Retiring end of Aug

[Tom Poje]

Mom is 94 (reasonable health) but still needs my time more than what this job would ever permit.

Plus now I will be get to Mass daily, without worrying about the time constraints and work load this job requires, a big plus for me. And time to bake more cookies and stuff to giveaway. My favorite being the springerle.

Have yet to find anyone to turn down one of those.

My deepest appreciation for those to have helped me learn along the way, my apologies to those I may have inadvertently offended by any comments I may have made. In the cartoon Futurama, the character Fry made the comment "You remember Star Trek, 79 episodes, maybe 30 good ones". I figure that might be about how many really good and worthwhile comments I posted.

Dave Baker is going to be glad because he won't have to listed to complaints about the bad jokes, humorless songs and awful puns I occasionally posted.

My favorite takeaways after all these years:

I know a few have said I'm a bit crazy for giving away stuff for free, but has been a big highlight for me. Hopefully the few Relius reports I have posted have proved useful and a time saver to some, along with the excel file for projecting the new limits. Someone else can worry about updating that every year. Ha. Over the years it has been kind of neat to see postings on the internet about projected limits. And I had the nicest comment years ago from FT William about the SSA report to pull the data from Relius into their system.

The best advice I can provide, something I have always tried to keep in mind with my dealing with others:

God has a benefit plan that is out of this world, so store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, not the things here on earth.

[david rigby]

A salute, and thanks, to you sir.  And I'll be glad to eat one (or more) of your cookies.

[Bill Presson]

Tom,

While not unexpected, this is a sad day for the rest of us. You've been a tremendous contributor to this forum and to the benefits world at large. I wish you all the very best.

[Belgarath]

Hey Tom - I echo all the good comments and sentiments that you have received, and will continue to receive. You're also one of the few people who appreciate (or at least somewhat understand) my own bizarre sense of humor.

Good luck as you waltz through this next chapter in your life. It would be lovely if you have the time to occasionally post something humorous, but if not, it has been a pleasure corresponding with you on this board. Enjoy every day!

[Bird]

Best wishes Tom.  My aunt used to make springerles.  Good stuff!

[ratherbereading]

Best wishes on your retirement. My mom is 98 1/2 and in good health.  I have a few years till retirement--will be so glad to be out of this racket.  Enjoy your time with your mom! 

[MoJo]

Tom:  First, "you can check out any time you want, but you may never leave..."

Second, this does not absolve you of responsibility to return with your "Christmas Song" puzzle....

[Peter Gulia]

Tom Poje, thank you for generosity and for your essay, which gives us a reminder about the purpose of the plans we work on -- to help people get more choices about how to live out one's days in this world.  AMDG.

[CuseFan]

4 hours ago, Tom Poje said:

My favorite being the springerle.

Thanks for all your wisdom and happy retirement!

And for resurrecting great memories - my old world German grandmother made those, they were awesome, and she lived to almost 103 (must have been the cookies!), so wishing you that quality time with your mom.

Best of luck!

[Mike Preston]

Ah, but the true Wolverine never really retires. He just finds a new corner of the internet! Thanks for everything you've done to brighten our days. 

[rr_sphr]

Please stop back in every once in a while and let us know how retirement is going!  You will be missed (even though I am mostly just a lurker, I've learned a whole lot from you and others)!

[QDROphile]

Thank you for your contributions, including the good humor and the attempts at good humor.

In particular, thank you for identifying IRS authority to dispel the silly notion that the 401(a)(17) limit is a timing rule.

[Tom Poje]

To the springerle lovers ("only" have around 30 or so different molds I have gotten over the years, most generally religious theme) I forget most people have never seen them before so Iit is an extra treat the first time when they get one.

(not my pictures, but I have done these) instead of Anise for the flavoring -

cocoa powder for chocolate springerle

using Jello for color and flavor last year I made green wreaths for Advent (though this recipe is actually a butter cookie - but I promise myself I will try it with the springerle recipe)

[Lois Baker]

Tom,

I'd just like to add a belated but heartfelt and public thanks from the folks at BenefitsLink (Dave, Holly and myself) for all you've contributed over the years. 

Your wit, wisdom and consistent participation have been invaluable -- you will be missed.

Lois

 

[Dave Baker]

Tom, I hope you will continue to be a frequent contributor to the "Humor, Inspiration, Miscellaneous" message board!

Retirement -- what a concept. Now you've got me to thinking that maybe I should start setting aside some savings.

Your posts have been tremendously valuable, and fun. Thank you so much for being so generous.

Dude. Congratulations!

 

[shERPA]

Congratulations Tom.  I am looking forward to this myself in the hopefully not too distant future.   

[AndyH]

Tom, congratulations and best wishes!   I will miss your knowledge, sense of humor, constant willingness to help, and always positive attitude.  And your amazing patience.  Those are things we will always remember. 

Best wishes!  Make sure to come back and visit when you have a new album of Pension songs!

[Bill Presson]

21 hours ago, shERPA said:

I am looking forward to this myself in the hopefully not too distant future.   

Negative Ghostrider, the pattern is full.

[shERPA]

On 8/23/2019 at 1:13 PM, Bill Presson said:

Negative Ghostrider, the pattern is full.

Careful with your coffee, wouldn't want one of those nice bow-ties stained!

[Tom Poje]

well, getting ready to unplug the office computer

a few days shy of 62, hopefully all the $ I have pinched and saved will last until 70. I live rather frugal, so I think I can manage.

as for me,  truly looking forward to not having to rush off to work and having that burden. when mom wakes and is ready to go is a lot different than a set work schedule.

And I have more time for church, as I said earlier, some baking, and I bought a Psaltery a few years ago and looking forward to learning that a lot better. what a marvelous instrument for a quiet soul like mine.

my special thanks to Dave Baker for the web site and the opportunity to share. we shall see if somewhere own the road I actually take the trouble to share how things are going.

[RatherBeGolfing]

Tom, I hope daily Mass and baking brings you peace and happiness.

God Bless!