I have been retired for 13 years this month. Made MC. in 18 years. 14 years as OiC. Pretty much been a Lifeboat sailor my entire career.
What have I learned since retireing? Only that I dont know a damn thing about todays Coast Guard. It seems kind of sad in a way, but I guess it a good thing in other ways. You cant have growth without change. It is kind of sad though, because some of our ways were good and very effective. I have a son in the CG today (8 yrs.) and I find it hard to give him good solid advice at times because it is such a different world. The only thing that has'nt changed is the young people. They are still " top shelf"
I thought when I retired I would miss the boats, but it is actually the people and all thier problems that I miss.
What is it you miss, and what have you learned since you got out? Dave

Retired 20 years the end of July - I agree with dduren it's the people you miss. One of the members of our chapter of the CWOA has been retired since 1961!! He's 96 going on 97 and still attends every meeting. Don Call is his name a Great Lakes Sailor from way back.

Retired officially 1 SEP 1978, which makes me have more years in retirement than active duty.Made E-8 in about 18-years. I have never heard a retiree say anything but they miss the people. (I took the many days leave I had built up and was actually working at my first civilian job after retirement when my official retirement date came around.)

I learned that the retirement pay, plus education, made me very independent, i.e., I could change jobs anytime I wanted to and that many civilians were more discouraged than the person who has two years in and wants out of the service and feels trapped. The civilians were trapped because they had a family and no additional training to move on to something else and they did not have the additional money to fall back upon. If I would give one piece of advice to active duty people it would be get as much education as you can while still in, ops permitting, of course. The combination of education and retired pay does make you very independent.

There are a few other things I have learned since retirement, but they are negative and do not feel like taking up the band width.

It is nice to say that I have more years in retirement than active duty.

Been retired for seven years now.... WOW, time flies when you're having fun.....

I've learned a few things since retirement.... First, that I would miss some things about the Coast Guard, such as the great people in the organization, the work like AtoN & SAR.

I also learned that family life stability is a great, wonderful and necessary thing. I am so gratefull that I could be here with my Mother untill she passed away. I like that fact that my kids and wife can finally put down some "roots"... establishing wonderful friends, participating in the great things of our community has to offer, and having my property value more than doubled. Oh, great neighbors too!

When I was deciding to put my retirement letter in, I was a little worried about the future.... Had a wife & 3 kids.... Things couldn't be better.... Got it all, big pool house, with a big electric bill , 6 cars and a Harley.... Daughter that just went off to college got about $60,000+ in scholarships... Son just finished his Eagle Scout project.

Just waiting for "BMCM" an "Captain Mike" to retire to this area...

Wray...

HI: 1 Aug was 26 yrs for me.....The CG has
changed so much-it is hard to relate..

I have learned that you only get one (1) ride
so, do what you have wished before it's to
late..

Luck, Xring

Retired 29 yrs, 3 mos ago on 6/1/77 as CWO4, after 22 yrs, 7 mos active duty commencing 11/23/54 as an SR. Made YN1 11/1/58 in CGR and again on 1/1/59 upon reenlistment in USCG. Then voluntarily reduced to YN2 on 3/23/59 in order to go to Twidget (ET) School. Finally made ETC(P) on 1/16/63 and W-1 RELE(E) on 6/1/64. I was the third youngest WO in the CG. Back then, the ET's were getting out as fast as their enlistments expired. The Chiefs were content where they were and the WO/CWO population was aging. The CG has never left my heart and mind. It was like separating from family when I retired. I guess that accounts for the reason that I am now in the CG Auxiliary and get to wear my uniform again. I have learned that the "Old Guard" is simply the "New Guard" evolving. We all have stories to tell (many unbelievable, especially for us FESEC Loran duty types), some humorous, unprintable, ludicrous, serious and they will probably remain in our memory banks till we die.
All in all, it has been a great run when you reflect back on the friends and acquaintances you have made during and after your CG service.

Retired 12 years ago 1 August. Have stayed active with volunteering at CGA and being in the Auxiliary (you can take the boy out of the Coast Guard, but you can't take the Coast Guard out of the boy.) Things change, yes. The people are always the good part. One thing I learned was that I should've stayed for 30! But, I was offered a good position (state job) with excellent benefits and stability. Wife works at CGA, two sons (one CGA grad '93)with 6 grandchildren within 20 minutes. It was and is a wonderful life.

Hi Bill. Long time no hear. Still doing garage sales?? Bill Wilkinson sends.

30 years the day after tomorow.
Luckly kids(3) were only in elementry school or not old enough at my retirement time so were raised in a small town with good schools and good friends, all are college grads, married to college grads and all in education except one son in law, rancher.
Enjoying good health, no VA disability, I work when I want to,and can't wait until Friday.
"DOVE SEASON OPENS"
Wish all fellow retires "Fair winds and following seas"

Fred Hardy

This is a great thread. It makes me reflect on things, past, present and future. I often wonder what it will be like on the other side in retired life. I'm not really sure how I'll feel when I walk out the door for the last time as an active duty person. To be honest, I'm not sure if I will look back. I've got this picture in my mind that I'll walk out and just keep driving down the road to where ever it leads me next. It will be a psychological adjustment after all the years of living a structured life.

I only planned on doing 4 years when I came in. If I can survive this HQ tour and get my #1 choice, that will get me to 30. That's only about 4-1/2 years away. I look back on my career so far and some things seem like a blurr. Where did the time go??

John

Bill Wilkinson..shoot me a pm...
Bill

Seven years today...

As Captain Phil "Frenchy" Lebet said, Uncle Sam is paying me to stay away, and I'm doing my part.

I will celebrate my 50th year of retirement next August( always an optomist) 1936-1957. What I have learned over all these years is that you can never get the salt out of your blood! Lou Bender

quote:

Uncle Sam is paying me to stay away, and I'm doing my part.

What a great line.. I love it.... Works for me too

Wray...

Retired 13 years today (Sept. 1st).

Haven't had a moment of boredom. Started and sold 2 small businesses, one doing IT consulting for other small businesses, the other a photography business specializing in special events and "headshots" for a couple of newspapers. I was also able to produce and sell enough landscapes and seascapes to add to the bank account.

In between, I managed to earn a double BA degree in History and Economics at Sacramento State University. My favorite two classes during my undergrad years however were biology and chemistry. And that leads to where I am today, enrolled in a microbiology class and a human lifespan development class (synthesizes human biology & psychology). Next semester, it's human anatomy & physiology plus biochemistry. Won't say quite where this is leading to now but to say the least, this is all interesting stuff and giving me a better understanding about the human condition and especially the epidemics going around the world today - avian flu & other diseases.

As was mentioned above, the key to a good retirement is planning and begining that planning as early as possible. When one is at the 10 or 15 year mark, retirment from the Coast Guard might seem far off. But it will come sooner than you think. Retirement can be a rocky transition. But it can be smoothed out if you plan ahead both financially and psychologicaly. If you have a family, you really need to include your spouse and kids in the planning processes.

And finally, after you do retire, make sure you have patience with yourself and with your family and incourage your family to have patience for you. A new routine, regardless of what you will be doing after the ceremony, will be a big transition and sometimes, won't be easy. You don't have to go it alone!

It's been 13 years and for the most part, I've enjoyed every moment of it.

mw

2006-1974 = 32 years

Never missed a pay check or direct deposit,the pay center or whatever they call it now is great.BZ to them,COLA's forever.

I think Grits starts these threads just to see if I am still alive. He knows that I am one of the few remaining retirees from the Treasury Department Coast Guard. Still hanging in there Boats, but starting to feel lonesome.

I retired in the shadow of a Matson liner on some wharf train tracks in San Francisco June 30, 1961 as a CHGUN3. The Port Security gang fell in, the COTP published my orders, I reviewed the troops, sold my sword to a reservist, got in a 60 Falcon station wagon belonging to me and the credit union, and after 25 years was on permanent liberty. My retired pay was about $246 a month (I think, been awhile.) After 45 years I get a bit more now.

I had been staying at the Navy BOQ at Treasure Island, so after the ceremony went to pick up belongings but was told I had to wait till 1800 because I was now retired and only rated space available!

Welcomed to a new world!

Would not change a thing. In those 25 years from marines, 165s to seaplanes to the Academy had an interesting and fulfilling career that incidentally prepared me for all eventualities.

Ack

PS: Wrote the first WO exam on professional subjects and ordnance. aaa

Hey ack I did some time in the Treasury Department also,now if you were in the Revenue Cutter fleet we would consider you old,hang in there,glad to hear you are ok.

Eat more Grits for your health.

The Coast Guard was still under Treasury when I enlisted in 1960 too. Kinda wish it still was.

I retired (involuntary - due to a disabilty) 33 years ago.

Some may think I am nuts, but I have always missed the going to sea. Some of the folks too, but mostly going to sea.

What have I learned? Being an ex GM didn't translate well into a civilian job. So I went into high tech and worked there for about 30 years. Discovered I could do a lot of different things and do them well enough to compete with college grads for jobs and actually win the positions. Ended up working as a Engineering Project Manager. a Director of Materials, and a few other interesting and challenging jobs.

Also a Treasury Dept. brat. I think they made the change in about 67 or so. Dave