46 years...a long time. 

My very first job was working for the federal government under President Kennedy's "Youth Opportunity" program.  I made 72 cents an hour, BIG money in 1966 for a 16 year old.  I have had many jobs doing many different things. Some I loved, some I hated. 

This last job has lasted 12 years and has allowed me to retire.  I was fortunate enough to go to work for a fledgling company and take part in profit sharing.  The company grew beyond the owner's (my boss's) dreams.  So after being "down sized" from 2 jobs that I thought I would retire from, you know the kind of jobs this country used to have, good benefits and a good retirement package, I took a risk at 50 and went to work for a company offering none of those.  We started in a basement and grew to a multimillion dollar a year company. 

The American Dream realized. 

Now the profit sharing wasn't millions, but with the right investments (after a dive in 2008) my little 401K was enough to pay off all my debt and have some left over.

I filed online for my social security and it took less than 2 weeks for them to send me a "welcome" letter.  Celia A Armstrong would be getting her first check in July for June.  It was one of the easiest things I have ever done.  So, at 5:00 CST today, Celia A Armstrong will start sucking at the teet of Social Security.  The old girl has a bunch of my money and now, I am going to take it back.

So long 8-5!  Garden here I come!!