Windy woods walk

 We managed to get up and out the door before 8 am today, to go for a walk in one of the parks in the city.

It was very windy, so the bugs didn't bother us, and we did okay with how warm it was until right close to the end of the walk.

Then, we went out for breakfast, and got home before 9:45 am.

It was good to be out in nature for a little bit.  Not very long, but certainly better than nothing.

This past week, I submitted an inquiry to the human resources department at work regarding what kinds of steps or programs they have for employees considering retirement. 

They said to contact the bank that handles our retirement accounts....  

SO, I did that, and received a phone call from our company contact, and she basically gave me some information about how I will need to roll the account into an IRA in order to start collecting it as income.

Well, yeah.  I knew that... She told me that the roll over forms are on the website, and then she told me what it would cost to keep her as a financial advisor after I retire, and how she would need to meet with me and Dave to set up an advisory account for us.

I had already told her (when I met with her last year) that Dave has a person, and I have a person, and that we probably would not be hiring her.  

I told her that h/r had said she was the person to help me retire from my company, but she is clearly just to be on the banking/financial portion of retiring. 

Anyway, apparently, my company has no protocol for a person who is retiring.  I guess you just give notice, and then stop working.

It's so.... weird!  

Dave's company had several meetings with him, and his manager and h/r department provided guidance.... eventually.  

I mean, you may recall that it took some wrangling, and was frustrating, but he finally got the help he needed.

I will receive no such guidance. None what so ever, apparently, from the company itself.

ANYWAY, I am still hoping to retire early, possibly by the end of July, if I can figure everything out on my own.

The woman from the bank is going to find out when we are supposed to get our annual contribution to our retirement account, and if I have to be employed until then (last year, it came in mid-August).  

Fiscal year end is June 30th, so I am thinking if I am employed through the end of June, I should qualify for the contribution.  

This SHOULD be regardless of my employment status at the time they finally decide to pay out our contributions.

My next step will be meeting with my fiduciary, who already handles my investment account that my dad left to me.  

I suppose I need to alert him to the fact that I am pursuing the possibility now, rather than just speculating about it. 

I will plan to roll my work account into an IRA that HE will handle.  I also need to ask if I can roll my investments into an IRA, too, so that my income is all the more useful. 

The money from my work retirement account will not last very long, I am thinking, before it's tapped out.

Anyway, we should be hearing soon if we get raises this year, the news of which also comes around the fiscal year end.  

I would like the opportunity to get a few paychecks at the higher pay, too, and have it reflected when I start collecting my social security.

Nothing much else to report.

The rain has finally stopped, and now it's insufferably hot.  Cabin fever season has begun.

Dave managed to get the back yard mowed yesterday, before it got too hot out.  He will do the front one morning this coming week.

We have the name and number of a lawn guy now (two other attempts to get someone to come resulted in no call backs), so hopefully, he will get set up with him for the summer.

No appointments this past week, or next week, which is nice.

Have a good week, and, if you pray, in any way, please pray for peace.