I turned in my gear yesterday. FiresIsHot is now FireIsNot.

After 31 years on the ole’ DFD, 25 of those on the technical rescue team, 6 years on the ambulance, and 12 years writing software for the City of Dallas part time, I’m done.

I’ve buried friends, delivered babies, seen people lose everything they own in fires, and done more CPR’s than anybody should have to see, much less endure.

So I guess now I’m officially a full time pond guy, I celebrated by buying a load of rip rap for my lake.

Anybody need a store greeter?

Congratulations. I basically hung up 42 years of a crazy career a year ago. I don't know how had I time to go to work.

Congratulations, it is great to hear that you have retired. You should be very proud of the work you have done and the things you have seen and endured. I hope you have a great retirement and enjoy each day. i bet you would make a great bouncer as well as a greeter.

Bing, I'm too broke up to be a bouncer. I'm still doing back end code for a couple of websites, but I'll phase those out as soon as possible.

Cat, how long did it take for your wife to get tired of you being home more? In my case, it only took 9 hours.

From one firefighter to another, congratulations Brother. As for being too broke up - what do you suggest for a guy that has 21 1/2 years to go and is already broke up? HAHA Enjoy not having to endure sleepless nights anymore, at least sleepless nights of working. Hopefully you will only experience the best of people instead of the things we have to deal with day in and day out. Enjoy!

Victor, that's an easy answer. Think before you act, keep your adrenaline under control, and know your crews. If you happen to have a shift with a less then stellar crew, then be extra careful. After all, they'll be the one's responsible for coming to your aide if you need it.

And yes, I hear uninterrupted sleep is a good thing.

It was actually pretty easy. We worked together for probably 25 years, including in our own business for a number of years. At this point we're past the 37 year mark together, so we obviously put up with each other's.nuttiness.

Fireishot, congratulations! My Dad was an Engineer for the Chicago FD and he retired in the mid '80's after he couldn't add any more to his retirement benefits. He worked for a dental lab before he joined, and worked for a couple of dentists making partials and full uppers/lowers in the basement on his days off and still worked doing that after he retired. He finally retired from that when he and mom moved out here 2 years ago.

You'll find something to keep you busy!

CONGRATULATIONS Al!!
How 'bout a Pond Greeter?
George

I am envious of you all who are retiring now. You all are living in the last of the golden age of America. By the time I retire in another 25 or so years, there won't be much worth retiring for I fear...

Thanks for your service FireIsNot !

We all hear you CJ.

Congrats, and now go have some fun!!!

Thanks guys but I have to admit, most of us do it because where else can you run red lights, drive over a 100 on the freeway and not get a ticket, and not get shot at(only happened once to me).

The volunteer firefighters are the one's that impress me. As a rule, little or no pay, less support, less training, and no retirement. I'm not sure I could have made that commitment. Those guys amaze me.

Congrats I can't wait for the next 30 yrs of work to pass, but I want the next 30 years of everything else in my life to take it's sweet time..

Good luck Fire enjoy te sweet life

Congrats, Al!

I've tested retirement out for 3 years, and it was Sweet!!!

Had to get back to work tho, to finish stuff.

A few more years, and things should be cool!

I won't be waiting on gubment fund's or retirement accounts set up by an employer.

My dad just turned 83. He worked for a company for 37 years and had all this retirement stuff extracted from his paycheck over the years. Big chunk of change, but he only get's a 14 dollar check once a year.

Owner passed away, and son, who is a lawyer, figured out how to totally screw everyone, and get away with it.

There are Good people, and not so nice, evil people.

Pretty much a crap shoot tho, when dealing with people.

JKB, it's funny you said that. I'm leaving with a big project 2/3rds done. Damn the luck.

You can probably kick in or do consulting work for a fee. If you are worth anything, they will pay you!

That may have not sounded correct, but ya get the idea.

Negative. Our City Manager decided last year that rehiring retired employees, even through a subcontractor, was double dipping. We lost 3 programmers, and a suburb fix it guy, and none have been replaced.

In fact, I've worked the last 6 months, on my own free off shift time, just to get this finished, so I'm not inclined to go back.

Dallas citizens want, IMHO, police/fire protection, their trash picked up, and good smooth streets. What they got was a 182 million dollar Calatrava bridge, an Opera theater, and soon a toll road through the Trinity River flood plane. Meanwhile, the infrastructure is collapsing.

JKB, I wish sometimes that a private company exec could just come in and straighten things out. I'm guessing when you went back to work, somebody recognized your worth and thought it had value to the company, and acted on that assumption. That's what a lot of Municipalities forget. Spend a dollar, and make ten.

Rant over.

EDIT BY ME: JKB, rant was aimed at City of Dallas, certainly not you. I had my opportunities to go to the private sector, and chose not too.

Ditto that ewest!!! And to anyone else who has faithfully served their community. Enjoy your retirement FireIsNot!!!

But like they say..."You can take the boy out of the country but you can't take the country out of the boy". .

But like they say..."You can take the boy out of the country but you can't take the country out of the boy". . [/quote]

Right on HL. We had a similar saying when I was in VN & the Philippines etc:
"you can take the hog out of the bar, but you can't take the bar out of the hog"

if not appropriate please monitor - I'm used to it...

rmedgar, I just got done cleaning coffee off of our desk from laughing. I'm gonna file that one

Congratulations on your retirement.