[eweissenbach]

I retired 5 years ago, and I had mixed emotions. I LOVED my job as a marketing manager with Principal Financial Group (as well as my previous jobs as a high school coach and insurance manager). It was challenging, fullfilling, and a great work environment, plus I had dozens of good friends there. However, when I went to work there, knowing I would work only five more years, we decided to buy our retirement home on a lake, 2 hours from work and I leased an apartment within walking distance of my office. I tired of the weekly commute, and being in the apartment by myself every week. I took a lot of PTO on Fridays and bought extra PTO so I could have long weekends, but it still wore on me. Had we bought a home in Des Moines, where the office was, I would undoubtedly have worked another 3 years or so, retiring at 65 rather than 62. But, I would have missed out on a lot of good times, including winter visits to South Padre Island, Tx., and the last 3 years in TV. All in all I have no regrets as my philosophy is always to look forward.