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Today Is The Day I Hung Up The Keyboard - Retired
February 27, 2026, 11:20 AM
BytesToday 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
HRKCongrats, enjoy the EDIS club
February 27, 2026, 11:23 AM
6gunsRetirement 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
slyguyFantastic!
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
WaterburyBobCongratulations!
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 SmokerCongrats!
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
400mI 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
adorCongratulations!!! Enjoy your retirement.
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P228 - West German
February 27, 2026, 11:59 AM
sigmonkeyTime 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!

(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
PASigYou 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!”

February 27, 2026, 12:32 PM
vthokyCongratulations, 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.

Politicians seem to have forgotten that they work for us, not the other way around.
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God bless America. February 27, 2026, 12:38 PM
Patrick-SP2022Congratulations 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
braillediverCongratulations. Take a break and enjoy yourself. You earned it.
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The butcher with the sharpest knife has the warmest heart.
February 27, 2026, 04:27 PM
captain127Congratulations 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
Jupiterquote:
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.

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?

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
SclassCongrats!! 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
12GACongratulations! 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
BytesThanks 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

February 27, 2026, 07:12 PM
scratchyCongrats! I am hanging up my keyboard 9 weeks from today. Enjoy!
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February 27, 2026, 07:31 PM
specter77Congratulations and Best wishes to you. It can take some getting used to.
Enjoy retirement, I do.
Lock N Load
Michael
USMC Ret