Today I am officially retired. For a long time it felt like this day would never come. 30 years working a Honda plant. some good years, some not so good, various department, various roles. The best job I had was a leadership role for 8 years, 2006 to 2014. This was in the parts delivery/shipping dept. 2012 they told us this department was being outsourced. 2015, after training the new company associates for 2 years, I am put on the weld assembly line. 26 years of service, and I am treated like a day one associate, off the street. I plug away mindlessly online for my final 4 years, able to cope knowing the end is near. I am glad it is over, especially the shift work. I suppose I am thankful to be able to retire at age 51. But the shift work was difficult, especially as my kids grew up.