Alana & Ed (BTW, are you a Mopar enthusiast?),
Here's my $0.02 on SSDI, etc...
Retire, quit or whatever ASAP and file for SSDI. Then once you're approved and recieving checks you can consult for your ex-employer (or do anything) as long as you don't *net* more than $1,090 after expenses. The person at SS was very keen on making sure I knew this - to the point of mentioning it 5 times during our conversation.
In either case it could allow you to keep working enough to retain your sanity and also earn a few bucks while still being able to collect and most importantly enjoy time with those you love. Worth checking into further.
Thanks for the tips. I may do the consultant thing next year (possibly some for free for the right customer).
I have a few milestones to reach before my last working day (LWD). ESOP shares credit for the last 12 months work require employment through October 1, HR is still clarifying the tax law for 401k withdraw penalty if my LWD is before age 55 (January), and they still cannot unravel the short-term or long-term disability insurance path. This will all get worked out before October 1.
SSDI is already approved after my LWD, but State Disability is yet to answer a phone or email (demanding an in person visit).
In the short-term the family and I are taking some summer vacation time, and Alana and I are flying overseas in September (no kids).
My employer is understanding with the vacation time as long as my jobs profits keep coming in. I did get them to get serious on transition plans for customers, so decades of relationships will not wither.
One of my customers manufactures the peptides for Genervon and other biopharmacuticals, so keeping production and quality high is now somewhat a more personal and selfish desire than doing good work for fair compensation. I now have a more personal stake to help qualify their improvements to expand capacity. The peptides field is growing in exponential terms for many disease treatments and clinical trials, with tens of millions of dollars ready to be spent on production of successful trial solutions. There will be a transition away from my direct involvement and I have already introduced the young Engineer who will tackle thier continued growth they should experience (and hopefully help with a cure for ALS).
The challenges of rewarding work with customers will be hard to walk away from, more difficult with the ones who may somehow have an impact on my well-being and eventual fate, but we all know this disease does not wait or truncate progression on anyone's schedule.
I like Mopars, and owned a Super Bee once, but I have a 63 Sting Ray with the 340hp engine that has sat far too long in the garage. The spare engine is in the machine shop for assembly so I can get it on the road with the help of my 14 year old son. I have a few selfish loose ends like it to tie up and enjoy while I can. Balancing family and old hobbies favors family, but this hobby brings us together (and maybe teach something usefu).
The past few months have been a shock with lots of plans on hold, and we need to not give up and keep moving forward where we can. I will not sit and fail to try maintaining a quality existence (or coach one when I physically cannot do it myself).
