32 years and now the countdown--kinda DR

Brad Bortner

Well-known member
Supporter
Well as a colleague put it, today is my work-iversary. I became a full-time Federal government employee 32 years ago today and 6 years ago today I started my current job. Well I decided that today would be the start of my transition to full-time retirement. I have informed my bosses that I will retire at the end of the year. In order to start the wind down I am going to take the next 10 days to float down a river in western Alaska far away from anything resembling modern communications. Once I return, the flyway meetings will be over and we can start the process for setting the 2018-19 migratory bird hunting regulations and attend a few more business trips and take a bit more leave and then I am done. I am looking forward to getting back in the shop and undertaking a few projects that have been shelved over the last 6 years.
 
Well it's about time! You waited long enough that I'm pretty much done with the hard charging waterfowl thing. More of the rocking chair thing for me now. Maybe we'll get out again in the future.

Thanks for all the time and effort you have spent over your career watching out for the well being of the resource as well as giving all of us consumers /"waterfowlers" everything that was possible as far as opportunity to enjoy that resource.

I know that because you are an avid waterfowler you maximized that opportunity as much as possible under the regulations that govern your work even though there are some who think the system was rigged against the waterfowler. I was a skeptic when we met but over the years have witnessed the effort by most of the people involved in the system and now understand how it works and how your hands are tied at times. I would not have wanted your job as you are always on the wrong side of the line to some of the public no matter what you say/do. Good job and thanks!
 
Ha,

Makes me glad to know that one of us reached the silver lining.

I spent some time(s) on different rivers in Ak, You will enjoy it.

You will catch fish until your arms get sore.


I suppose you will be running the "Chosen" river.
They have a couple of them up there.


Good for you, you have earned it.
 
Good for you Brad. Congrats on your career and being able to make the decision to open your next chapter. If you have unfinished projects, get at them right away because it seems as though the time gets filled with other things.
 
ME too!!! If all goes right... In 14 years and 50 weeks.... I will be in that rocking chair too!!!

Congrats!
 
Last edited:
Good luck on the river trip. Would love to do the river trip. You work all your life thinking retirement is so far away and it comes up quickly.
Mine came quickly as they wanted to get rid of the old guys. Plan carefully and get a SAT phone. You can lease them. My buddy's daughter did a river trip with two guys and the got two browns...
Good luck in retirement...
 
Forget the rocking chair like George Jones said, if not planting is not far off.

The first stage of retirement is thinking your on vacation, and you try to do as much as possible the first couple of years. It will take 2-3 years before you slow down and retirement sets in.

Enjoy yourself and each stage of the journey.

I wish you well.
 
Brad

Thank you for your dedication to waterfowl and the public for the the past 32 years. I can appreciate the struggles (shrinking budgets, increased workload, etc.) you went through over your career as a public servant and you have earned my utmost respect. Also, thank you for answering all my questions PM'd to you over the years and for your most insightful contributions to this site. You are a very giving person of many talents not the least of which is excellent communication skills.

I myself am 10+ years away from retirement, turning 51 today. My wife starts graduate school this week (Family Nurse Practitioner), my oldest is in college, my middle a Sr. in HS, and my youngest in middle school. The expensive years are ahead and I have a ways to go. I think of your situation being similar to my father's. At a healthy 57 he retired from the Federal Government as a GS-15, and now at 81 has lived an enriched life life since retiring, getting to pursue the things that simply weren't possible before, and is still going strong. Having your health and years to enjoy it is better than winning the lottery.

Congratulations on your many successes and best of wishes for your future endeavors.

Eric Patterson
 
Retired 6 years ago and haven't had a day off yet!! A very serious piece of advice, don't put anything off."If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans" Congrats on retirement it is worth the wait.
 
Congratulations on your decision to retire, Brad. Thank you for all the contributions you helped provide for every waterfowler in North America. Enjoy the marvelous years of retirement.
Al
 
I used to her that retirement was all weekends. Then I heard the best explanation - "In retirement, Sunday night is just like every other evening". Being in a 8-5, M-F type of job, this explanation I fully understand.


Congratulations on your retirement - don't fail at it. I'm down to 8 months at which time I can call it quits should I chose to do so.


Mark
 
Thanks folks, not retiring til December 29th.

Brad F, i'll get you off the porch even if it to go out on Roosevelt for walleye.

Look for me in 10 days.
 
Not knowing the day, or date happens often. Except when hunting & fishing seasons begin and end. Oh, and to know numerous doctor appointments, to address all the not so smart things you did in your younger years, that you do pay for later.

All important things get notations on the calendar.

Get yourself several small and large notebooks, to keep daily record and journal of your outdoor experiences.

A few small cameras, sketch books if you are artistic, and a gorilla paint kit.
 
Thanks for your service Brad, I appreciate your efforts on our behalf over the years. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement. Until then, enjoy that river trip - sounds great to me!

T
 
Congrats Brad! Great news! More hunting and time to get that shop done. Let's celebrate that on December 29th, Elvis gets to leave the building!!!
 
Last edited:
Congrats & thank you Brad. Its been great to have you respond here, when you can, and answer questions.

Is your plan to stay in Washington through retirement?
 
Back
Top