Dressed for the last day of work before retirement!

[Maid_Marion]

Today was my last day of work! After almost four decades.
I went around the building and said goodbye to everyone!

I wore a red golf polo with white polka dots. A pink printed skirt falling just below the knee.
Cheveron sheer thigh highs. Translucent pink nail polish. A pink and white golf jacket. A multi-color bezel crystal bracelet.

One GG complimented me on the outfit. I typically had one long conversation per department, with others listening in.

Marion

[char GG]

Your outfit sounds beautiful, Marion. Happy retirement.

[ColleenA]

What a wonderful way to celebrate. Congratulations!

[NjJamie]

Marion, congrats on retirement! I only lasted 55 days from the day I retired to finding something new to do, please keep us updated on your adventures!

[BrendaPDX]

Congratulations on your retirement and outfit! You look too young to retire. Take care, Brenda

[Maid_Marion]

I forgot to mention the black leather ankle booties and the distinctive sound they make on linoleum floors! I wear them all the time!

Yes, I look younger than many of the folks I talked to, with the notable exception of a young editor who is one year into her first job.
We had a ten minute discussion about how difficult it is to balance work and other activities.

I already have a huge garden to take care of that has turned into a nesting area for lots of birds!
I found that with a few exceptions, most of the Connecticut state parks had very few birds.
Now I just have to look out into the yard to see a wide variety of birds.
Next week should be great with the temperatures forecast to be in the 70s, perhaps into the 80s.

I spent the last two summers learning to play golf. I got fitted for new clubs last summer.
I'm tiny so I'm a bit lacking in distance, but I enjoy figuring out and making difficult golf shots.
I think all my life and work experience that allows me to enjoy playing golf.

A few months ago we hired a big girl who doesn't pass but she doesn't care about that since she is finally in a Happy Place.
I did a slow transition at work starting in 2018. She took a selfie of us standing side by side.

Marion

[JulieC]

Congratulations Marion! I hope retirement is everything you hope it to be and more!

Connecticut!!! I didn't know! How it miss it so...

I'm planning on doing something similar when I retire. My workplace is, on paper, accepting. Reality? Well, we have hundreds of employees and not a single one has ever come to work presenting. I've never been able to talk to anyone about it at work (for obvious reasons) but my feeling from what I get is that it's not really an accepting environment. I'm going to say something along the lines of "I've worked closely with all of you for more than 10 years, and I'm here now because I did good enough work to stay here. Yet, if I had crossdressed you probably would have fired me. Too late now!"

[Crissy 107]

Congratulations Marion! I hope you have a wonderful retirement and I can tell you that after you are retired for a few weeks you will be so busy with so many things. My wife got me into exercising and it is wonderful on so many levels.
I am sure you will do well, I am very happy for you!

[NancyTO]

Happy retirement. :(

You know you can hit off the women's tees, right?

[kimdl93]

Congratulations, both on your retirement and for going out in style!

[GaleWarning]

Welcome to retirement, Marion.
May it be a long and fruitful and happy one!
I'm impressed by your interest in birds.

[bridget thronton]

Best wishes in the next chapter of your life

[Helen_Highwater]

Marion,

I can testify that the saying that once you retire you wonder how you ever found time to go to work is true.

If nothing else, finances permitting ,it's a big country you live in and a bigger world. Since retirement my SO and I have discovered many wonderful towns and villages, countryside to explore even in little ol' UK.

[GretchenM]

Congratulations, Marion. It is a milestone to achieve that level and I wish you all the best. That said, retirement is still a bit of an adjustment to a new lifestyle. I suggest you ease yourself into it; don't build a wall behind you but stay connected with those who you developed relationships with, even if you decide to move to another place on the planet and start a new life.

But most of all have fun and enjoy the freedom to be yourself in a more complete way. Dear, you earned it!!!

[April Rose]

Congratulations, Marion. It sounds like you have the "staying active" part covered, but having all this new, unstructured time is a game changer, so stay aware of it. I found myself back in a part time job within six weeks of retiring. It was a fun job so I kept it for a few years.

Now that I'm fully retired I keep a "to do" list of 5 things every day. If I get to them, I get to them. If I don't, I don't. But it gives the day a little structure, and I'm never bored.

And Thanks, Marion, for representing our sisterhood in the work place in an obviously positive way.

Above all, Stay out of the rough. Enjoy!

[Sandi Beech]

Yes congratulations on making it to retirement. That has to be a huge change, and sounds like you are ready for it.

Sandi

[ShawnaL]

Congratulations, Marion! I hope you enjoy the next amazing phase of your life to the max!
Hugs! Shawna

[CarlaWestin]

Hon, update your age in your profile. Only 4 decades? Slacker.
Don't go golfing. Even though I had the correct wacking stick, I've never seen one come up out of that hole.
Total waste of time. Speaking of time, you will forget what day it is. You might still get up early but, that's just to enjoy the mornings you missed.
Hopefully, if your work defined you, you'll cherish the memory and enjoy the new life it brought to you.

[Kaycie]

Wonderful news! Sounds like you won't be board. There is peace and pleasure in the garden to enjoy.

[Stephanie47]

Enjoy your retirement. Working at the same job for forty years almost seems like a length of employment that is a thing of the past.

[alwayshave]

Congratulations on our retirement Marion. Enjoy!

[Misty_cder]

Marion,
Congratulations on retirement. I've been told by retirees that every day becomes a Saturday. I cannot speak from experience yet, have at least one more decade to go.

[Debra Russell]

Your outfit sounds really cute ...........would really like to see a picture. Good for you on your retirement, best of luck in all your endevers and have fun playing golf........................Debra

[BTWimRobin]

Hi Marion,

Congrats on your retirement. You outfit sounds pretty.

[Heather76]

Congratulations on your retirement. Your best days lie ahead. I'm glad to hear you planned for retirement by starting to learn the game of golf in advance. As you know, there is more to it than just hitting a little white ball. And, as Nancy mentioned, be sure to hit from the women's tees. That's what all the girls do.

[Fiona_44]

Congrats Marion. Enjoy the next phase of your life. Time to cross some things off your bucket list!

Fiona

[Maid_Marion]

Yes, I learned how to play golf from the women's or forward tees!
I need to organize my ladies golfing clothes and shoes. I won't need that space for my work wardobe!
There is a lot of strategy like playing chess. Do I want to tee off with a draw or fade? Even more when it comes to getting out of bad lies.
I just play nine holes, though I got a push cart over the winter to make it easier to play more holes.

I did about ten years of travel as a single. Then another fifteen when I got married. It got much harder when she went on disability needed a walker, and then a wheelchair.
But we went anyway, until it became impossible. It was neat being able to drive into Washington DC and park close to where we needed to go. Always found a spot!
Turns out that she had ALS, and I juggled taking care of her and a full time job for a year. With that experience, I still look young, but know more than most about getting old.

I am much more social when presenting female. I used to go to model rocket launches and spend a lot of time interacting with kids.
Not only would I fly really neat rockets, but I knew how to answer any questions in a way they would understand.
Some of it is confidence, as my ladies wardrobe fits really well. But is also the social interaction patterns that I've learned over the years.

Marion

[CDMargret]

Congratulations on your retirement. I have been retired and have become even more busy than when I was working. I like to say I wish I had a job so I could take the day off. Enjoy yourself.

[Crissy 107]

Marion, Great post #27, yes you are ready for retirement!

[Maria 60]

I'm also congratulating you on a great milestone to retire. You look to young to retire but I guess your never to young to retire. Looking forward to reading some exciting new stories of your next chapter of your life.

[Maid_Marion]

When I was working the best thing about playing golf is that was very effective as a "mental reset switch."
I did a lot of stressful customer service work and playing golf helped me forget about the past and move forward.

I make a lot of things with my hands. Including golf clubs.
I have feminine golf clubs! I got some Michelle Wie West golf shafts. They are white with distinctive pink lettering.
Add some pink Dri Tac grips and I have some distinctively girly clubs!