I'm Done, Out On My Time

[rod]

I was thinking about doing this or dropping my pants and walking out the overhead door last night. But I still haven't had my retirement ceremony yet, its tomorrow morning.

What is a retirement ceremony? Are you sure you worked for UPS?

 

[scratch]

What is a retirement ceremony? Are you sure you worked for UPS?

They probably had yours after you left and didn't bother to invite you! Just kidding Rod, you are one of my idols on here.

 

[rod]

They probably had yours after you left and didn't bother to invite you! Just kidding Rod, you are one of my idols on here.

I can honestly say I never heard of UPS doing anything except maybe mentioning it at an AM. Most of the time you wouldn't even know someone retired if they themselves hadn't been doing cartwheels. In my case it was just another day. Nothing mentioned -- did my route and walked out that night. You could be right about them celebrating after I left-

 

[MECH-lift]

He should ban you

our “ Helper DERBY” starts today, for every helper you get hired you get 5 less stops..

 

[oldngray]

I can honestly say I never heard of UPS doing anything except maybe mentioning it at an AM. Most of the time you wouldn't even know someone retired if they themselves hadn't been doing cartwheels. In my case it was just another day. Nothing mentioned -- did my route and walked out that night. You could be right about them celebrating after I left-

Years ago they might have a cake (or rarely a cookout). For me it was at the end of the morning PCM - Oh yeah, this is your last day isn't it?

 

[trickpony1]

......and not file for Social Security yet.

You might want to find out what you're supposed to do around the age of 65 regarding social security.
The impression I get is you have a window of 3 months before your 65th to 3 months after to notify SS.

I don't think this means you must use SS.
Check it out. I think they make this complicated on purpose.

 

[trickpony1]

BTW, congrats on retirement.
I guess you know you can't participate in this forum anymore.
(sarcasm)

 

[oldngray]

BTW, congrats on retirement.
I guess you know you can't participate in this forum anymore.
(sarcasm)

He can.

But he has to make a big announcement about leaving first then he can come back and post.

 

[IVE GOTTA PACKAGE 4U]

You might want to find out what you're supposed to do around the age of 65 regarding social security.
The impression I get is you have a window of 3 months before your 65th to 3 months after to notify SS.

I don't think this means you must use SS.
Check it out. I think they make this complicated on purpose.

That's for medicare. You don't have to take Social security until age 70 if you don't want to

Hope this is most helpful.

 

[Redtag]

They almost scraped mine last year when the water pump went out. About three months ago the turbo blew and took its second engine out. I was surprised that it got fixed, only due to the pandemic and package car shortage. 413K miles on it, I loved driving it.

they will probably keep it for awhile then, it would take something pretty bad to send it to the yard with a new engine. It looks to be in good shape, you should see what some of our 700s look like, some with half the miles. One driver since new and being in the southeast probably helped it.

 

[MyTripisCut]

Congrats on retiring @scratch. I’ve always enjoyed hearing your stories about starting at this company and your journey to the finish line is great. You always bring dignity and respect to this forum so please don’t be a stranger.

 

[Shiftless]

You might want to find out what you're supposed to do around the age of 65 regarding social security.
The impression I get is you have a window of 3 months before your 65th to 3 months after to notify SS.

I don't think this means you must use SS.
Check it out. I think they make this complicated on purpose.

Always good to pass the Medicare info on!

The window is (as I just went thru this) 3 months before your birthday month- your birthday month and three months after your birthday month. You have 7 calendar months to sign up or they fine you, Go Figure!

 

[oldngray]

Always good to pass the Medicare info on!

The window is (as I just went thru this) 3 months before your birthday month- your birthday month and three months after your birthday month. You have 7 calendar months to sign up or they fine you, Go Figure!

Do they automatically send you the paperwork to start the ball rolling or do you need to call them first?

 

[scratch]

BTW, congrats on retirement.
I guess you know you can't participate in this forum anymore.
(sarcasm)

Yes Dave! (sarcasm)

 

[BaSEless]

I was 17 and had just started my senior year at high school when I began. (October 15, 1975). I had worked one day at a McDonald's the week before, $2.10 an hour was minimum wage back then. Some buddies were going to to apply at UPS through a work program and I tagged along. I was hired on the spot at $4.25 an hour and my first job was loading trailers on the Midnight Sort in the original Atlanta Hub. Soon I was a pick-off, I had three trailers with the old rollers going into them. I worked my first seven years on the Purple Belt, it was the bottom front belt in the Primary Sort so we also got all the smalls and irregulars. I spent most of those years working Irregulars, this was before the electric trains and we had to push carts around the building and at one time we had an old yellow P-400 we got to drive too. I worked my last year in the hub on the Twilight Sort doing the same thing, then I signed the bid list and got a bid route to go driving. It took me three bids to finally make full-time. Most of the routes in that building were Downtown Atlanta driving P-600s.

First route was an industrial park in Morrow, Ga driving an ancient Ford cabover straight truck in 1984, I used to backup to docks all day. It had air brakes and I still have my Class B CDL. I would go out blown out with 400 pieces and pickup 600, so I was handling 1000 boxes a day. Very little overtime, I had to get pickups covered often because we were really the only company that did what we do at the time. Second route I was in a P-600 with a Walmart bulkstop and then I had a little town called Rex I stayed in all day. One of the first things I noticed when I started at UPS was that most of the older drivers drove smaller cars. Third route was a country route for one year around the Lake Dow area in McDonough Ga. P-500 with about 60-70 stops and one empty shelf! 200 miles a day and I loved that area. Another driver rolled me off the area one year later so I took his old route. My fourth and final route was a large private lake called Lake Spivey in Jonesboro, Ga. It started out in a P-500 and I was mad when that was taken away and I had to drive a P-700. 95% residential and 125 stops and 100 miles worked up to an eight hour day. Now that route gets 160-200 a day and the area has gotten smaller and tighter. I worked that for 24 years and I will miss my customers.

I never hated my job like a lot of people do. I always had money in my pocket and I never worried about finances. My 401K and IRA looks a lot better than most people's. I was sticking 25% in it the last couple of years and I am going to try to stay out of it for now and not file for Social Security yet. My pension amount is $4808 before taxes, I will get the first one November 1. I always tried to concentrate on enjoying the most of it and I learned to not stressed out about a lot of the normal BS the company is always pushing. I built a new house the year after I got married. Both our sons got college degrees and turned out well. We just moved into a new house in a retirement community in Griffin, Ga called Sun City Peachtree. Gated entrance, sidewalks and golf cart paths, and no teenagers allowed. Its very quiet and the neighborhood looks like a resort. Security, garbage, lawn services, and many other amenities for a minor $218 HOA fee. We put $100K worth of options in our house and we love it here.

Scratch, I've been visiting (lurking?) this site for a very long time. Just had to join to say congratulations on your retirement - mostly because your story hit close to home. I was a few years behind you in Atlanta and the Purple belt comment caused a brief moment of flashback/PTSD. I was a bagger/sorter in the smalls sort and then a P/T sup. there from 79 to 84. That was back in the days when the smalls were picked off the Purple belt and sent to a big slide over by the Suburban belt. Finally moved out of ops and into PE. Mad respect to you for being on car for your career - lots of folks can't stay healthy that long. I knew quite a few folks who either went into management or Feeders. Anyway, having been retired for almost six years now I can relate to where you are. I hope you have a long, happy and healthy retirement. Sounds like you're in a great place. Enjoy!

 

[rod]

Congrats on retiring @scratch. I’ve always enjoyed hearing your stories about starting at this company and your journey to the finish line is great. You always bring dignity and respect to this forum so please don’t be a stranger.

That's the last thing we need on here --dignity and respect. BORING

 

[MyTripisCut]

That's the last thing we need on here --dignity and respect. BORING

That’s why we keep you around!!!

 

[rod]

That’s why we keep you around!!!

 

[Shiftless]

Do they automatically send you the paperwork to start the ball rolling or do you need to call them first?

Yes, they sent me a packet of info.

My pre health care was and is still today provided by UPS and they too sent me a packet describing what they cover when I hit Medicare age.

Don't know how it works when you have your retirement healthcare thru the union when you hit the Medicare age tho?

 

[What'dyabringmetoday???]

Who???

Most likely the greatest driver in New York if not the entire country. You should try to contact him for financial advice. He offers a free service. Actually he'll give you advice on most everything. Congratulations and enjoy retirement!!