Mum retired from 40 (ish) years in the medical profession today.

She bought the surgery where she has worked as a GP (and where I am currently working) or 17 and a half years, a bench, for our new outside lunch eating/escaping into the fresh area.
They bought her many things, to go with the other many presents and cards (our dining room currently looks much more like Clintons), and there were speeches.

Then in the evening a staff meal out to celebrate her retirement, several big birthdays, a new baby, and some new doctors. It all went rather well, I think!