Click to View the Full Thread

Author	Message Text
jhb8426	09/23/2017 12:45AM   Congrats, enjoy it all.
ozarkpaddler	09/23/2017 04:42AM   Congratulations on your retirement, I dare say yours is VERY well earned!
mastertangler	09/23/2017 05:59AM   Congrats........A guy my age who is retired. Will your wife let you take long canoe trips? Do you fish hard? What is your opinion about carrying other peoples stuff across portages? Sort of sounds like a job application ;)
arctic	09/23/2017 09:23AM   Congrats on your retirement, LindenTree3! Sounds like your retirement will be a continuation of adventure. Enjoy!
pswith5	09/23/2017 10:22AM   Lucky bastard. ;) I am envious.
MHS67	09/23/2017 10:14AM   Hey Linden, well done!! I always like to ask, after 28 years, what were you thinking on your "last day at work"? What was the last call you went on? That is the one you will remember. I won't likely forget mine! Another option you might consider is teaching. If you have a college or a high school that has a fire program they are always looking for instructors. I have been retired for 17 years and have been a wildland instructor for 16 of those years. It really is fun working with the kids and watching them start their careers. Again, thank you for the service you provided!! Larry
DrBobDg	09/23/2017 11:11AM   Canoeing in Canada... Check out Two Jack Lake near Banff, Lake Louise of course. Course pretty areas are ho hum for you anyway... very pretty puddles... congrats.... At 67 I was helping get a stupid cow out of the gutter and seriously asking myself 'why'.... and the farmer would like to quit but his wife won't let him.... Anyway finally got her up and trying to get her in a stanchion to check for a twisted stomach....well she runs down the aisle and slips by the closed door to the yard and jams herself again.... so we have to open the door so she would have room to get up....so she gets up, runs out the door, under the electric fence gate to the rest of the herd..and gone. Can't charge enough..... dr bob
Zulu	09/23/2017 11:10AM   Did you get a silver plated Pulaski mounted to a plaque as a parting gift? My cousin, a retired Pike National Forest guy did. He is very proud of his work, checks fire incidents on the web often and wears wrist bands to remember those who lost their lives in fire. If you didn't get a silver plated one I think you can just use spray paint on the tool for the same effect.
nctry	09/23/2017 03:09PM   Gee, I thought you'd be here to rescue me out of the hospital. Haha. Congratulations on your retirement. Hope we can get together when you get back.
Jaywalker	09/23/2017 05:37PM   Congratulations and well done, Linden!
deerfoot	09/23/2017 06:09PM   Congratulations! I still remember when I retired over 11 years ago - I woke up everyday for the first six months or so with a great big smile on my face. Retired means every night is Friday night and every day is Saturday.
jcavenagh	09/23/2017 08:25PM   LT3 - process this... you are alive and as far as I know, have had no major disabling injuries. That ain't nothing to sneeze at for a guy who did what you did for as long as you did it! Go have fun!!
LindenTree3	09/23/2017 08:46PM   quote jcavenagh: "LT3 - process this... you are alive and as far as I know, have had no major disabling injuries. That ain't nothing to sneeze at for a guy who did what you did for as long as you did it! Go have fun!!" Thanks, I fought over 600 wildfires, did Tornado recovery, Floods and the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Yes I'm in good health and was fortunate to not need a stich during my career, only got a few minor burns, spent some time in an ambulance after heating up my lungs from breathing hot gases trying to outrun a fire. (I lost) I guess there was one night spent in the ER and hospital in Oregon in a different incident. Back in the old days we/Government wide took alot more chances than we do today. No one under my direct supervision had anything more than a minor injury in all that time, I consider that my greatest success. MHS67, I found myself lagging around the office on my last day when it was time to go. Staring at the Sheild on my shoulder knowing that I never would wear it again. One funny memory was beating the Smoke Jumpers to their fires, and watching them parachute in. (Lawn Darts) ;-) I'll never forget fighting four fires in one day on my birthday. The day was 04/04/2004, and I did 4 fires that day. Thanks everyone for your well wishes.
LindenTree3	09/22/2017 08:23PM   Well technically I retire tomorrow nite at 24:00, but I just finished my last day as a wildland firefighter in Alaska. I'm not sure how to process it after 28 years fighting fires in a stressful occupation that I mostly loved. I worked in every mountain range in the L-48 and have fought fires in 20 ish states. 7 years were spent stationed out west, 15 plus in Mn, 3 in Alaska with a Florida stint for a year In Everglades NP. I think the Seirra Nevada mtns were the prettiest, but I think the Kenai mtn range in Alaska where I worked today top the charts, if you take in beauty, plant, animal and ecosystem diversity. I will volunteer here until the end of October (the reason was a budget deal). Then retire back in northern Mn, where my wife lives. (she's flying up tomorrow and we are vacationing for 2 weeks). I will not just quit working, I am a driven young 54 year old, and I have many talents. Odd jobs and continuing to work the spring fire season in Minnesota are in my future. I did a lot of paddling while here in Alaska, and will go a few more times, but in my opinion there is no better paddling then the BW. I like the lack of crowds in Alaska, but miss the bedrock, bigger lakes and shorter portages of Mn. I'm hoping my folding canoe will give me new areas to paddle in Canada shortly. Happy Trails to Me ;-)
Dances with Sheep	09/22/2017 09:04PM   Congrats on a well deserved retirement...the next chapter begins!
520eek	09/22/2017 09:10PM   Congrats! At least you opted out and was not forced out! :) enjoy!
Savage Voyageur	09/22/2017 09:12PM   Thanks for all you hard work over the years. Now go crack a cold one.
Pinetree	09/22/2017 09:35PM   Awesome,now it will take a while to sink in. I found out no matter what kind of job you had or how much you loved your job, your stress level will drop to some extent. Now get out and enjoy. I also said when I retire one of my new jobs was to stay active and fit by having a regular exercise regime.
Pinetree	09/22/2017 09:40PM   I had many MN DNR Forestry friends for a few years after retirement also sign up for fire season for Minnesota or Montana for like you they had all that expertise and knowledge. They just didn't do the mountain climbing routine fighting fires. That is a young man or women's game in my opinion. They have to be super fit. You are also lucky to be able to retire at a young age. Enjoy.
Laketrout58	09/22/2017 09:49PM   Congrats! Life is good! I hope you have a long and happy retirement. Marc
timatkn	09/22/2017 10:06PM   Congratulations!
Frenchy19	09/22/2017 10:05PM   Deep breath, and thanks from all for everything you have done! One of my favorite songs has this line in it: "Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile!" Oversimplified, of course, but you deserve to kick back and enjoy the sunsets.
DeanL	09/22/2017 10:12PM   Congratulations! You picked an awesome time of year to pull the pin and enjoy some time off. Best wishes in your retirement.
plexmidwest	09/22/2017 10:16PM   Congrats!
Mocha	09/22/2017 10:20PM   a very solid work history to be proud of, thanks for sharing! you've had several life milestones this past year. good thing you're still young so you can handle all life throws your way.
Zulu	09/22/2017 10:29PM   Congratulations! I hope you have a long and happy retirement!
JackpineJim	09/22/2017 10:49PM   Congratulations! Hope to see you some day in BW or Q.
OldFingers57	09/23/2017 06:06AM   Congratulations on your retirement. I hope you enjoy your time and have many paddling trips.
missmolly	09/23/2017 06:44AM   Hooray for mighty, humble, and kind LT3! Again, thank you for your service and courage. You ran toward the conflagration when everyone else was fleeing.
LindenTree3	09/27/2017 09:52PM   quote mjmkjun: "54 is so young to be retired. I'm glad for ya--but with congrats expressed--what the heck are ya going to do now? Hang around AK awhile while it soaks in? Moving out that cabin soon? Head home to MN & wifey ASAP? Meanwhile, don't let any AK bear encounters surprise ya on the trails. You've travailed too long! ;-) " I'm vacationing until Oct 8, then I will volunteer for the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge until Oct 23 so I can stay in the Guard Station then head to Minnesota. I volunteered because I felt bad for leaving so suddenly, but I had to retire before Oct 1st because there was a chance I could loose my fire fighter retirement because of a provision in the 2018 budget deal. I'll do odd jobs to keep myself busy.
3Ball	09/27/2017 07:54PM   That's terrific -- Congrats LT3 and thanks for all that you have done.
mc2mens	09/27/2017 08:14AM   Congratulations LT3!
Thwarted	09/27/2017 09:22AM   Wise choice. Good health and happy days to you sir.
bfurlow	09/27/2017 11:49AM   Congrats! I hope you enjoy every minute of your retirement.
mjmkjun	09/26/2017 07:46AM   54 is so young to be retired. I'm glad for ya--but with congrats expressed--what the heck are ya going to do now? Hang around AK awhile while it soaks in? Moving out that cabin soon? Head home to MN & wifey ASAP? Meanwhile, don't let any AK bear encounters surprise ya on the trails. You've travailed too long! ;-)
mikedmarsh1	09/25/2017 02:07PM   Congrats, Linden! I'm jealous! (Hopefully, next July, I'll join the ranks of the retired!)
BSW	09/25/2017 05:26PM   Congratulations! I just had my 50th birthday, my hubby is a couple years behind. We have the goal of retirement at 55 as well. Good job! ~~
BlueSkiesWI	09/25/2017 07:03AM   Happy trails Linden!
BasecampMom	09/25/2017 07:28AM   Congratulations on your retirement!
Wally13	09/25/2017 08:05AM   Congratulations. I have always enjoyed reading your posts about your adventures. Enjoy your retirement.
BeaV	09/25/2017 08:18AM   quote LindenTree3: "I found myself lagging around the office on my last day when it was time to go. Staring at the Sheild on my shoulder knowing that I never would wear it again. " Congrats (not sure if that is the right thing to say) Lindy! Sounds like it's both a refreshing and regretting concept all at the same time. You just closed one chapter and now you have more time to write the future ones. Maybe see you up Duluth way this winter.
QueticoMike	09/25/2017 11:28AM   Congrats to you LT3! Enjoy!
jhb8426	09/23/2017 11:35PM   quote deerfoot: "...Retired means every night is Friday night and every day is Saturday." I was told it was 6 Saturdays and a Sunday :)
Nozzelnut	09/24/2017 12:44AM   First; Congratulations! Second; I hope you get so many retirement checks you lose count. Enjoy it!
missmolly	09/24/2017 08:30AM   quote Nozzelnut: "First; Congratulations! Second; I hope you get so many retirement checks you lose count. Enjoy it! " Hey, number two is a nice way to say, "Live long and prosper."
BWPaddler	09/24/2017 11:31AM   Congratulations! I always enjoy your stories and look forward to hearing about many more paddling adventures. Enjoy the 2 weeks with wife, and enjoy the real Fall up there. It's still mid-July back in MN.
Jackfish	09/24/2017 10:42PM   Congratulations LT3! Thank you for your service to the wilderness and best of luck in your future. Have a great vacation with Mrs. LT3. :)
Canoe42	09/23/2017 12:47PM   Congratulations. I am right there behind you. After 25 years in the fire service, I only have 64 duty days left. That will put me at 54 years old and done on May 1. Happy paddling.
Soledad	09/22/2017 11:14PM   Wow! what an amazing career. Sounds like a great 28 years! thanks for your contribution :)
lundojam	09/23/2017 10:51AM   Congrats! I met a guy who makes a living in the "don't let a wildfire destroy your home/business" industry. I'll betcha there is some interesting consultant work out there for someone with your experience. Good luck!