Retired!!!!

[Barry Stratton]

I received this Friday night,....at my retirement party. It was a wonderful, powerful, humbling experience and I am almost speechless. I'm sure it will take a while for that evening to sink in. I apologize for the poor photo quality......

63556

I also received a posterboard photo "essay" of my career, a 5 gallon bucket of sunflower seeds, a hunting jacket designed by a good friend, a left hand Remington 11-87 shotgun with multi-choke system AND a separate slug barrel, 20 or so cards sent in from around the state....and lots and lots of backslaps, handshakes, and hugs.

Next up is to pack up a "sold" house, graduate the oldest, and then hit the road for our new home in western Minnie Soda! Look out CREEKERS is all I can say........

[Nancy Laird]

Congratulations, Barry! Looks like they may have retired your badge number, too? Nice plaque!!

Counting down too...247 days!!!!

Nancy

[Ken Werner]

That is wonderful Barry, many congratulations and best wishes on your new adventures. Beautiful plaque.

Ken

[Jerry Clark]

Congratulations Barry-- Retirement is the best job anywhere.:D

[Bruce Page]

Congratulations Barry, let the fun begin!
I have about 5/6 years to go – wish it were tomorrow!

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Congratulations Barry! You have my utmost respect! Being an enforcement officer wouldn't be my cup of tea and anybody who can do it has my utmost respect!

Enjoy!

[Roy McQuay]

Congratulations, I hope to retire June 2008, so I am looking forward to it. Hope you have a long retirement.

[Tyler Howell]

Congrats Barry,
Let us know when you get to town.
Love to up our creeker numbers .
309 days, 11 hours, and 6 minutes.
But nobody's counting

[Dennis Peacock]

Congrats Barry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Make sure you keep Tyler in line when you get up to Minnie Soda and don't forget to smack Miliunas for me...after all....he's a good friend.

Here's wishing you the best as well as a SAFE and Eventless migration to MN.
:D

[Jim Becker]

Congratulations, Barry!!!!!!!

[Brett Baldwin]

Congrats Barry. Looks like you're joining the growing ranks of non wage-slaves here in the Creek.

[Dave Ray]

Congrats Barry..... The fun has just begun.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Congrats on your retirement Barry! Looks like the adventure begins! Keep us informed!

[Karl Laustrup]

Welcome to the retirement club Barry. You may find yourself busier than when you were working.

Looking forward to your arrival in the lower 48. Hopefully, you won't be too far west of Minne-o-please, so we can have a get together. Just watch out for Tyler and Al. ;) :D

Karl

[Bruce Page]

Wait a cotton pickin’ minute Barry!
You are only forty-five years old!
How can you be retiring, isn’t that against the law?

[Nancy Laird]

Bruce, you know how those "gubmet" jobs are---you can retire young, draw a check, then go on to a second career:p :D . That's how the military does it--thank goodness!!!!!!

Nancy

[Barry Stratton]

THANKS FOLKS! Yes, you got the age correct.......I'm on the original 20 year Peace Officer retirement program......at least I stayed around longer than I "had" too!!:D

We have almost 6 acres on a small lake outside of Fergus Falls.....I believe t here's a picture in my "interview"..... but that is only a few hrs from Minnie Ap so no problem hitting WI!

[Andy Hoyt]

Twenty years is plenty. Case in point - these Before and After shots.

63614 63616

Three cheers for Barry!

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

Congrats ~!!

[Al Willits]

Don't listen to Karl, Tyler and I are most friendly, leastwises as long as the meds do there job....:)

Ya get near Mpls stop by, garage is always open to fellow woodworkers.

Congrats on retirement, best wishes in enjoying the easy life now.

Al

[Bill Lewis]

...those "gubmet" jobs are---you can retire young, draw a check, then go on to a second career:p :D . That's how the military does it--thank goodness!!!!!!
Military and law enforcment yes, but not all "gubment" jobs, I wish! I work for the military, and still have over 3000 days to go and Barry is a year younger than me!

Hey, I thought when you retire you were supposed to go some place warm!? I guess in Barry's case Minnie soda is prolly warmer than AlAskYa.

[Robert McGowen]

Congratulations!. November 29th this year is the big date for me. Post if this "retirement thing" is all that I have heard that it is. I lay awake at night wondering sometimes. :)

[Mark Pruitt]

Good for you, Barry!
My parents found a whole new life upon retirement. I wish the same for you!

[Barry Stratton]

Congratulations!. November 29th this year is the big date for me. Post if this "retirement thing" is all that I have heard that it is. I lay awake at night wondering sometimes. :)

Sleep easy at night sir!!!:D :D It is wonderful........although I have a ton of stuff to do.....how'd that happen:confused: :confused:

[Eddie Watkins]

Congratulations Barry, it is well earned. I am going in August, or September, or October, or January or...

Eddie

[TYLER WOOD]

Congrats Barry!!! Only 25 years to go for me! DOHHHHHHH. Sometimes being in your late twenties sucks!! Still a long ways from retirement, not a kid anymore! But I am in the best years of watching my kids grow up. So I guess it's not all bad. Just wish I could retire at 40-45. Maybe the lottery!

[Dave Fifield]

Congratul......now just wait a minute.....you worked from 1979 to now? I started work in 1976 and I'm STILL working.....what's wrong with this scenario I ask?! I still have another 5 years to go at least. That's just not fair!!

Miffed,

[Randy Moore]

I got 18 months if my pension don't get cut too much and I'll be 55 then.

Barry for whoevers sahe don't get too close to Tyler or you might end up in a THONG:eek: . I still haves nightmares about that possibility.:o

Congrats on the 'tirement. :D You might be able to fish more than you could up north.:)

Randy

[Gary Herrmann]

Congratulations

[Fred Voorhees]

Congratulations Barry, let the fun begin!
I have about 5/6 years to go – wish it were tomorrow!
We're neck and neck Bruce!:D

[Frank Kobilsek]

Bruce,
That's a great question. My goal is 54, that will be the summer of 2014. No kids and I retained the first wife (so far) so I got a good shot at making it but it still takes alot of sacrifice to save hard enough and long enough to get done early.

Congrats Barry, to get done at 45 is a miracle. Now enjoy!

Frank