This tub and door are being ripped out and replaced next week! Yay! The tile will also be replaced, with bead board.
“The client hates you and now I have to eat that $50!”
The client in question had been a bitch on wheels throughout the entire real estate deal. On the day of closing, she had decided that she wanted her sales proceeds wired instead of deposited. There was no time to re-do the closing statement. She had previously been advised, both verbally and by email, that there would be a $50 fee to wire proceeds, and she had opted against that at the time, so surely she knew we would charge that fee now. Due to the tight time frame, no one thought to call the client – again – to advise of the wire fee. The file was already with the closer.
On every real estate sale, we hold a $250 water escrow pending payment of the final bill, so one of the attorneys suggested taking the $50 from the water escrow and doing a revised closing statement later. Unfortunately, this advice was not in writing and afterwards the attorney “did not recall” making that suggestion. The post-closing package that normally goes out to the clients would include a revised closing statement, but due to the overwhelming workload, the clerk responsible for that package had not gotten to it before the client went ballistic and called The Boss. The client threatened to file a grievance with the Bar Association.
And all the grief came down on me, as I was the paralegal handling the file. I could have done more. I should have done more. Perfection was expected at all times.
It was the final straw. I already was not sleeping, and when I did sleep I had nightmares about work – did I miscalculate an adjustment on a closing statement, did I forget to send out a status report to one of the clients, had any of the clients misunderstood anything I had told them, was everyone everywhere totally happy with me? Have I been complying with the extremely regimented office protocol? Was I following the bathroom rules?
At 3:00 am, I made the decision. I am 65 and will be 66 in early 2018. I would quit now, live off the proceeds from the sale of my prior house, and apply for Social Security next year. Of course, I would still have to work, but I could supplement Social Security with just a part-time job. Heck, I could be a Walmart greeter and survive, and I certainly would be much happier.
The next day I gave my two weeks’ notice, and I slept like a baby that next night.
My intention is to take a couple of months off while dealing with household construction and medical issues, and then find something for, at most, 4 days a week – in a support role where someone else has ultimate responsibility for the final outcome. Most likely, it will not be in the legal field – but hopefully, will be a job that can use my extensive experience and skills.
Only time will tell. Am I a little scared? Absolutely. I have never left a job without having something else lined up, and jobs are not easy to find when one is a senior citizen. The proceeds from the sale of my prior home will not last forever.
On the up side: The Boss is trying very hard to come up with some kind of part-time position that I can live with, assuming I’m willing to stay in that office at all. I’m not totally opposed to that. After all, some income, even in a less than desirable environment, is better than no income in an ideal environment.
Again, time will tell. For now, I’m looking forward to two months of absolute nothingness.
Now, that’s the life!
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I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com
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Images by Cordelia’s Mom
Cordelia's Mom, Still 
Good for you. I took my bank retirement package at 50 even though I no longer worked for the bank. Had I not done so, I would have lost it as the bank was sold and only existing pensioners got their pensions. At 51, not liking the way the company I was working for was going, I quit. My pot was to last 9 years, but thanks to the UK gvnt moving the goalposts, it actually had to last 15. Here I am now with 5 years to go and holding out, just.
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Glad to hear it. Unfortunately, my pot will only last about 4 months because I need to pay for the household renovations out of that same pot. But I think I can make it through.
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I am sure you will. Once we know the score, it;s amazing how we can adapt and prioritize.
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You earned every bit of that night you slept like a baby.
All that over $50?! I shake my head, I do.
I have worked with several lawyers, but one so notably unstable — he was often ‘unable to recall’ and I suspect told himself different truths to believe, many of which surely included those of his own perfection 😛 It forever changed me, and I, too, slept like a baby when I left.
You will find something you like, something new, perhaps even interesting. Something that lets you breathe and snuggle puppy and enjoy your new house more often. Good for you! Good things coming your way! 🙂
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I sure hope so! Thanks, Joey.
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Yay!!!! Congratulations on freeing yourself from that burden.
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Thanks, Victo. I just hope I haven’t created a bigger burden.
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Yay! At this point in life, there is no reason to work in a negative environment. Good luck.
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Thanks, Dan. I only held on as long as I did because I needed to keep the income up in order to buy the “new” house. We can cut back now.
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YOU ARE MY HERO….. I dream of when I can just walk away. Believe me, there are a ton of jobs out there for much less money though. You will be fine. They will take you on part time. But you dictate your hours. Boy that’s justice! Enjoy your first “retirement”. I do not envy the house projects though. So jealous!!!!! LOLOL…
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It’s been a long, long haul to get to this point. I wish I could retire completely, but I’ll take what I can get.
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Your health is paramount! 💜💜💜
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You’ve got that right, Willow. I lost my health over a job once. Never again.
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You take care of yourself 💜💝
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Always, Willow.
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🌹💜😁😁
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Congratulations on your short-lived, upcoming retirement! I hope you enjoy the long vacation, and when you return to work, I hope you enjoy whatever you find. Retirement is always a bit scary, because we are so accustomed to that steady flow of income resulting from our efforts. When it stops it’s easy to wonder if it will ever be needed start back up again.
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Thanks, Tippy. I thought long and hard before I made that decision, and I made sure my current finances would support at least semi-retirement. Hopefully, it will all work out.
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Cheers to you, CM for making such a bold decision. Enjoy your break and hope you find a part-time job soon. And the photo of puppy Cody says it all – that’s life alright! (ŐωŐ人)
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I love that photo. I wished I would have been the one on the couch and she would have been the one taking the picture.
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Enjoy the two months of nothingness. Things will fall into place. Be proud of yourself!
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Thank you. I certainly hope things will fall into place. It’s going to be interesting, for sure.
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If you can make it work financially, retirement is WONDERFUL.
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The trick is to make it work financially. I’ll see what I can do.
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Wow. Good on you for taking that step. Take care of yourself and enjoy your brief holiday as I am sure you’ll have a part time job soon.
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I sure hope so, Vicky. But first, I need to get through the household renovations. Ugh. I remember the last time I did that.
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If you absolutely can’t wait until 66 because of financial reasons, retire now. Best thing I ever did. Remember I used to go to the urologist for that issue 4x a year – no more because I no longer have the stress. Health is more important than money hands down.
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No job is worth losing your health over. I learned that the hard way. I’m glad your health improved once you got rid of the stress, and I’m hoping my experience will be similar.
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