Leica M2 a retirement gift to myself

The M2 is a wonderful choice! I've had mine for 60 years, now, and it's still my favorite. You deserve an M2 after a lifetime of hard work! Yes, it goes well with a 50mm Summicron or Summarit (I happen to love using it with my 50mm Collapsible Summicron, and my 35mm Summaron). It's a great camera for the 35-50-90mm lenses.

Time to do some emotional healing, now. Take it from me, an M2 helps!
 
lxmike said:
After 34 years in peri op and critical care, (RVI NHS Newcastle), as an OR scrub practitioner, I retire in two weeks. I thought being at the sharp end of acute care for three decades I had seen most things, this year has proven me wrong. Like for many many people this year has been tough. I have paid into my pension for over thirty years, I planned to retire at the age of 60 but have decided that I should retire now, (at 55), its been a hard decision but I am shattered physically and mentally, so retire I must. My wife said, 'why not treat yourself to a special camera and shoot your first few months of retirement and thus tomorrow a n M2 arrives. It will be strange going from a 60 hour working week to a position of retirement, only time will tell how I will cope, this Christmas will be the first Christmas since 1986 that I have not been at work. A friend said do not feel guilty at retirement at this time, he pointed out that I worked 80 hour weeks during the first Covid wave and through my career I had faced various virus scenarios, Avian flu, swine flu, Sars, HIV etc. To be honest I still feel a bit guilty at going, other have pointed out that I have 'done my bit'. I decided to buy an M2, influenced by this forum, (a source of great support and happiness to me). Over the next few weeks I plan to start a thread documenting how I am getting on with my M2. Anyway, stay safe and happy my friends, one other bonus is that I will have more time to immerse myself within the forum.
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First of all, thank you for your service. It's been a horrible year and medical professionals have been on the front lines. You had a long career with many long hours, and have more than earned your retirement.

Second, Congratulations!! As you decompress (with your M2) I predict you will not miss work. I retired at the end of March after a long and rewarding career in the law, and have not missed work one bit. It's given me way more time to devote to photography (although with the pandemic, maybe not quite in the manner I envisioned). And you're retiring young enough to be able to live a vigorous and adventuresome life for many years to come. Enjoy what you've earned!

Looking forward to seeing how you get on with that M2!!
 
I want to thank you very much for all your dedicated and unselfish work, giving to others, not just during the appallingly demanding and stressful times that you and all your NHS colleagues have had in the last year but throughout all your long public service. I can tell you that your work and that of others like you in the health service is very greatly appreciated by many many people in the UK. I can understand your feelings but guilt should never come into it. Just decide to stop thinking it. You’ve given to others all your working life, now it’s time to give something to yourself, and I don’t just mean the M2. In some ways it’s not hard to do because so often it’s easy to forget that we have many choices in our lives, including how we feel about things. So choose something for yourself for once by choosing not to feel guilty. All the very best, and enjoy your retirement with one of the truly great cameras. Kindest regards, Anthony.
 
Congrats on the new camera and retirement. When I was retired early (not my idea, but the doctors said I couldn't do my job anymore) I found other things to do to get over the feelings of not being needed. Eventually I volunteered as the Facilities Director at a local museum for three and a half years until that got to be too much (was working more hours and days there for free than I used to for pay).

But after I got all that out of my system I got back into photography. I wasn't sure which M I wanted so I chose the M4-P because of the frame lines selections. Still, an M2 would be nice to have but I've been kitting out a IIIf. You'll find the CV 35/2.5 Color-Scopar very capable.

Thanks for all you did in hospital service. Some members of my family are/were nurses, so I can understand what you have had to endure over the years, and that is commendable.

PF
 
I, too, felt guilty when I retired. It was hard leaving colleagues I respected and had worked with for so long. It passed, but took some time. I found that reconnecting with the zen of film photography helped with the transition. I’m sure your M2 will do the same.
 
First off, a great choice! I have an M2 with Summarit which as Brian says has the odd issue, but is capable of great beauty and is a positive bargain in fast Leica terms. I acquired the M2 to go with my 8 element Summicron replica and it is a joy to use. My poor M3 hardly gets a look in now.

Secondly, good luck on your retirement. My sister, who is a senior sister in Dermatology, spent years as a theatre nurse and now specialises in all the minor surgical procedures like skin biopsies etc. At 55 she took early retirement but does 3 days a week. Fortunately, despite being told she might have to return to theatres should the first wave overwhelm front line staff, she was not called in, so has had a very quiet year.

Thank you for what you have done. The flipside of doing something so important is that you do have these feelings of guilt - you really have done enough. 80 hour weeks are intolerable for people our age, but the transition to retirement is going to be slow in your mind - just start by not beating yourself up about it, each day it will be easier. Keep the mind and body active, it takes a long time to fill the void, but then one day you'll wonder why didn't I do this earlier!
 
Retirement and an M2 are a good combination. You are certainly doing the right thing. Well done and good luck. Your resilience goes down as you get older and the trauma of this year cannot be measured accurately and is likely greater for many of us than we realize, no matter how good we might have it, which right now in Melbourne is pretty good. To work in your field in the UK or the US would be a once in a life time experience, and contribution. You’ve succeeded where many haven’t or couldn’t. You don’t now need to do more. Be patient with yourself. Listen to your wife. She’ll be right on the big picture every time.
 
Congratulations on your M2 & retirement, I hope you get peaceful enjoyment of both for a long, long time to come. You have earned and deserve both for your contribution.

Long live the NHS!
 
Mike, I enjoyed your post very much and wish you the best in retirement and with your M2. I retired in March, and after 40+ years of a daily routine and productivity mindset, I'm just now beginning to unwind and let go. Photography helps. For me it's been the aimless, goal-less, shoot-whatever-appeals approach that I've found rewarding. I look forward to your M2 journal thread.

John
 
Congrats with retirement and your Leica M2.

May I suggest finding someone who sees the world like you do but has experience with photography and may be willing to help you by being your coach and mentor. I was fortunate having found someone who was willing to help me with my photography journey.

Good luck with your continuing adventure.
 
Thank you for your service and congratulations on a meaningful and rewarding career. After a 42 year career I was forced into retirement due to downsizing and was apprehensive about the future. That was almost 3 years ago. I can honestly say that it was one of the best things that could have happened to my photography and other important areas of my life. Wishing you the best as you move to the next phase of your life.
 
Congratulations on retirement. Enjoy it with no regrets and no guilt. In your career you
did way more than most people ever do so now it is high time to enjoy. I have had an M2 for a little over 50 years and have enjoyed it immensely. You'll love yours. Carry on.
 
creenus said:
Thanks for your service as well! My wife is a nurse practitioner on the Navajo Reservation, which is the No. 2 COVID hotspot in the USA.

Semi-retired with two M2s, one with an Abrahamsson winder. These are great cameras: quiet, accurate, sturdy and timelessly stylish. I use mine with a 50mm Type III Summicron and a 35mm f2.5 Summarit.

Some prefer the M3, but I am happy as a Pismo clam with my M2s.

Good luck to you!

Steve in New Mexico
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thanks for your kind words Steve, my thoughts go out to you and your wife
 
Rob-F said:
The M2 is a wonderful choice! I've had mine for 60 years, now, and it's still my favorite. You deserve an M2 after a lifetime of hard work! Yes, it goes well with a 50mm Summicron or Summarit (I happen to love using it with my 50mm Collapsible Summicron, and my 35mm Summaron). It's a great camera for the 35-50-90mm lenses.

Time to do some emotional healing, now. Take it from me, an M2 helps!
Click to expand...

The kind words offered on here I find quite humbling, I am really looking forward to using my M2
 
Bingley said:
First of all, thank you for your service. It's been a horrible year and medical professionals have been on the front lines. You had a long career with many long hours, and have more than earned your retirement.

Second, Congratulations!! As you decompress (with your M2) I predict you will not miss work. I retired at the end of March after a long and rewarding career in the law, and have not missed work one bit. It's given me way more time to devote to photography (although with the pandemic, maybe not quite in the manner I envisioned). And you're retiring young enough to be able to live a vigorous and adventuresome life for many years to come. Enjoy what you've earned!

Looking forward to seeing how you get on with that M2!!
Click to expand...

thank you , I still feel gulty about being excited about the arrival of my M2
 
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