Today is my birthday. Won't you help me celebrate?
I have successfully completed another trip around the sun.
I have just completed 1 year at my present job. Of course, something had to happen along the way.
As I was nearing the one year anniversary at work, I received an email from HR (I have come to hate emails from HR). Between my age and my years of service (1), I was eligible for an early retirement incentive program.
Great. The plan has been to retire in another 18 months (when I hit full retirement age), but with crazy inflation and a recession, it looks like I'll probably want to keep working until I'm 70, if I can. Now I was looking at taking the incentive and rolling the dice that I could find another job, not taking the incentive and rolling the dice that I don't get laid off (as there is obviously a reduction in force program going); and hoping I can get back to work in the event I do, or nothing happens.
Just in case, I made contact with a former customer who is the CEO of a competitor now. I have a lifeboat with him. I'd have to agree to work until I'm 70 and to justify my salary, I'd have to wear many hats; but it's a lifeboat.
My wife and I sweated this out over a long weekend, going over all the scenarios. When I spoke to my boss, he tells me that I wasn't supposed to get that email. Our part of the company was newly acquired and the corporation's intent was to leave the newly acquired companies alone for them to get their legs under them.
It was a relief that I wasn't getting pushed out. But we are in a recession and there is a workforce reduction taking place. I expect anything to happen.
One of my daughters was married this summer. It was a beautiful wedding in northern Michigan. She had one of the best weddings I had ever attended. They did a great job putting that together.
Unfortunately, my other daughter has just been laid off. She's busy looking for a new job, but is also enjoying her time off.
I am practicing the best taijiquan of my life right now. I've had many breakthroughs over the past year. As far as my practice goes, I am in a good place.
I've decided to keep track of how many book I've read this year. I'm on track to read 50 books.
Everyone's health is good. Although we all expect some rocky times ahead, due to the economy, we're all in a good place.
Happy Birthday Rick. Thanks for sharing some key events/concerns in your past year; hope next year is less unsettling. So, 50 books a year. That's a good tally. Did you set yourself a target number to read? I've always been a keen reader but compared to my wife was a lightweight. I now set myself a target each year and have increased it year on year but I'm still only aiming for 40 in 2022. It feels good though to have that extra push
ReplyDeleteAnthony
Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIt's not so much trying to read 50 books, as much as keeping track for the first time in many years.