit, but that will pass. Then you'll feel much more relaxed.

I also wrote software and had the same feelings of accomplishment about creating things.
Loved my job for 43 years; I retired in '23. I don't miss the stupid corporate nonsense.
Now, I can't imagine going into the office every day.

Enjoy the start of your next phase of life!



"If Gun Control worked, Chicago would look like Mayberry, not Thunderdome" - Cam Edwards
February 27, 2026, 11:35 AM
Pipe Smoker
Congrats!

I retired in 2011. My degree is BSEE, but virtually my entire career was designing digital logic. In my last job I used VHDL for that purpose. VHDL is a computer language similar to ADA.

But now retired, I still enjoy writing programs in SNOBOL4 for my own use. You DON’T have to stop writing software!



Serious about crackers.
February 27, 2026, 11:55 AM
400m
I never tire of reading retirement announcements. Good for you! Go tackle the things you never quite had time for.
February 27, 2026, 11:57 AM
ador
Congratulations!!! Enjoy your retirement.


_______________________
P228 - West German
February 27, 2026, 11:59 AM
sigmonkey
Time to create an app similar to "MyGunDB".

Just imagine out of 91753 people, the number of input and suggestions for features!

Deadlines and Pressure and Stress, Oh My! Big Grin

(to "coin" a phrase...)




"the meaning of life, is to give life meaning" Ani Yehudi אני יהודי Le'olam lo shuv לעולם לא עוד
February 27, 2026, 12:06 PM
PASig
You have to get a new routine/hobby/purpose after working all your life. Can’t just stop cold and think that’s going to feel normal.

My Dad retired and became a professional hunter and chicken farmer.

He also did a few years as a driver for a local retirement facility where he’d pick residents up in a small bus and take them to appointments and grocery store etc. Ended up quitting after he got so good at it that they kept loading him with more and more hours until it became a FT thing and he told me “This feels like a job again…I’m retired!” Big Grin


February 27, 2026, 12:32 PM
vthoky
Congratulations, Bytes!

I am simultaneously looking forward to my own retirement (possibly less than eight years now) and scared to death that my boss leader will retire very soon. Smile




Politicians seem to have forgotten that they work for us, not the other way around.
— — — — — — — — — — — —
God bless America.
February 27, 2026, 12:38 PM
Patrick-SP2022
Congratulations on your retirement!

I am a couple of years out from full retirement age, so I still have a way to go before hanging up the KB.

And I still have a few medium to large-ish projects I want to complete.
We'll see how it goes.




February 27, 2026, 12:39 PM
braillediver
Congratulations. Take a break and enjoy yourself. You earned it.


____________________________________________________

The butcher with the sharpest knife has the warmest heart.
February 27, 2026, 04:27 PM
captain127
Congratulations on retirement!
While I really enjoy my job and the people I work with, I am still enjoying seeing the light at the end of the tunnel! ( turning 60 this year and planning on 65 for retirement)
February 27, 2026, 05:29 PM
Jupiter
quote:
Originally posted by Bytes:
Today was my last day of working for a salary. The wife and I saved and should be fine financially, but dang, writing software was fun as hell. Making something from nothing was very rewarding for me. Hard deadlines were intense but fun. I feel very hollow inside right now but every retired person tells me this will pass. Probably going out for a nice dinner with the wife and kicking back will help for sure.

That is all


Bytes, I know exactly how you feel. The last 14 years of my career was spent as a Business Analyst/Developer. Most of my time was spent developing and supporting Windows/Web applications for the divisions. The last 6 months of 2020 was spent working with several folks from corporate IT and some contractors from Chennai to help them understand the code. Dec. 31, 2020 was my last day. It hit home the day I sent my laptop and source code to Corporate IT. I really miss some of the perks like the free Visual Studio Enterprise subscription. I took advantage of it and downloaded just about everything Microsoft had to offer. Big Grin


quote:
Originally posted by Bytes:
writing software was fun as hell. Making something from nothing


How many times during those years did you go to sleep trying to figure out a solution, only to wake up in the middle of the night with the answer and get up and go straight to your laptop? Smile


Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
-- George Orwell

February 27, 2026, 05:32 PM
Sclass
Congrats!! Under 3 years for me. They say the smoothest transition is when you retire to something instead of just from something. This resonates with me. I've watched two different family members waste away in front of the TV until their time was up. Not for me, I'm staying active. Walking dogs at a rescue for starters, I'll see what other volunteer opportunities present themselves when the time comes.
February 27, 2026, 05:40 PM
12GA
Congratulations! I retired at the end of last May and it's been everything I hoped for. Enjoy!


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February 27, 2026, 05:41 PM
Bytes
Thanks everyone for the thoughtful and kind replies. You folks rock. When I got home I started working on the "Traveling Sales Person" problem with a program. My wife came into the office and said "step away for a couple of days, let's relax". I married that lady for a reason and today it became very apparent. I'm stepping back and paying attention to some good advice Big Grin
February 27, 2026, 07:12 PM
scratchy
Congrats! I am hanging up my keyboard 9 weeks from today. Enjoy!


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February 27, 2026, 07:31 PM
specter77
Congratulations and Best wishes to you. It can take some getting used to.

Enjoy retirement, I do.

Lock N Load

Michael
USMC Ret