Thanks for participating in our Ask the Experts event today. As to your question, yes, you can retire from your current employer (aka quit your job) and not receive a pension yet. You won't begin receiving a pension until you apply for retirement. In other words, they won't know you are planning or wanting to retire if you quit your job until you tell them you want your pension.
However, delaying retirement until you turn 62 could change the retirement calculation where the loss of a year in pension payments may or may not be worth whatever your pension amount is determined to be at age 62. I suggest you contact your retirement system and get advice from them. Here is the contact information: https://www.osc.state.ny.us/retirement/members/pre-retirement-consultations
I hope that helps.
