The trip was in the autumn of 2007. Apologies for not using past tense.

It was a wonderful ride in heritage equipment, with truly excellent food, a piano player in the club car, several dozen foamers on board, and I made a few lasting friendships.

The only thing better was that while I took the buyout, I didn't really retire. I moved to senior status, and worked about 100 days a year on major stories and events (news biz), enabling me to cover the 2008 elections, 2009 inauguration, etc: So I had slipped the surly bonds of 9-to-5, five days a week, and danced the skies of freedom - but didn't have to experience work withdrawal, because I spent two years on a glide path to actual retirement.