So, how is the retirement gig?

[Hem]

Will you be found one day a week working the bathroom fixture aisle at Home Depot?

Construction guys always joke about the orange vest option.

 

[mtmuley]

Construction guys always joke about the orange vest option.

I'm gonna get a part time gig at Scheels and sell Creedmoors and PRC's with Vortex scopes to everyone. And spiral fluted barrels. And a box of match bullet ammo. Gonna be great. mtmuley

 

[geetar]

I imagine a world where RJ asks for help finding something in Home Depot and they page Buzz over to help.

 

[RealMuddyboots]

Congrats!
Boat launches during the week are empty.
Public land is big deal. Hunt Wed-Thurs and critters are calmed down.
Rifle ranges empty.
The list is endless!!!

The one piece of advice I have is do as many hunts as you can while you have good health. Health issues can appear without notice.

 

[JMG]

Congratulations!! I'm about a year behind you.

 

[cedahm]

Congratulations, Buzz. I'd tell you to enjoy it, but you just will. I'm probably 2-3 years out myself on the heavy lifting work phase, then I'm imagining just working in a fly shop for a few years before I peace out.

Thanks for doing the work most of us all theorize about (at length).

 

[Gr8bawana]

57 years 10 months

Awesome! You're young enough so you've got a lot of years ahead of you for new hunting adventures.

 

[Gellar]

@BuzzH , Congratulations on your retirement and thank you for your public service.

Congrats Buzz. Losing the vast experience of us old guys is a blow to many employers. The FS is losing a lot.
I concur with the others. Stay busy. I doubt you will have a problem with that.

The institutional knowledge lost from our public conservation agencies in the last 20 years is phenomenal. Before his retirement, my previous boss tried to pass as much of it as possible but I still find myself reaching out to him and other retirees because it is just easier to call and ask them rather rummage through a file cabinet because the work they did 30 years ago is not digitalized.

I'm gonna get a part time gig at Scheels and sell Creedmoors and PRC's with Vortex scopes to everyone. And spiral fluted barrels. And a box of match bullet ammo. Gonna be great. mtmuley

When you wear out your Attack pants please consider cutting the legs off of them to wear as shorts to your part time gig. It gets hot in those stores.

 

[Brad]

Well today is my last day with the FS.

A heartfelt congratulations on a fine career Buzz - you have my respect and thanks for your public service. Best Wishes for the future...

 

[ovis2]

Congratulations! I can see the light at the end of my tunnel, so you'll have to keep us all informed of the do's and do not's.

 

[7mm08mo]

Congratulations, I'm sure you will enjoy it.

 

[ewludwig]

Congratulations! Hoping you have many healthy years enjoying the fruits of your labor! It’s post like this that make me realize the money burning a hole in my pocket should stay there so I can retire as soon as possible. Although I love Scheels AND crreedmore’s so the two are in constant conflict

 

[SaskHunter]

Congrats Buzz, that's a whole lot of Public Service!

 

[passinthru]

Congratulations sir!

Happy Hunting!

 

[mtmiller]

Fair question.


As to the year...tough one. My original plan was to retire at 60. Then came trump2.0 and his south african side kick. I was in the perfect place to take the DRP, and I really wanted to take it.

However, with the clown show of the new administration, I saw Union Membership sky rocket. The local that I was President of the past decade, saw astronomical growth. So, high we were given an award by NFFE.

I knew I had to stay a couple more years at that point. I was being entrusted to help a workforce and represent them best I could through a blatant and illegal attack on the Federal workforce.

Along with my day job, i did a lot of work trying my best to help coworkers navigate the lowest points in many of their careers. Undoubtedly the toughest 2 years for me personally at my Union role. Lots of long phone calls with anxious coworkers, most of them after tough days in the field.

The Union has been successful in thwarting a bunch of this administration's bullshit.

So wirh everything in good order at work...and the offer of VSIP/VERA, the table was set for me.

Been financially set for 5 years...my one recommendation here: PAY YOURSELF FIRST.

When you prepare correctly, the timing becomes a bit easier.

You are a better public servant than me.

I loved my Federal job, but the clown show was just too much for me to continue. In April of 2025, when DOGE offered me DRP/VERA with 5 days to make a decision, I decided to leave the shit show. They incentivized me by paying me out for the remaining 8.5 months of 2025. I even tried to stay on through the remainder of April to button up my sage-grouse work, but they said "no way". Government efficiency. I was pretty stressed for the first month on how my ongoing and planned projects would move forward, but after a month or so, I just started enjoying a long string of Saturdays.

I picked up my Four Wheel Camper February 18 of this year and last night was #154 on the road. I will shoot elk pics for another couple of days and then the pup and I are off to chase roosters for a week....maybe a couple. I do need to stop by the house on Friday to pick up my Starlink delivery and then back on the road....and yes, I see the hypocrisy.

Again, congratulations and enjoy your retirement...I know that you will take full advantage of it.