106 - When Retirement
Comes Early Unexpectedly
For several weeks, I
have not been able to concentrate and stay focus in whatever I was doing.
The reason is simple. Ever since news of my
company where yours truly works launched a Mutual Separation Scheme (MSS) and
Early Retirements Option (ERO) (more than a month ago) and it so happened I was
one of those offered through the ERO package scheme, I had to wait anxiously
for the official letter of offer to come.
What a big relief when finally late two weeks
ago, the offer letter finally came and after going through the details, decided
to sign and will be leaving the company by year end.
I considered myself quite lucky to be offered the
ERO. I was due for retirement this first quarter of the year. But because the
retirement age was revised to 60 from 55
under the Minimum Retirement Age Act in 2013, I had the luxurious option to
continue to work or not to.
Believed it or not, a chunk of pressure is off my
chest knowing I would be officially retiring by year end. No longer do I have
to worry about waking up early or at times feeling the stress of being caught
up in traffic jams. Nor do I have to constantly be making decisions after
decisions during the course of my work.
Another plus point is finally I would be giving
my rather problematic eyes some good rest after so many years of looking at
computer the whole day during working time.
I say problematic because I went for
cataract/glaucoma eyes surgery in 2014 (left eye) and 2015 (right eye). Even
now, I have been faithfully cleaning my eyes with hot water every morning as
instructed strictly by the eye doctor and then apply with eye drop of later to
relax my sensitive eyes.
My blogs would also be taking an indefinite break
as I wouldn't be able to pen my thoughts and have it done on the computer from
the comfort of the big cushioning chair and user friendly table and computer
..... from my working place anymore.
Yes, you heard it right. All those blogs have
been written when I have some spare time during my working hours.
As I looked back since the inception of the first
blog on July 23, 2013, titled ; One Good Seng of Bursa Malaysia, I am extremely
pleased with myself for being able to continuously come out with views and
ideas during the last few years.
I sincerely hope most of you would have profited
in your investments one way or another should my blogs played an influential
role in it. But then again, we must learn to accept that no decision is always
right forever.
Sometimes we might have sold off too early and
regret to see that "sold-off" stock continues to rise further and
further again. There were also times when we didn't take profits of between
10-20% when we had the chances and then consciously or unconsciously let it
retreat into negative (like what had happened to most of my stocks in the
Kassim's Basket of Defensive Stocks).
By then, it is crystal clear that except for Chin
Well and Harrisons that stay in positive zone, the rest are in negative zone.
This again proved that winning from the stock
market is never easy even for someone who has great passion in studying
companies and their businesses and read a lot on investment.
Least but not last, I hope you as my readers
would benefits from my views and ideas all those years. I thank each one of you
for being with me all these years.
Take great care of yourself especially our health
as it is even more important than our wealth. You can be for sure I would be
having plenty of time to take great care of myself with more morning exercises
and regularly consuming more fruits and vegetables daily.
Of course in between, I would still be paying
attention to stocks market as well.
Good luck to each one of you.
