[id10t]

I can qualify for full retirement from my state job in 3 years and 360 days. And I'll be 57.

Or... I can enter "phased retirement" - I retire, but keep working my job for up to 8 years (or one bad day). I keep earning my regular paycheck, any one-time bonuses in lieu of raises we get, salary adjustments, etc just like I do now. But... my retirement pay is also being paid out into a investment account, which I can access as a lump sum when I really do quit for real.

My other option would be to stay completely out of any state employment for a full year, and then I could become a regular employee again.

Planning on doing the phased retirement thing, figure 3 or 4 years will give me enough to pay off house, restore 356, maybe buy a boat, and put a hunk of cash in the bank. Since my youngest will be just entering college when I hit my 30 years, just keeping working will get her a mostly paid for college degree (yay employee dependent only scholarships!)