January 7, 2005

It has been a week since I retired and I have to say that I’m pleased with my new routine. It has been a little difficult slowing down. I still catch myself pushing to get things done and have to remind myself that I’ll be home tomorrow and can pick things up then. I’m as busy as I ever was, however I’m having a lot more fun with the freedom that you have in retirement. I still hesitate to call this retirement! My routine is to get up at about 7:30 am, make coffee, eat a light breakfast and then commute about 20 feet to my home office. I turn on my computers and go to work making phone calls and visiting the bank and post office later in the morning. I will now be able to take off most weekends which I haven’t been able to do for years now. I intend to reintroduce myself to one of my hobbies this weekend and also hang some of my FAA retirement plaques and pictures in my new office. NO computers this weekend except for pleasure. 

It’s great not being tied down to a 9 to 5 routine. Each morning I go for a two mile walk, about 35 minutes, regardless of what else I have planned. If the weather is good I walk around our plan, if it’s ugly out I’ll stop at the local mall, about 7 minutes away, on my way to meetings or other activities.  I do enjoy walking early at the Mall and I plan to do this at least once a week. After walking at the mall I buy a Starbucks coffee and shop for bargains or stop over at half price books to browse the new arrivals. I’m out of the office each day for several hours or more so my routine is pretty diverse. 

The best thing is that if my wife and I want to go on a short trip, take off for the day or just take an extended break I can do it and reschedule whatever was pending. Another benefit of working from home is that my wardrobe has improved. In the mornings I wear one of my retirement leisure suites – either a pair of gray or blue plaid flannel 100% cotton PJs – until I have to leave the office.  

I thought that I would miss my old routine, at least a little bit, but honestly I have so much to do that I stay focuses on other things. I try to do something at home daily that I didn’t have time to do while working full time. This week I cleaned up my garage work bench, packed away the Christmas tree and ornaments and then organized the back room storage. I also picked up golfing supplies and looked for a golfing instruction book since I’ve only been able to go out golfing once or twice in the past 5 years. 

January 13, 2005 

It has been two week since I retired and the further along I go in this journey the more I’m enjoying it. It took awhile, several days after leaving, for the reality to set it – this was going to be my new routine for the foreseeable future. I’m adjusting well and I haven’t had any panic attacks about leaving too early. It is almost like I haven’t missed a beat and there hasn’t been one day where I was bored and had little to do. 

I called my auto insurance company last week to advise them that I retired and no longer commute. They reduced my auto insurance premiums about 10%. Not a bad deal. I also started to do more around the house to help out. I get up and do the morning dishes before I start working in my home office. I also do more of the grocery shopping, which I enjoy, and I am cooking a meal or two each week. My wife has done 100% of the household duties for the last 35 years and deserves a break. This week I received my first issue of Cuisine at home magazine and will attempt to cook stuffed pork chops this week and this weekend I’m cooking a roast in the slow cooker. Two meals a week to start with and the Cuisine at home magazine has been helpful. It takes you step-by-step through each recipe with lots of pictures and helpful hint – which I need.  Carol, one of my associates at the FAA introduced me to the magazine before I left.  

I’m still putting in a full days work but as you can see from the above, I’m doing other interesting things. For example, last week I purchased at Half Price Books Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf. I’m working on my golf grip, addressing the ball, etc., I’m walking 2 miles each day, and I found a great way to get back in shape strength wise. Last week I purchased Pilates work out bands and additional weights for my hand bar bells. I didn’t know what a Pilate was until last week. It’s simply stretch bands that you can do numerous stretching and strength exercises with and they are easy to use and take up very little storage space. I’m working out three times a week in 30 minute sessions. I was considering buying a BowFlex but they are just too big and not what I really need. I just want to build my strength and stamina and don’t need more than Pilates and hand weights to do that. 

With all that said I suppose what is really enjoyable is the ability to forget about doing anything and just watch a movie or work on my golf swing. I went upstairs yesterday at 1:30 in the afternoon to get a cup of tea. An old movie just came on and I sat down and watched the whole thing – in the middle of the day!  I haven’t done that in YEARS. I’m sleeping better, more relaxed and oh well, I don’t what to rub it in so suffice to say I’m having too much fun.   

January 21, 2005

I received my last government check this week and discovered that once you retire you can’t access Employee Express. I tried to log into Employee Express to print out my pay slip but couldn’t get into the system. I called their help line and discovered that retirees are automatically removed from the list when their retirement personnel action is processed. The good news is that at least I know that my SF-50 was processed. I haven’t heard anything from OPM yet but it’s early yet, only three weeks into retirement. OPM offers similar online services for retirees. However, you need your retirement claim number to log on to their system. 

My office sent me a copy of my pay stub and I suggest that you keep this copy with your retirement records. For one thing it shows exactly how much you contributed to the Thrift Savings Plan. You can calculate your total gains by dividing your current TSP account balance by what you contributed, the amount on your last pay stub. Since you can’t contribute any additional funds to your account your total contribution listed on your last pay stub is your investment basis. My current TSP balance is over two times my basis so I’ve had over a 100% gain in my TSP investment, not bad at all! 

I noticed an error on my last pay. I checked with personnel before leaving and was advised that if I retired on the 31^st of December the 31^st would be my observed holiday. Instead of giving me the holiday they charged me annual leave for my last day. I have to call our personnel office to get this corrected.   

Another reason to keep a copy of your statement is that you will have an official document that shows the deposits you made during your career. Many federal employees served on active military duty and made deposits for their military time. If you made the deposit your annuity won’t be reduced if you are eligible for and collect social security at age 62. Your pay stub shows the amount of the deposits you paid during your career.

I’m getting along well and very comfortable with my decision to leave at age 55. I’m still working a full week in my business but now I have time to pursue other things. I cooked four meals since retiring and they all came out ok. They came out fair to very good. I even made stuffed pork chops but they didn’t come out as well as I would have liked. My daughter suggested that I might consider confining my activities to writing books after eating my pork chops. My wife is happy with the effort overall and I think she appreciates the break.

January 28, 2005

Last Friday Nick and I stopped over at work after meeting for an early breakfast. It was strange going into the office and having to go through a full security inspection and pick up visitor=s badges. We talked to a good number of our former associates and friends, answered a number of questions, and we looked over the projects that were completed or started since we left. We spent about 45 minutes onsite and enjoyed the visit. 

Our agency administrative officer called this week to let me know that my pay problem will be resolved shortly. They inadvertently charged me 9 hours annual leave instead of coding the 31^st of December as an observed holiday. I=m still waiting to hear from OPM. Hopefully, I'll hear from them soon and I should receive my lump sum leave payment by mid February at the latest.

During my morning walk at the local mall I ran into an old neighbor and federal employee that I haven=t seen for 15 or 20 years. We sat down at Starbucks to reminisce about old times. It was very relaxing just talking with an old friend and not having to be anywhere special or have to run back to work.

This week I attempted to make a spinach quiche. I followed the low fat recipe to the tee and when I took it out of the oven it looked GREAT. Looks are sometimes deceiving S it tasted like a sweet cream pie. The recipe called for a 12 ounce can of condensed low fat milk. I inadvertently picked up a can of sweetened low fat milk and what a taste sensation. I may patent this dish! My wife came to the rescue and had a chicken dinner prepared in less than an hour. Well, I made the quiche again two days later with the unsweetened milk and it actually came out excellent. I didn't realize they made different varieties of canned milk! Go figure.

I've been helping one of my neighbors from our old neighborhood configure a windows 98 computer so that he can email his friends. He is 86 and has more interests than most half his age. I got the system up and running and set him up with a free Netzero account. The only problem is that he is running with just 33 Meg of RAM and his modem is only 9600 baud. I=m looking for a faster modem to speed up his system. Even though it=s slow he enjoys emailing his friends. I could never have taken the time before retiring to help him to this extent plus I promised to stop over occasionally to train him on basic computer fundamentals.

I have run into one small problem. I am out of the home several hours most days for business or pleasure. However, while at home I put on slippers and I=m active and up and about in my office and up and down the stairs many times during the day. I have flat feet. I discovered that I have to wear a comfortable Nike tennis shoe at home or my feet and legs hurt and tire quickly. A small price to pay for the freedom I=ve gained.   

February 4 2005

CAUTION
Mall Walking May Be Hazardous to Your Health

Lots to discuss this week including good news from OPM but I’ll start with my exercise program. I was walking daily until January 26^th when I realized I have foot problems. For years I wore orthopedic insoles with fiberglass arch supports at work and my feet were fine. When I was younger I had flat feet and fallen arches. I only used the supports in my work shoes the last few years and I haven’t worn those shoes since leaving government service. Well, to make a long story short I was walking too fast, too long and without insoles and my arches collapsed. I went from walking 2 to 3 days a week before retiring to 7 days a week and until last week I was actually walking 2 miles daily in just under 30 minutes. Last weekend I could hardly walk because my feet and legs were so sore. I now have insoles in all of my shoes and I started walking again today at a much slower rate until my feet get back in shape. 

The good news is that on February 2^nd Nick and I received our first annuity payment and it was about 70% of what I anticipated my full annuity would be. OPM sends out an estimated annuity payment until they review and certify your retirement paperwork. Nick retired the same day that I did and he also received his lump sum payment for his annual leave. Mine hasn’t arrived yet. On Wednesday of this week I received a letter from the FAA Human Resource office advising me that my paperwork was sent to OPM on 1/21/05 along with my register number and new pay office number. I was surprised that just one month after leaving I had my first payment automatically deposited into my checking account. I have to call and thank our personnel specialist for getting this out timely. I visited OPM’s retirement web site and requested a PIN number so that I can log onto their equivalent of Employee Express. If you received your CSRS or FERS retirement claim number visit http://www.servicesonline.opm.gov/mainris.asp to sign up for this service.  

Working from home is my new routine and I’m enjoying the freedom that it offers. I now have the time for the little things, updating our web sites and computer systems, organizing the office, and working on new or more profitable ventures. I also updated most of my software and started a new book update this month. In January I released the all new 9^th edition of “The Book of U.S. Government Jobs.”   

My wife and I haven’t done anything much different from what we would have done before I retired. I do cook at least once a week and we do go out to dinner more, and I frequently break to run out for one thing or the other. We are planning several short trips this spring and will venture out more as the weather improves.   

February 14, 2005 

I’m sitting in my family room recliner writing this update on my laptop computer. Typical of a retiree I suppose. Lots of news since my last entry. The Thrift Plan sent me a summary of my account along with a pamphlet on withdrawal options. I received a pay stub for my lump sum payment only 6 weeks from the day I left, not bad. So far this month I received my first estimated annuity on the 2^nd and 448 hours of pay for my annual leave today. There is still one small pay problem left to resolve. I and many others who retired on December 31^st were charged 9 hours annual leave instead of holiday (observed) pay. Uncle Sam still owes me 9 hours of annual leave buy back. Our AO is working on the issue and assured me that it was an error and would be corrected soon.

I talked with a friend who retired last July and he received his first full annuity in December. He said that his estimate was 70% of his actual annuity and when he received his December check he was surprised to see that his annuity was slightly higher than the estimates he received before he left. He also said that shortly after receiving his first estimate he received a detailed package from OPM. I’m waiting for it to arrive.

I have a short follow-up to my walking problem. Well, it has been a couple weeks and my feet and legs are a little better. I did too much too soon as I said before. Tomorrow I’m seeing a podiatrist. I may need arch supports to be as active as I want to be. I really enjoy walking and was disappointed that I had to stop my daily walks until the tendons in my feet heal. 

February 22, 2004 

Last week I received a letter from OPM explaining the interim deductions and payment process. I also received an annuity statement form R138-23 that looks similar to the pay stub I received while working. There was a large discrepancy between the letter and statement’s federal tax deduction. I used OPM’s federal tax on-line estimator before retiring and my estimated federal tax was about $150 more than the statement indicated however the letter almost doubled the federal tax deduction and my interim check was reduced by the larger amount. A contact phone number was provided and I called to clarify the issue early today.

The retirement coordinated explained that OPM takes double the tax due out of the first estimated payment. They offered to refund what I overpaid in the next estimated allotment however I declined the offer. I generally owe taxes each year anyway. The letter goes on to say that I will soon receive a W-4P-A form that I can use to adjust my federal tax withholding if desired.

It can be difficult reaching OPM by phone especially on the first day of the week. However, just keep redialing the toll free number and you can generally get through. Expect to be on hold for 5 to 15 minutes or more. Interestingly, the background music playing while I was on hold this morning was the big band sounds from the 1940s. I actually like the big bands even though that was a little before my time.

The retirement coordinator further explained that my health care and life insurance payments will be deducted and paid to the providers when they finish processing my application. She was very helpful. I also discovered that you can have two additional allotments sent each month to banks or credit union accounts. I am fairly impressed with OPM’s retirement services.

It has now been over 7 weeks since I retired. My new found freedom is cluttered with many things I’ve often wanted to do but never had the time. I spent much of the past week, between running my business and taking care of necessities, to completing our taxes, reviewing my Thrift Plan, and updating our other accounts. I’m also trying to get my feet back in shape so I can start walking again. I purchased new arch support inserts for my shoes and have tried to take it slow for a while. Something I never would have done before retirement. All in all retirement is feeling very natural and I’m really sleeping better and now take the time to read the paper each afternoon and at night I read several chapters of a good novel before turning in for the night.    

Another month has gone by and I’ve been retired almost 9 weeks now. I went online to check my bank account statement and discovered that another annuity deposit was made on March 1^st, just like clock work. The annuity check increased because they took out the correct amount of federal taxes this time. In my last entry I noted that OPM takes out double the taxes due from the first estimated annuity check.

My wife and I received new Health Care cards this week. I called Health America to see why new cards were issued when I had already received new cards in early January . They explained that retirees are assigned a different group number. They changed the last digit in the group number to an 8. The coverage remains the same.

I still have one outstanding issue concerning my last pay before retiring. I was incorrectly charged 9 hours annual leave on December 31, 2004 instead of the day being assigned an "Observed Holiday." Our Administrative Officer called this week and said that the problem will be resolved shortly and that the 9 hours of annual leave would be restored. They are going to issue a check for the nine hours of leave next week.

Earlier this week I met two of my former associates and friends for lunch. I enjoyed getting caught up on what had transpired in each of our lives over the past 9 weeks. Things are pretty much the same at work and it was an enjoyable visit. I do miss talking with the guys and all of the things we had in common. I was fortunate to work with an exceptional group of people, we all got along and kept things on an even keel. That’s saying a lot in today’s work environment.

On a personal note my feet and back on are the mend. The majority of the problem turned out to be an existing back problem that I’ve had for years – two herniated disks in my lower back. The disks were pinching the nerves going down both legs causing the muscles to tighten, tire and ache. My arches were also a problem but the insoles have helped out and I’m back walking again. Taking it slow this time, only a mile every other day. I’ll build up slowly from there. For those of you who suffer from lower back problems and especially pain that extends down the legs, the book "Treat Your Own Back" has been a life saver for me. Robin McKenzie is the author and when I went for therapy years ago they gave me a copy of the book and recommended that I do the exercises in the book daily. You know how that goes. I did them when it hurt. I started the exercises again early last week and they have provided considerable pain relief.

I received a letter from OPM early this week telling me that my retirement paperwork is complete, and in approximately 4-6 weeks I will receive a booklet entitled, Your Federal Retirement Benefits. The booklet is personalized with the retiree's specific information including related benefits. They also sent me official copies of two forms for my records, my SF-2808 Designation of Beneficiary for my Civil Service Retirement and a copy of SF-2821 Agency Certification of Insurance Status for my FEGLI coverage.

Several visitors to my site at http://federaljobs.net/retire had questions concerning military time buy back options for CSRS and FERS retirees. It is beneficial to buy back your military time in many cases for both CSRS and FERS workers. CSRS retirees that will be eligible to collect social security at age 62 will have their annuity decrease by 2% for every year of post 1957 military service if they don't make the deposit by completing the SF Form 2803. FERS retirees with Post 1/1/57 military service will not get credit or annuity computation for their military time without making a deposit using SF Form 3108. If a deposit is made, the employee will receive credit towards his/her annuity computation for military time served.

Employee's with military service BEFORE 1/1/57 will receive credit for their military time for annuity computations and no deposit is required. The FERS deposit is 3% of your basic military pay plus variable market rate interest may be charged where applicable. Military deposits must be made BEFORE you retire. I added the appropriate forms to this site for easy reference. Click on forms to download copies of these forms and contact your agency's personnel specialist for additional information.

I'm still working as hard as ever and harder is some areas. I had hoped to slow down a little but I have too many active projects right now. I am learning to slow down in certain areas and I'm considerably more cautious when starting new activities due to the physical problems I mentioned earlier in my journal. My feet and legs are getting much stronger and I'm walking every other day again. It is comical though. When I first retired I was the speed demon at the mall and passed just about everyone up during my 2 mile walks. Now I'm not the slowest but I'm still much slower than most and I laugh to myself when the older folks pass me by and leave me in the dust. My goal now is to catch up those speeding 70 and 80 year olds.

I've updated a good amount of information on this site and plan to add much more over the next several months. Look for some helpful new areas devoted to awards and commendation templates for managers and quick reference guides for various subjects. I was a manager with the FAA for over 20 years and I found out early in my career that many, if not most, managers dread writing awards and commendations. I always considered awards a high priority and in my last 4 years I wrote over 80 time off awards, 30 cash awards totaling over $11,000, and numerous letters of appreciation and commendation. I always considered that awards were one of the manager's best tools for improving the work environment and performance. Yet. too few take the quality time necessary to recognize the ones who truly keep the agency running. Hopefully, this new section on awards templates will help managers with this task.      
 

March 15, 2005

WOW!!!  Do you remember watching the Wizard of OZ while growing up? Dorothy, towards the end of the movie, clicks her heels together and says over and over again, “There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home………” That’s how I felt when I opened my mail this weekend. I received my OPM retirement benefits book entitled, “Your Federal Retirement Benefits.” The letter I received last week said I would receive this in 4 to 6 weeks. It was a pleasant surprise when I opened my mail Saturday to find this jewel.

I was apprehensive when the booklet first arrived and hesitated to open it until I reviewed my original annuity estimates. I was concerned that the actual annuity might be less than the estimates I had calculated. Thankfully, my annuity was exactly $1 less than the estimates. What a relief. The booklet gives you tons of valuable information ─ about all you need to know about your retirement. It includes toll free phone numbers, Internet, and e-mail addresses to contact if you have questions.  

This booklet is a plethora of information. It lists your Civil Service Annuity (CSA) number that you will need when you call OPM concerning your retirement or to access the OPM website. It also outlines all of your benefit elections and more. The only thing that I still need is my PIN number to access the OPM retirement site. The booklet says that it will be sent under separate cover in several weeks. 

Page 16 of the booklet breaks down exactly what I received so far, and what your life insurance, healthcare, and federal tax payments were. I received a lump sum for what they underpaid and it was deposited direct to my checking account late last week. My first full annuity check will arrive April 1^st.      

Exactly 3 months after retirement my paperwork was processed and it all came out as planned thanks to a lot of pre planning and forethought. If you want to be at peace in retirement I suggest that you go through the analysis I did, evaluate where you are and where you will be financially when you decide to exit the government. You will find a sample and easy to use evaluation spreadsheet with a free downloadable copy at http://federaljobs.net/retire/retirecosts.htm , click on "Pre and Post Retirement Analysis." Also list all of your assets and start a basic estate plan. A spreadsheet is also available with samples at http://federaljobs.net/retire/probate.htm, click on "Asset Allocation." I’m in the process of updating my plan and generally update after I send in my federal taxes each year. Planning is important and it's never too late or too early to start the process. My wife reminded me the day of my retirement luncheon that she recalls when I first started with the FAA in 1975. I was talking about the benefits and possibility of early retirement back then. 

I added a new resource to http://federaljobs.net/retire/resources.htm, "The Executor's Guide; Settling a Loved One's Estate or Trust." This excellent book is written in plain English to help you read a will, transfer property, wrap up trusts, handle probate, work with relatives, and make sense of it all. I have a reference copy in my bookcase next to "Plan Your Estate." 

Lots more to report this week. I received my OPM PIN number last Wednesday, only a few days after receiving my Federal Retirement Benefits booklet and I signed on to the OPM retirement benefits site late last week at www.servicesonline.opm.gov/. You can do just about everything that Employee Express offers employed workers. You can elect a savings bond deduction, initiate various allotments, change benefits, and much more. I was going to initiate several actions last week but decided to wait until after I receive my first full check on April 1st.

I was also pleased to receive a final "Statement of Earnings and Leave" from the FAA correcting the annual leave that I was incorrectly charged on December 31st. I was paid for the 9 hours leave and everything is settled. Overall, I have to say that my initial concerns were unfounded, everything has gone smoothly and so far without a hitch. I have to thank the FAA benefits specialist and the OPM HR team for their professionalism and timely processing of my paperwork.

While reviewing my Federal Retirement Benefits booklet I discovered a very interesting fact that spouses of federal retirees will appreciate knowing. I should have been aware of this but I didn't focus on it until I sat down this week and did the math. When you sign up for full survivors benefits your spouse will receive 55% of your full annuity. Your annuity decreases by approximately 10% when you elect full survivors benefits. What this means is that your spouse will receive 55% of your full annuity and in my case my wife will receive 73% of our current reduced annuity. The only reason I mention this  it is self evident when you think about it  is that spouses know what you get per month and automatically think they are going to get 55% of what you are getting now. That's not true. Your annuity is reduced when you elect survivors benefits. My wife was pleased  to hear that she will be getting 73% of what we are getting now, not 55%.

I rebalanced my TSP THRIFT account on the 15th of March due to the potential for increased interest rates  and the overall market conditions. I put more in the G fund and got out of the Small Cap and Overseas funds all together. The overseas fund was up 50% and the Small Cap over 40% from when they converted to Net Asset Value (NAV) share price last year. I just felt more comfortable with going back into the G fund due to the potential for higher inflation and the escalating gas prices that are bound to impact inflation long term. I still hold a position in the C Fund as well, although not as much as I had prior to the 15th.

One final word. As I stated in the last two entries, my feet are getting better however they were still tired and sore. I tried at least three or four off the shelf insoles with some relief but not to the degree I wanted. I'm very active and love to walk and I'm on the go all day long. I would venture to say that I spent several hundred dollars on new shoes and many types of insoles since late January. Well, much to my surprise and good fortune I believe I've found the cure and relief I was seeking. I did a number of searches on the Internet and found a local company called "Good Feet."  My feet were really tired over the weekend and I decided to visit their store in Cranberry, PA on Monday. I'm very thankful that I did. They sold me insoles that provide several types of support and improve your balance. I felt immediate relief that day. My wife and I went grocery shopping, to WallMart later in the day and in the evening to dinner and my feet felt better than they have since late January.

Good Feet first takes an ink impression of each foot, evaluates your needs, and size the proper insole for your feet. There isn't any charge to do this. Then they recommend several options, some are fairly expensive, and you get to try them all in different shoes that you are encouraged to bring with you. I found their Trainers / Transitional insole to be the most comfortable and purchased a pair for $59.00 plus $15 for the cushion that fits over the insole. You can use the insole in any pair of shoes you wear within reason.

I know this sounds expensive, but believe me, when you have tired sore feet you will try anything to get relief. There more aggressive models cost $200 or more but they felt too restraining. I've been walking with the new insoles since Monday and my feet feel great. I even walked for a mile and a half at the mall early this morning and have been on my feet a lot today. I'm not sure if they have stores in other parts of the country but if you are having the same problems I've been talking about look them up on the internet. There URL is www.goodfeet.com/ . They also have a great warranty. You can take them back within 30 days if you don't get the relief you need. 

I received a Notice of Annuity Adjustment, form R138-23, in the mail this week. It shows the final annuity with standard deductions for FEGLI, health benefits, and federal taxes. My first full annuity check will be deposited April 1st into my checking account. Last Thursday I stopped in at work to pick up my retirement plaque. The Department of Transportation gives retirees a large and very attractive plaque that looks great on my office wall. 

I called Long Term Care Partners to check on how to have my Long Term Care payments deducted from my annuity check. All they needed was my CSA number. They notify OPM and the deduction will start with the June 1st payment. I had to pay the first 4 months direct to Long Term Partners until I received my CSA number. Next week I'm going to go online to elect several other deductions including a monthly Savings Bond  and Credit Union allotment. Right now I like the I Bonds because their interest rate is higher and the rate is adjusted for inflation twice a year. The next adjustment will be this May. The I Bond interest rate is currently 3.67%, better than most CDs, and I'm hoping the rate increases to 4% or more in May. The nice thing about I Bonds is that the rate increases with inflation. Its like buying an auto bump-up CD but better.

My wife and I are following the Terri Schiavo case in Florida and this prompted us to draft our Living Wills this week. This was one of the few things I didn't do prior to retirement. I used WillMaker Plus software and it only took about 30 minutes to go through the interview and print them out. WillMaker Plus tailors your personal living will to the laws of the state that you live in. The program does the same thing for your wills and trusts and is very easy to use. In Pennsylvania it is called a "Declaration" with a "Durable Power of Attorney." You need two witnesses over the age of 18. I added a section on living wills and health care directives to my retirement site at http://federaljobs.net/retire/estate.htm. You will find a link to the Pennsylvania Bar Association that offers a free booklet with fill-in forms online.

My Goodfeet insoles are getting me back on track and I've increased my walks considerably with little discomfort. I'm also going to go to the driving range and start getting familiar with the new golf clubs that my friends purchased for me when I retired. With spring fast approaching I'll also be outside doing tons of yard work, cleaning the garage, the whole nine yards as they say. The only real difference this year is that work won't get in the way of all of my other activities. I've been retired three months now and it feels GREAT. I've not had any regrets about leaving and I made the right choice. I'm sure that you too will have this same conclusion if you prepare for retirement. That is what http://federaljobs.net/retire is all about - making sure you are prepared - so that you TOO can enjoy life after work!  Well, I gota run. Have to go for my morning walk. I cap it off with a Starbucks coffee and I don't like to be late.      

I've been busy outside getting things ready for spring and am looking forward to working outside on the lawn and garden. I received my first full annuity on April 1st. I also received an annuity statement from OPM listing all of my deductions and net payment. I went online at the OPM web site at  www.servicesonline.opm.gov and signed up for a "I" Savings Bond and a Credit Union savings allotment. OPM allows you to have as many as 9 organizational and two savings allotments.

The savings bond allotment works a little different than what employees are able to do on Employee Express. You can't elect a $1,000 bond and have them take out only $250 or $500 a month until you get enough in your account. You have to pay the full amount for each bond you elect for the allotment. For example, If you wanted to get a $1,000 "I" bond you must pay the full $1,000 each month for that bond, you can't have them take out $250 per month and then 4 months later get a $1,000 I bond in the mail.

I received several email messages from a number of federal workers that retired March 31st. They thanked me for the retirement information that I posted on http://federaljobs.net/retire and all were reading my retirement journal. Mike M retired March 31st and his email message stated in part, "I asked about TSP options a few months ago...Thanks for your articles and I hope we both have a long and happy retirement." I've answered at least 50 or so email retirement questions since I retired and enjoy hearing from site visitors.

In the previous journal entry I mentioned that my wife and I completed our living wills, called a "Declaration" with a "Durable Power of Attorney" in Pennsylvania, using WillMaker Plus software. We intend to find two witnesses next week and sign the documents. I'll add the originals to our Estate Plan. We plan to share our wishes with our children and let them know where the original forms are located. 

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