How to Retire Without Really Retiring

Go Part-time And Enjoy Every Minute of It!

Tired of the stress from that job you've had most of your adult life? Can't stop working entirely due to financial obligations? Do you have adequate health insurance through your husband's work and don't depend on your full-time employment for that benefit? Well, I have a plan that has worked really well for me. I am 57 years young! I enjoy being out with folks and enjoy working but I do not enjoy "having" to be at a certain place at a certain time. I also do not like being obligated to a company like a line in an old country song expresses, "I've sold my soul to the company store."

Here's my story: Over a period of about four weeks, my long-time employer of 18 years, begin making more and more demands on me. I found myself unable to keep up with the amount of work suddenly being loaded on my shoulders. This really frustrated me as I had always prided myself on doing my job duties thoroughly and finishing on time. I could not understand what or why this was happening. (I found out later the company was in financial trouble due to mismanagement of funds and were trying desperately to get rid of a number of employees who had "been loyal" but were now making over a certain amount and they could no longer keep them--and of course, no one tells you the real story). One of those "loyalists" was me! I was being pressured and hassled daily, even hourly, by my supervisor who had been a so called "friend" but now resembled a piranha. During this time I also experienced the death of a close family member and that supervisor took advantage of my emotional state. I was berated in front of others for no reason and finally, when I could take it no longer and realized that my health was in great danger, I tearfully resigned.