Retirement gold watches

[JDgreen227]

Yesterday marked the ninth anniversary of my retirement, and yes, I was given a gold watch when I left. To be honest, I have never quite understood the reason for that traditional gift, after all, when you jump off the treadmill, doesn't that mean you are no longer a slave to the clock? I almost never wear mine, or any other watch now. How about the rest of you retirees?

 

[Toyboy]

I wear a watch all the time, I just don't have to worry about meetings anymore. A friend of mine feels like you do but I don't look at it that way. Now days of the week and date is where I get screwed up. Good thing my computer displays that for me/

 

[grnspot110]

I wear a watch all the time, I just don't have to worry about meetings anymore. A friend of mine feels like you do but I don't look at it that way. Now days of the week and date is where I get screwed up. Good thing my computer displays that for me/

Same here, that's why I wear a watch with the day & date on it! ~~ grnspot

 

[lhfarm]

Yesterday marked the ninth anniversary of my retirement, and yes, I was given a gold watch when I left. To be honest, I have never quite understood the reason for that traditional gift, after all, when you jump off the treadmill, doesn't that mean you are no longer a slave to the clock? I almost never wear mine, or any other watch now. How about the rest of you retirees?

I received a gold watch too and it resides in a drawer most of the time. I still wear a watch, but one that can take a beating (and keep on ticking). I suspect some of the tradition relates to the railroad where a watch was an important and expensive tool of the trade. Maybe a gold symbol (valuable) of the owner's status with his former fellow workers. Of course that could mean that they might have given gold plated wrenches or hammers too.

Which leads me to an event I witnessed as a college summer employee at a factory. There was a retirement for an old guy who had worked at an inspection bench for 30 years. He told his friends he would miss them and the bench. At that moment, a bunch of guys unbolted the bench from the floor and took it out of the building and placed it in the back of the guys pickup.

The two bosses present just looked at each other and shook their heads. But they didn't move to stop it. I learned a lot that day about management.

Congratulations on nine years of minding your time.

 

[Ken]

I also never wear a watch. Co. gave me a desk clock when retired almost 17 years ago. and it has set on bed side stand so when at night can see the time.
If need to know the time it's on the cell phone or dash of vehicle I'm driving other than the tractor. Morning starts when I awake and a little news while coffee is making. ceral breakfast outside doing something by 6 in the morning. or sun rise.
Dog lets me know when wife is up so return to house for morning visit. and to find out what is planned for the day.
Why wear a watch the year go by about every six months anyways.
ken

 

[JDgreen227]

I quit wearing watches when I got my first Blackberry back in 2001, seems redundant to wear a watch when your smartphone clock is more accurate and automatically corrects for DST.

And, there is a saying:

A man who wears a watch always knows what time it is, a man who wears two watches is never sure....

 

[moored4]

I also never wear a watch. .................If I need to know the time it's on the cell phone or dash of vehicle I'm driving other than the tractor. Morning starts when I awake and a little news while coffee is making. ceral breakfast outside doing something by 6 in the morning. or sun rise.
Dog lets me know when wife is up so return to house for morning visit. and to find out what is planned for the day.
Why wear a watch the year go by about every six months anyways.
ken

I am pretty much like Ken.
The CO. i worked for gives you so much money per year of service pluse any banked vacation time and lets you tell them what you want, Cash or a present of your choice. I got me a new mig welder for my shop plus the extra cash left over.
So now if I am out working and it gets dark then I either come inside or turn on the lights and work till I stop. The wife makes sure I get to church on time, and the bunch at the Thursdays gathering at the local dinner meets some time mid moring! Life is good! :thumbsup:

 

[smstonypoint]

I wear a watch all the time, I just don't have to worry about meetings anymore. A friend of mine feels like you do but I don't look at it that way. Now days of the week and date is where I get screwed up. Good thing my computer displays that for me/

My situation matches Toyboy's.

I got used to routinely (and discreetly) checking my watch to time my class lectures (50 minutes long on M,W,F and 75 minutes long on T,TH). I don't have to worry about that in retirement, but I would feel naked without a watch.

Steve

 

[ronjhall]

Been retired 7 years. Watch is in its original case, in a drawer. Forgot all about it till you mentioned it. Do not use a watch since I retired. Use my cell phone.

 

[Toyboy]

I quit wearing watches when I got my first Blackberry back in 2001, seems redundant to wear a watch when your smartphone clock is more accurate and automatically corrects for DST.

And, there is a saying:

A man who wears a watch always knows what time it is, a man who wears two watches is never sure....

That seems to be the latest trend, but I'd rather wear my watch than be in constant contact with everyone. I only carry my cell when I feel it will be handy or when traveling. I see so many people walking around with an earpiece so they don't miss a call. How did we ever manage in the ole days w/pay phones?
Sorry, didn't mean to hijack the thread

 

[300UGUY]

I had a choice of a watch or a mantel clock. I chose the clock, as I didn't care for the watch. I wear a cheap watch, all it does is display time & date. I chose it because it has bigger numbers - easier for my old eyes.

 

[MoKelly]

I wear a watch 24/7. Its one of those sports watches where the strap is rubber and it can withstand water. Its a simple Timex and can be beat-up pretty good but still work.

I don't always carry the supposedly smart phone since its not smart enough all the time to get coverage at my place.

I'm not sure why I always wear the watch ... just always did and it seems right for me.

Did you guys who got a gold watch work at your companies for 30 years or more?

MoKelly

 

[JDgreen227]

That seems to be the latest trend, but I'd rather wear my watch than be in constant contact with everyone. I only carry my cell when I feel it will be handy or when traveling. I see so many people walking around with an earpiece so they don't miss a call. How did we ever manage in the ole days w/pay phones?
Sorry, didn't mean to hijack the thread

You didn't hijack the thread at all--and what you said about pay phones made me laugh, I have been reading some older crime fiction books that were published in the late 90's or early 2000's, so many of them mention pay phones, or the cop asking to use the homeowners landline, and get this--a few mentions of beepers....:laughing:

 

[CurlyDave]

I didn't get a watch, but I do wear one all the time.

I really like the diver's - type watches, where I can use a rotating bezel to mark the current time and then see how much time has elapsed since I set it. There are a lot of things which require knowing when a specific time has elapsed.

 

[RobertN]

I'm not retired. And I don't need to wear a watch most of the time just so I can see what time it is.

I look for watches with big faces, and large second hands. Being an EMT, it is hard to take pulse, respirations with no watch, or with a second hand you have a hard time seeing. Cell/Smart phones just dont work for that...

 

[JDgreen227]

RobertN pinpointed a major drawback with cell phone clocks...no seconds are displayed. And don't tell us there is an app for that---I want as few apps on mine as I can get by without.

 

[RobertN]

The other drawback to smartphones, is we do not use them in the field. Ie, not going on a medical call, and pulling out a cell phone. Not great for instilling confidence in a patient

RobertN pinpointed a major drawback with cell phone clocks...no seconds are displayed. And don't tell us there is an app for that---I want as few apps on mine as I can get by without.

 

[LandN]

no watch here,been without one almost forever. just a cell phone,with time on window.watch giving is a tradition that will go on for long time,just a reminder of the years at work.

 

[Eagle09]

I took my watch off when I got home on the last day I worked. Don't wear one daily any more.

My body tells me when it's time to get up and my stomach lets me know when it's lunchtime. Then when the sun goes down I know it's time to head inside and eat again. LOL

I too got a really nice gold watch when I retired after 31 years. It has an inscription on the back so I took it out of the box to show my wife and daughter. After that it went back in the box and been there over two years now.

 

[EddieWalker]

When my Dad retired, he also graduated college with his BS degree. My Mom invited everyone they know for a big party. Dad had received a gold watch from Pacific Bell, and a bunch of people from there showed up for the party. It was a really good turnout.

The next day, my Mom was beside herself. Dad's gold watch was missing. Somebody had stolen it!!!!

Months later, she was still going on and on about the stolen watch and was trying to figure out who the thief was. Then she went to one of her hiding places and found the watch sitting right where she hid it.

My mom is crazy, and this thread just reminded me of one of her classic crazy lady momments!!!

Eddie