I  never guessed  that the process of retiring would be so traumatic.
When I looked at retirement  from a  distance months yet-to-go I assumed that retiring would be a simple matter of picking up my purse one afternoon, giving everyone a hug and driving home.

That's what ultimately happened.   But, between the formal notice of a retirement date and that final goodbye lies a lot of angst.

1.  I filed for retirement 60 in advance.  I still haven't received notice of how much I'll receive each month.  According to my retirement system's webpage, I'll receive that information after my last day of work  but  before my first check!   DUH!   I won't  need the notice if  it arrives after my check.   I get weak in the knees each time I go for the mail.  Every day it's zilch, zilch zilch, zilch. 
Retiring generates a lot of paperwork.
There are W-4's to fill out.  Transfer of insurance papers to send off.  Direct Deposit forms to complete.  Mountains of paperwork, all needing to be notarized.
2.  The closer you get to the BIG DAY,  the more you'll  find yourself getting misty eyed about the coworkers you'll be  leaving behind.  BELIEVE IT OR NOT.   I've worked with most of my coworkers for 20 years and they're like disfunctional brothers and sisters to me.
3.  You spend your last week walking down memory lane.  Every task is a hallmark occasion, ie: "this is the last time I'll be doing this mindnumbing s**t ".    You're convinced that nobody will do the job to the same standards that you've set and it makes you sad that your little job is being left in the hands of nincompoops.  .
4.  You look forward to, and dread, your retirement party. You've earned that damn party, but at the same time you feel shy at being the focus of so much attention.  Most of  it jealousy.  You hug everyone and assure them that you'll be seeing  them often.  Yeah Right!   Not uless they open a branch office in your bedroom.
5.  Your office clutter fills several boxes that you have to find a spot for in the garage.
The desk fan, desk heater,  coffee cup warmer, food, calendars, photos, african violets, special pens (with your name on them), a file folder full of PERSONAL STUFF that nobody should see, , etc etc.
6.  You've  already checked out mentally, so the enthusiam to train the new person is gone.   But, you try.
7.  Every day people call you "shorttimer"  and ask you how many more days you have.  You startavoiding  people so you don't have to act happy and excited 24/7.
8.  Then comes the last goodbye.  You leave early because something has happened to your brain ( you feel spacey) and you're not sure if you can drive home in 5 o'clcok traffic.  On the way home you count all 13 traffic signals and  say "Goodbye traffic light at White and Ashe",  "Goodbye traffic light at Gosford and White", Goodbye ... well you get the idea.
9.  Your walk in the front door and say, HONEY I'M HOME FOREVER.
10.  The next morning you wake up and think...I'm FREE.