Reports Of My Retirement Are Greatly Exaggerated

Sometimes all it takes is the action of another to motivate you to make a decision you’ve been pondering for some time. 

On Monday 83-year old Barbara Walters announced that after 37 years with ABC she is planning to retire next summer. It got me thinking.

I’ve been giving more and more thought to retirement as I watch many of my friends and peers prepare to walk off into the sunset.  Most of them are in education or law enforcement and some have plans for second careers while others are simply looking to kick back and play some golf or spend time on the beach.

Maybe even travel or babysit the grandkids.  Bottom line is no alarm clock, no having to be somewhere at a specific time, no meetings, no stress.

I clearly need a break in the routine.  July will be my 34^th anniversary at WOBM and for 99% of that time I’ve been the first person in the building each morning.

Granted we have a new building and I have a nice big office, complete with a flat-screen TV, refrigerator and many of the comforts of home.  But 34 years of the alarm clock going off at 2:40AM most mornings takes its toll, especially when you’re one of those who would rather function on three hours sleep then miss a Rangers or Knicks playoff game.

How great would it be to get up around 7 o’clock, go to the gym for a morning workout and then get a cup of coffee and heard on over to the beach and boardwalk? After all my oldest son is established in his career and doing very well and my daughter has only one year of college left.  My wife is closing in on retirement and at age 57 I am not getting any younger.

However in fairness to the wonderful people I work for I will pull a Barbara Walters and give them plenty of notice.  Let’s face it; while none of us is irreplaceable they’re going to have a hard time filling my shoes.  The Hometown View each morning, all the sports programming I handle, sales and marketing, the WOBM Christmas Classic, public relations and speaking engagements, janitorial and cleaning services.

I mean..without sounding too egotistical I have been to some degree the face of the franchise.

So like Barbara Walters did yesterday I’m making it official Ocean County.  I’m announcing my retirement, effective with the summer of 2023.  Just another 10 years of that damn alarm clock and I’m home free.