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This kinda doesn't fit in any particular category, but here goes.

As many of you may or may not know, I work as a Youth Counselor* for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections at Lincoln Hills/Copper Lake School in Irma. Irma is located in a remote part of the state; if you draw a line between the Twin Cities and Green Bay, I'm located north of that line - by a good hour or so - right in the middle of the state.

As such, I am about three hours from the heavily populated part of the state, and three and a half hours from where I used to live - in Waukesha.

Backing up a bit: in case the comments all got archived, I was somewhat forced to move back in 2011 after the State of Wisconsin decided to close my former facility, Ethan Allen School for Boys, in Wales/Delafield. I had a choice: wait to take a job in the adult system, or go with the job up here to Irma. Guess which one I chose.

Since moving up here, life has gotten miserable. In case you haven't noticed, I haven't been online here much for a while, and there's a reason: ordering. As in, "I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to order you to stay for an extra eight hours, we don't have enough staff to fill out our schedule, here's crappy-position-to-work 1, crappy-position-to-work 2, or crappy-position-to-work 3." And, because of that other thing that happened in 2011 in Wisconsin**, management has decided unilaterally that they can do this twice in a row before not forcing you a third time.

This has been the case for the last three years now. We've had brief respites where we've hired a lot of staff, but with the population we're dealing with***, the desire for people to work up here in the middle of nowhere for what can essentially be described as minimal with no benefits is extremely low. The lawsuits and investigations over the last three years have not helped, obviously.

So - what does this have to do with me?

Welp, as a Youth Counselor, I am considered to be part of the Protective Service part of the state's operations. This means that, as long as I have 20+ years of service in and am 50 or older, I can choose to retire early.

The "R" word from the title, you might say.

I'm not as old as Dave, but I do turn 50 next month. And I hit 20 years of continuous service back in 2013.

I am planning, as of this writing, to retire on January 6, 2018. However, there are some huge logistical issues between now and then:

1. Insurance. I have NFC as to what will happen to my group insurance next year. It is entirely possible that my monthly benefit (which is about 45% of my current monthly pay) will be mostly eaten up by insurance premiums.
2. Location. I want desperately to get as far away from this state as practicable. The current plan is to move to Arizona - but the month that I'm planning on doing so (January) is... well, look back at some of the comments Krisken and others from my state have said about the weather around here. It'd be like some of our Canadian residents choosing to move to Arizona in January.
3. What's next. Unlike this last move, I don't have anything lined up down in AZ. I'm essentially going to be moving down to where my dad lives in the East Valley, without anything set in advance. (I am planning on going down in December for a holiday visit, but that may be more to find someplace to live than to find job prospects.)

So - tl,dr version: my job sucks but I can retire after the 1st of the year; but I have no idea what to do next.


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* - Yes, it's a glorified job title for "Juvenile Corrections Officer." I realize it.
** - This isn't the political thread, so just Google "Wisconsin Act 11" for yourself.
*** - More physical, more mental issues, more entitlement, more ugh.

It seems that anything you do will be better than what you've been doing, and you've long wanted to leave Wisconsin. At this point anyplace else will be better for you, though I understand about the weather issue. As long as you've got air conditioning and a vehicle with working AC, it's not that bad.

You could move to a more moderate Midwest state, but I think there's a great deal of value moving closer to family.

Beyond that, do you have to do something? Are you in a position where you could really retire, or do you need to continue to work for your living?

jwhouk said:

2. Location . . . It'd be like some of our Canadian residents choosing to move to Arizona in January.

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I don't get it. What's the problem?

I would need to continue to work to pay for living expenses. Because I've finally pretty much eliminated credit card debt, the only thing we have to pay off is the wife's car.

The greatest benefit of AZ is the family connection. Her parents live there year round, while mine are there for the winter (but it's possible my dad might go full-time if I move out there).[DOUBLEPOST=1505072564,1505072442][/DOUBLEPOST]

Gruebeard said:

I don't get it. What's the problem?

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Think about it. Would you want to be moving everything you own in sub-zero temperatures, where there's a risk of several inches of snow on the ground?

jwhouk said:

Think about it. Would you want to be moving everything you own in sub-zero temperatures, where there's a risk of several inches of snow on the ground?

Click to expand...

True. But I do find January has lots of clear days here, I'd rather move with snow on the ground than move while it's raining.

Plus, it would be glorious motivation for hauling all your stuff to the truck - knowing you're leaving it behind for good.

True dat.

There is that one other little thing that I'm going to have to broach this week: technically we have a no-move-out clause between November and March. Sorry, but I'm not gonna wait 59 days just so I can get all my crap down to the 480...

jwhouk said:

True dat.

There is that one other little thing that I'm going to have to broach this week: technically we have a no-move-out clause between November and March. Sorry, but I'm not gonna wait 59 days just so I can get all my crap down to the 480...

Click to expand...

I moved to Colorado in January with 2 feet of snow on the ground where I started. It wasn't fun, but it wasn't the worst.

...and then I go and have a dream where I'm getting bitten by a snake.

jwhouk said:

I'm not as old as Dave,...

Click to expand...

Nobody is.

jwhouk said:

So - tl,dr version: my job sucks but I can retire after the 1st of the year; but I have no idea what to do next.

Click to expand...

Come raise doomweasels with me so we can take over the world?

Wrong climate direction, mon chere.

The major block right now is the insurance. Next month is our "choice" period for 2018; I'll find out what my deal will be, or if I will have to look after private insurance.

...and that news wasn't good.

My projected monthly benefit is about $150 below what my monthly insurance premium would be for next year. Which means that if I stay with my health plan, I will end up having to pay about that much (or more, depending on taxes) a month just for insurance.

And I will have a net income of zero.

And, of course, this comes on the heels of our wonderful congress critters wanting to do away with the ACA. Guess I'm going to be looking for other options for health care.

And here we go. This is the month where it's all going to be put into motion.

Oh, and I have officially received my AARP card in the mail.

Officially a member of AARP now.

Going to go poke around the HC Marketplace for some possibilities for 2018.

Next major hurdle: someplace to live in AZ. Nothing against my parents, but I really don't want to be living there for more than a month or two.

The last major hurdle will be getting a meaningful job that pays bills down there.

All of that may preclude my internet surfing time, btw.

Honest question, have you considered Pittsburgh?

*waits for the laughter to subside*

*comes back several weeks later*

*still waiting*

*months later...*

No, really. Have you?

No.

1. Cold weather.
2. Rivers everywhere.
3. COLD weather.
4. People's Republic Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
5. Have I mentioned COLD?
6. Hills/moutains.
7. COLD. I am freaking TIRED of the COLD.
8. Same ZIP code as Sidney Crosby? Uh-uh.
9. COLD.
10. No family within a 100-mile radius.

Also it's a bit chilly there, so keep that in mind.

If Pittsburgh is cold, then what would you call your part of Wisconsin?

Something to GTFO from.

Hence, Arizona.

I just filled out the paperwork this evening. Tomorrow morning, it goes in the mail.

Damn right I'm doing certified delivery.

...dummy me forgets Monday is a federal holiday, which means no mail, and no post office.

jwhouk said:

...dummy me forgets Monday is a federal holiday, which means no mail, and no post office.

Click to expand...

It turned out good for me. I need to call the bank but I can't until tomorrow. It wasn't until I read your post that I realized I would've have gotten anywhere anyway.

...so thanks.

--Patrick

Papers are in.

Clock is ticking.

January 6 cannot come FAST enough.

Hitting a few small snags.

1. Found out today my CU doesn't do home loans on "manufactured homes" (aka "mobile homes/trailers").

2. Because of a miscommunication between our scheduling software company and department management, I can't block off the first week of January for vacation. Apparently the state didn't tell the WorkLoud people that "Yes, we do allow staff to take the first week of the year off if it's partially in the other year", and so the software doesn't allow it.

You won't be able to get a "home loan" from any institution for a manufactured home. It's a differently type of loan entirely since it depreciates and you (typically) don't own the land its on. It's much more like a vehicle loan.

And similar to vehicles, shop around, don't buy new (it loses a lot of its value once owned), and plan for constant maintenance and repairs.

Oh, I already know the drill. My dad's lived in one part-time for years.

Looks like the pre-approval for a loan is out. Darn pesky "deciding to retire changes your financial situation" thing.

Meanwhile, tomorrow means a call to the Health Care Marketplace to try to get some sort of insurance once I'm retired in January.

Marketplace Good News - a decent plan with decent premiums, that covers my medications.

Marketplace Bad News - ...it's in Wisconsin.

In an attempt at wishing away this horrid weekend that I had in the cottage that is the poster child for "what is wrong with LHS", I did some mapping out of possible routes for our drive out to Arizona in December.

Right now, the current routing plan is to take I-39 south to I-55, then go the "Route 66" way to Albuquerque - and then drive into the Phoenix valley by whatever way the weather allows.

HOWEVER... there is a routing that is a bit intriguing, if only a tad bit unsettling because of the time frame in which we are driving. It would involve heading over to I-35 from Wisconsin, then down into Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and finally into Oklahoma, where we'd take the I-40 route to Albuquerque.

BUT. There is another route that would involve us driving a different route into ABQ - I-35 to I-80 west, then cutting down I-76 into Denver, then down through Santa Fe into ABQ.

There are three big negatives to this routing: first, I am VERY unfamiliar with the route from Denver down to New Mexico. Second, I am too familiar with that stretch from Des Moines into Nebraska. "Nothing" is the descriptor I'd give it (sorry, @Dave). Third, from what I do know about that area, it would probably NOT be a pleasant drive during the middle of December (we're talking 17-19 December at this point). We'd essentially be hugging the Continental Divide that entire way, and it would probably put at least an extra day in our travels.

The intriguing part of this, of course, would be something I've yet to do on this board - post to the Official HalForums Meetup thread. (And scoring the big meetup with our Fearless Leader himself.)

I think I'm likely just going to chicken out and go the Route 66 way, mostly because of the car and the familiarity. But man, if the possibility of meeting up with Dave and @Dei weren't intriguing enough..

Denver to NM is easy as shit.

...in what, a 4x4?

This is an HHR we're talking about.

Well, I would avoid the mountains as long as possible and take I-25. Colorado winters are mild most of the time if you aren't in the mountains. We occasionally get a decent amount of snow, but most of the time we're in the 50s/60s. Of course, now that I said that, it'll snow.

The mountain pass from Colorado to New Mexico through the pass is white knuckle at times. If there's snow I'd avoid it. And go during the day or you'll be REALLY white knuckling it!

I honestly think that the I-80 route is out. The part of the trip I'm most concerned about is the ABQ-PHX route. The options aren't nice that time of year (Flagstaff or Las Cruces?), and the one I'd ideally prefer is completely out (Holbrook to Heber to Payson to Phoenix).

Dei said:

Colorado winters are mild most of the time if you aren't in the mountains.

Click to expand...

Yes, well, that limits things to only the eastern 40% of the state.

--Patrick

PatrThom said:

Yes, well, that limits things to only the eastern 40% of the state.

--Patrick

Click to expand...

That's where just about everybody lives though.

I've been told by my section manager - who is a former Tempe resident - that since this is a La Nina year, it's unlikely we'll see much snow en route to PHX from ABQ. This may actually allow for an approach from Flagstaff if the Heber-Payson route is not available.

On the moving front: it's looking like about $4k or so to hire movers...

jwhouk said:

I've been told by my section manager - who is a former Tempe resident - that since this is a La Nina year, it's unlikely we'll see much snow en route to PHX from ABQ. This may actually allow for an approach from Flagstaff if the Heber-Payson route is not available.

On the moving front: it's looking like about $4k or so to hire movers...

Click to expand...

The drive from Flagstaff to Phoenix was one of my favorite trips. Great view and hardly used any gas going from 7000 ft to sea level in 145 miles.

What wasn't so fun was the drive from the TX-NM border to Flagstaff. Wind, wind, and more wind.

Funny, my wind moment was actually in the Panhandle. Wind caught the back door of my dad's SUV as the wife was getting out at a gas stop in Vega, sprung the door. We got it closed and locked so we could keep going. I think I had to get weather data from the airport across the freeway for my dad to give the insurance company to show how windy it was.

13 days.

In one week, I will have worked my last shift at LHS.

In one month, I will no longer be employed by the Wisconsin DOC.

I should point something out: this isn't as much a "retirement" as it is "quitting my job but getting a monthly 'thank you for letting us exploit you for 24 years' check in consolation."

34 hours, 33 minutes.

Well, you made it past the obligatory “Two days to retirement” point.

—Patrick

Sadly, I do have two actual days of work left. Out of that 33 hours and 56 minutes I have left* I will be working 24 of them.


*- But who's counting, right?

Uh-oh.

—Patrick

11 hours 26 minutes.

jwhouk said:

11 hours 26 minutes.

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Ten minutes and counting!

(I hope)

Yeeeup.

I have worked my last shift as an employee of the State of Wisconsin.

On January 6, I officially become a "retiree" of the state of Wisconsin.

I am now in the state of Arizona. Hopefully within a month or so, I will be a resident of the state of Arizona.

jwhouk said:

I am now in the state of Arizona. Hopefully within a month or so, I will be a resident of the state of Arizona.

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Just a word of warning. It's going to get reeeeally warm there in about 5 months.

--Patrick

PatrThom said:

Just a word of warning. It's going to get reeeeally warm there in about 5 months.

--Patrick

Click to expand...

I've heard about that. I also understand that it's 13F right now back home in Wisconsin. Gimme 100+F over that.

Incoming post to Epic Win thread.

Two things:

1. The news I posted over in the politics thread means that LHS/CLS will be closing as a juvenile facility, but converted to an adult facility by year's end. In short - I got out JUST in time...

2. I am now no longer a DOC employee. I turned in all of my uniforms and my ID card. I'm now just a State of Wisconsin retiree.

I never thought today would actually come, but... I am officially no longer a State of Wisconsin employee.

I am now a State of Wisconsin retiree.

The old saying, "You never know how much stuff you actually have until you have to move" has never been truer.

I have all of my books packed up and ready to go. Only had one that I still had to find room for - and I managed to put it, right on top of all the others, on the top tote full of books.

Good thing that my copy of The City of Smoke and Mirrors fit...

It's really setting in now: my first pension check will be officially deposited in my bank tomorrow.

I've got things pretty well set up here in the new place, though we still have a bunch of totes and boxes to go through (and find places for them).

It must feel pretty awesome to be done