Exactly one year ago today I went to work for the very last time.......

[CaliforniaPeggy]

I was eligible for early retirement from the Red Cross, and I took it......

And I NEVER looked back!

I started an adventure that continues to this day.....and shows no signs of letting up......

I have never been happier! What a year this has been.....

New friends, new talents discovered, travel, fun!

Celebrate with me!

Here am I and my co-workers on that last day:

[Random_Australian]

1. Congratulations!

:party::woohoo::D

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear Random_Australian!

Thanks! I'm loving my life!

:woohoo:

[Droopy]

2. I hope to retire early as well, Peggy

I just got a new job that might allow me to do that. Here's to new beginnings. :toast:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear Droopy!

Yes...Let's hear it for new beginnings! I think you have a real chance at your dreams, my dear.....

I would never have predicted the year I've just had......it has been amazing!

:toast: back atcha!

[auntAgonist]

5. Peggy...

Here's to MANY more happy years ahead for you and your husband too.

:loveya:
aA
kesha

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. My dear auntAgonist!

I thank you so much! I expect we shall have all those years......

It'll be 41 years this June, you know.....:party:

[BikeWriter]

6. Here's wishing you many more years of retirement, Dear!

I've been retired from DuPont since about 2000. :)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. My dear BikeWriter!

I'm certainly planning on them! Went to the gym today to enhance my chances!

Good for you on yours! Ain't it wonderful? :toast:

[BikeWriter]

13. Lots of liesure time for posting online!

:toast:

[NJ Democrats]

8. Congrats on a year

of retirement! I just have about 50-60 or so years until then!!!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. Oh, my dear NJ Democrats!

I sure do hope you don't have that many years to go!

Unless you're about 10 years old......:silly:

I thank you for your good wishes! :hi:

[NJ Democrats]

19. Your close on the age

Add four years to that number.

[shanti]

9. hi miss peggy!

:hi: :hug: happy retirement!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

14. My dear shanti!

Thank you! It sure is happy!

:hi: :hug:

[ALago1]

11. Oooh I'm jealous!!

It must be so exciting devoting all your time to new adventures and pursuits.

Do you miss work at all sometimes?? Keep having fun!!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

16. My dear ALago1!

Please don't be jealous......I did work a number of years to get here, after all!

It is an exciting life I have now....how true that is!

I don't ever miss my work....but I do miss my co-workers and donors!

So I go in monthly to donate my platelets, and then I have a great opportunity to see everyone again....

And it's all good!

You bet I will keep on having fun! The Lounge is a big part of that!


:bounce: :bounce:

[Canadian Socialist]

15. Heck, I could retire on Monday if I wanted to...

unfortunately, I would have to die on Tuesday. That would be all the retirement I could afford.:rofl:
edited to add: good for you! Have fun! Or continue to have fun...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

17. My dear Canadian Socialist......

Please don't die! You are way too young to do such an awful thing.....

We would miss you, after all!

I plan to continue having all the fun possible! Thanks for your good wishes....

:hi:

[Canadian Socialist]

25. Not so young

And I will die. Eventually. Death is not an awful thing. Every living thing eventually dies. 'Tis the cycle of life, my dear CaliforniaPeggy. I will live each day as if it were my last. Hence, the lack of retirement funds. heeee. Fortunately, though, I come from "money". Not a lot, but enough.

Plus we have all these evil, socialistic anti-capitalistic programmes here. You know, universal health care, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, etc.

Always try to have fun, enjoy your family and friends. Then you can die with a smile on your face.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

31. Oh yes, my dear Canadian Socialist!

I am living having fun every day! I too want to die with a smile on my face......

In about 20 or 30 years!

:bounce: :bounce:

[Major Hogwash]

18. Good for you!

You've inspired me once again.

I've got to give more blood.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

21. Awww, my dear Major Hogwash.....

I am so happy to hear that....

The need is urgent ALL the time, these days.....

So few people are willing to step up to the plate....

Thank you!

:yourock:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

20. Congratulations, Peggy!

I hope to retire soon, too -- in about 40 years. :D

[CaliforniaPeggy]

23. I thank you so much, my dear Starbucks Anarchist!

40 years? That many? You do have a young face, though!

Hang in there, baby...relief is coming! Eventually, that is.....

:bounce: :bounce:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

32. Hopefully it comes a lot sooner.

If I make a living off of selling screenplays, I'll do that till the very end, but it's not a "job" in the true sense of the word.

:D

[LaurenG]

22. Congratulations you wonderful woman!

I would have felt very safe under your care. You even look like a good nurse!:hi: :loveya: :hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

27. My dear OhioBlues!

Thank you so much, sweetie! I had days when I was brilliant, and then there were the days when I wasn't....

I spent the last 10 years of my nursing career doing blood collections for the Red Cross....

I enjoyed it a lot.....for the most part!

I just realized, looking at that picture, that I have lost quite a bit of weight......

Yaaaaaaayyyyy! :woohoo:


:loveya: :hug:

[miss_american_pie]

24. Congrats dear Peggy

:woohoo:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

28. My dear miss_american_pie!

Oh, I thank you so much!

:loveya: :hug:

[AirmensMom]

26. Here's to you, Peggy!

:toast: :beer: :woohoo: :bounce: :yourock:

That's a nice pic!

:loveya: :hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

29. My dear AirmensMom!

Thank you so much, my dear friend! My partner in crime!

It is a nice picture.....but I realized after posting it, that I have lost a lot of weight since then!

I am much thinner nowadays.....And I hadn't realized it, either!

Life is good! :loveya: :hug:

:beer: :toast:

[leftofthedial]

30. congrats!

tomorrow is the one year anniversary of my last day of gainful employment, though it is not an occasion to be celebrated.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

33. I thank you for your congratulations, my dear leftofthedial.....

I am sorry that tomorrow isn't a joyful memory for you..... :hug: :pals:

And I wish there were something I could do to make that day better for you.....

[leftofthedial]

35. actually tomorrow isn't really a memory at all

I just had a conversation with my former coworker and it came up.

You make every day better just being you and hanging out on DU!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

37. Awww.....my dear leftofthedial.....

Thanks, sweetie......:loveya: :hug:

[u4ic]

34. I'm so glad the transition was easy for you, Peggy

You have a bittersweet look about you in that pic...they however, look happy to be rid of you.

:rofl:

Just joking. :P Looks like you had some grand co-workers there.

I'm glad that you're taking time for YOU, now, as you have done so much for others. :hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

36. My dear u4ic!

Oh yeah, baby! They were so glad to be rid of me! :rofl:

They were so glad that every time I go in to donate they ask me if I wouldn't come back!

They are a terrific bunch, and I am proud to call them friends.....

Thank you for your very kind wishes....I appreciate them a lot! :loveya: :hug:

[GOPisEvil]

38. I cannot wait to type those words for myself.

Their loss, our gain. :hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

39. Well, my dear Evil!

I'm so happy to see you today!

Indeed, it is their loss, OUR gain.....

Some fine day, you too will retire.....to the life you want!

Until then, enjoy your work (if at all possible!) and have some fun along the way!

I have been most fortunate, and I know it.....:pals:

[Mutley]

40. Congratulations on one year of retirement, Peggy.

:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

41. My dear mutley!

I thank you so much, both for coming by, and for your congratulations!

It means a lot to me.....

:hug:

[Wapsie B]

42. Congrats Peggy!

Say who's that babe in the middle in blue & white? ;-)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

43. My dear bushwentawol!

Thanks, sweetie!

Hmmmmm...the babe in the middle? Oh yeah, ME! A much heavier me, I might add.....

Retirement has been GOOD for/to me! :bounce: :bounce:

[Wapsie B]

45. Heavy? You?

Yes it has been good to you! You're welcome baby.

[Southsideirish]

44. Anyone else try retirement and didn't like it? I didn't and had to go to

work again. It was too creepy getting up with an un-structured day. Ugh!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

46. Oh, I hear you, my dear Southsideirish!

Some people absolutely thrive on a very regular sort of schedule....

And you obviously are one of those! So, more power to you!

I have a need for structure too.....but I am able to make it for myself...

I tend to be not very busy every day....but what busy I have is MINE!

I love the independent feeling......

:hi:

[UTUSN]

47. Me, too, except for the # of yrs. The days just FLY past

It's all good except the SPEED of time flying.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

48. This is true, my dear UTUSN!

But you know, the speed of the days going past is a very subjective thing....

The actual speed is constant....or so I tell myself!

We have that old cliche....Time flies when you're having fun! So we must be having a blast!

It's all good......

:hi:

[bridgit]

49. i remember your mentioning that very well a year ago, i recall...

congratulating you on your retirement then and i am of course here to do so at your 1st anniversary :hi: :hug: :bounce: :party: the part i didn't realize then was that...you retired on my B-Day B-)

a smilie bunch of colleagues you have there :-)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

51. My dear bridgit!

Of course! That was a wonderful thread, IIRC!

And TODAY'S your birthday? :party:

I hope it has been wonderful, and superlative, and special, and unique!

Yeah, they are all good people.....I love visiting them a lot!

They always exclaim on how great and happy I look......

:loveya: :hug:

[Hissyspit]

50. Yay for your adventure!

:toast:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

53. My dear Hissyspit!

Ah, thank you so much for coming by tonight......

And for your good wishes too!

I am having the fun adventure of my life!

:hug:

[Haole Girl]

52. Nice pic, thanks for sharing

Happy 1 year retirement anniversary! I'm envious! ;-)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

54. My dear KC2!

Thank you for your very nice remarks! I appreciate them!

I hope you are not too far from your own retirement......

And, BTW: WELCOME TO DU! I hope you're enjoying your stay in our crazy, dysfunctional, addictive little village....

This is my home now....I live and love in the Lounge these days!

:hi:

[Haole Girl]

59. Thanks, I like to lounge too. I got lost when they moved my

topic and I haven't left since! Everyone seems very nice here in the lounge.

[ThomCat]

55. Yay! I hope you keep enjoying your retirement!

I also hope we all get to retire some day.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

57. My dear ThomCat!

Thank you, sweetie!

And you know I wish the same for you.......:hug:

[Jazz2006]

56. Good on ya' Ms. Peggy ;)

Here's to another 50 years of fun post-retirement.

:toast:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

58. My dear Jazz2006!

Thank you! But......50 more years? :scared:

Since I'm now 62, that would make me verrrrrrry old! I rather doubt that I'll live that long.....

Yikes!

I do want lots of fun years, though! :toast: