As of 7/6 it’s official…..after 34 years as a medic, 28 1/2 years fire service with rank of Captain as shift commander and 15 years of regional SWAT team medic, I have made it out alive! Pension checks start next month.
Bittersweet to do it but it’s time. Im not getting any younger especially in this job environment….but at age 57 it’s all good. One of my guys on shift bought a gun store last year and now, he, is my part time boss a couple days a week while I figure out what’s next.
I can feel the stress lessen slowly away….but honestly, am scared at the same time and feel a loss of identity to a degree….I guess there is a natural adjustment period?
My SWAT guys gave me a plaque and got me drunk…..I’ll really miss working with them!!

Glad you made it out. Enjoy the rest of your life.

Congratulations. Best wishes on future endeavors.

Congratulations and best wishes for a long, happy, and healthy retirement!

Welcome to the front porch! Pull up a rocking chair and enjoy watching the grass grow.

Congratulations!

Congratulations! You are going to love it.

Happy Saturday.

Congrats! Enjoy retirement Capt!

thank you for your service Sir. Don't forget to leave your "out of office forever" message.

Enjoy your well deserved 24x7 leisure time!

Congrats…you’ll love it and yes there is an adjustment period for sure.

Congratulations on the well earned retirement!

Congratulations on your retirement, and on a life lived in service to others. You will soon wonder how you ever found time to go to work.

quote:

Originally posted by cgode:

I can feel the stress lessen slowly away….but honestly, am scared at the same time and feel a loss of identity to a degree….I guess there is a natural adjustment period?

Congratulations!

Yes there is an adjustment period. The loss of identity is common. But you have a new identity, which is retired Medic, fire Captain, etc. For me, one of the initial feelings was of not being on the inside anymore. While I still knew a lot of people I'd worked with, I wasn't allowed into the inner sanctum any more. Another hurdle is watching others continue to advance. There can be a lot of "I could do that" when you see someone else accomplishing in your old career.

But retirement is fantastic! Just relax and enjoy the time.

Congratulations and best wishes on your next big adventure.

You can find a new identity based on you.

Congratulations on retiring. It will be a change, but now your time belongs to you. Learn to relax and enjoy.

Nothing to be scared of . You'll get used to it after the first week . Enjoy .

And Judge Judy or Matlock is always on somewhere!
Congrats on starting the rest of your life.

Congratulations! Enjoy your days of freedom and deciding what YOU want to do!