Guns & Outdoors Forum

I quietly gave the retirement thing a run and it didn't take...

I had a great almost 2 year vacation out of it and it was GREAT to spend the extra time with the kids and have the time to properly move Kim and I to the South West without the extra hassles of having to coordinate a job too. But I'm done with the leisure time thingy and in the process I discovered a few things about myself. Interesting and weird to do that at my age.

First, I'm not built for honey-do lists, and the wife found that out really quick too. To her credit, she didn't push it. When we got married one of the deals we made was that we would never try to change the other. That has kept us together over 30 years now so she has no problem getting someone else to do the "man stuff" around the house. My big job (spelled O-N-L-Y) is taking out the garbage, and half the time I screw that up too.

Second, I get bored easily. And I'm not built for golf, meaningless cocktail parties, stupid game nights, "group travel" and all the other nonsense retired people do and non-retired ones dream about. Actually I sold my boat and my golf clubs before we left NC, they never got used anyway. So pretty much right after I "retired" I started taking on work related "projects" for folks/companies I know so I stayed in the loop of developments and kept my network alive. It was nice working with no deadlines, but even that got old quick. I swiftly filled my time with outdoor adventures off-roading and shooting while discovering my new patch of the country. But even that can only hold my attention so far and while my wife and friends enjoy doing it with me apparently an-off road 3-5 hours ride through rough country to get to a place with no noise and no other humans is not everyones cup of tea, so though to find folks to do this with.

And last, crazy enough, it seems I actually like what I do for a living. God only knows a few times in the past it didn't feel that way.

So in any case, started having conversations with my old outfit a few months ago and they started getting more serious right around Christmas. My old business partners South of the border wanted me back too so they started making it clear to my company that it would be "beneficial" to their relationship if I was back managing the show. And just like that, I'm back to my old job, which funny enough one of my colleagues had taken on and he's now more than happy to give right back to me

I just got my new work iPhone and laptop will be here tomorrow and I'm as exited as I was at 5 years old the day before my first day of class, with new notebooks, share pencils and a shinny new lunchbox. I start again on Monday.

Funny how life works...

Congrats.
Adult ADHD at its finest
You know I love ya anyway mi hermano

You lasted longer than we figured.

GrapeApe wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 7:46 pm Congrats.
Adult ADHD at its finest
You know I love ya anyway mi hermano

I do have a few bottles of Adderal in my medicine cabinet, to be taken "as needed" according to my doctor. At my wife's and daughters "recommendation" my doctor said we needed to do a 10 question test followed by a computer test/profile. I was on question six when she said we're good. I asked about the computer test and she said, no need, I'm the "textbook case" for adult ADHD and handed me my prescription.

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 7:58 pm You lasted longer than we figured.

HA! My wife said the same thing!!!

So, no one has asked the big questions yet Guess I will have to......
What firearm are you buying to celebrate your return to the workforce????
Does this mean there wont be any further reference to 'thinning the herd'.....???

Asking for a friend.....

Orchidman wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 8:56 pm So, no one has asked the big questions yet Guess I will have to......
What firearm are you buying to celebrate your return to the workforce????
Does this mean there wont be any further reference to 'thinning the herd'.....???

Asking for a friend.....

There are always a few things "on the list". But, really it's more like, "Oh that's cool, I'll take it home." I just missed on a double rifle in 450 Express, but I was ambivalent on that one. I want a lever action Uberti 1886 in 45-70, a 1873 in .357 mag and I'm kinda looking sideways at a 32-20 SA of some sort. I also want another single shot (either High Wall or Sharps in 45-70 or 50-90), and I have a bunch of guns watching locally on Armslist.

Will also be getting rid of a few that I've lost interest in, mostly to upgrade, we'll see.

I am so burned out with my job, that I cannot imagine retiring and going back in.

But good for you!

bullsi1911 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 9:53 pm I am so burned out with my job, that I cannot imagine retiring and going back in.

But good for you!

I’m not burned out on my job, but IF I could retire tomorrow
financially, I’d be OUT. I know I would get bored. But, I can find something to do.

I thought you were still working at least P/T.

I’ve got a meeting in a couple of weeks with a state retirement representative. I REALLY want to leave in May but it doesn’t look like that’s gonna happen. I’ll have to pay 100% of my health insurance which would be a big chunk of my retirement. I’ll be 62 in May and will have 26 years in state retirement.

I just hope I can make one more year teaching 6th graders without going to jail or getting fired. I’ll still do something after retirement. And if something decent comes along I could still leave after this school year.

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 10:31 pm

bullsi1911 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 9:53 pm I am so burned out with my job, that I cannot imagine retiring and going back in.

But good for you!

I’m not burned out on my job, but IF I could retire tomorrow
financially, I’d be OUT. I know I would get bored. But, I can find something to do.

That’s the way I thought about it. Then I started realizing that all the retired folks I know basically get into a million meaningless hobbies, sleep late everyday and then go to COSTCO. Then they go out to dinner with another couple and discuss all their current medical poop going on and upcoming doctor appointments and “procedures”.
F that…

bullsi1911 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 9:53 pm I am so burned out with my job, that I cannot imagine retiring and going back in.

But good for you!

I’ve never been truly burnt out. My boss says I don’t seem to get stressed but I’m more of a stress giver.

Rugerfan wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 12:34 am I thought you were still working at least P/T.

I’ve got a meeting in a couple of weeks with a state retirement representative. I REALLY want to leave in May but it doesn’t look like that’s gonna happen. I’ll have to pay 100% of my health insurance which would be a big chunk of my retirement. I’ll be 62 in May and will have 26 years in state retirement.

I just hope I can make one more year teaching 6th graders without going to jail or getting fired. I’ll still do something after retirement. And if something decent comes along I could still leave after this school year.

I’ve been doing “stuff” all along in and off. Also been working with some of my wife’s clients helping them grow their small businesses. Basically good folks that want to go bigger but can’t afford to hire someone full time that actually knows how to get them there. It’s been fun but no very challenging and that drives me nuts.

I'm not sure what you go through quicker, retirements or cars.

Well looking at a Mojave now...

I'll retire extra for you.

I'm enjoying retirement to much to go back. And i find it surprising how much extra disposable income I have for trips, dining out, guns, ammo, shooting. Didn't realize how much it cost me to go to work.

DanielChamberlain wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 2:44 pm I'll retire extra for you.

Diver43 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 3:32 pm I'm enjoying retirement to much to go back. And i find it surprising how much extra disposable income I have for trips, dining out, guns, ammo, shooting. Didn't realize how much it cost me to go to work.

I’m glad you and Dan are enjoying it. It doesn’t cost me anything to “work”. I haven't been to an office in over a decade. This is not about money, I guess I’m more interested in what I do for a living than going to another restaurant, hell I couldn’t possibly eat out more

I really love what I do, it really isn’t work to me at all.

Diver43 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 3:32 pm I'm enjoying retirement to much to go back. And i find it surprising how much extra disposable income I have for trips, dining out, guns, ammo, shooting. Didn't realize how much it cost me to go to work.

There's a "FIRE" (Financially Independent, Retire Early) blog I follow that had a very interesting post about how the commute to work is a sizable hidden living expense for most Americans. It was pretty eye opening to see the numbers.

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 2:22 am

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 10:31 pm

bullsi1911 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 9:53 pm I am so burned out with my job, that I cannot imagine retiring and going back in.

But good for you!

I’m not burned out on my job, but IF I could retire tomorrow
financially, I’d be OUT. I know I would get bored. But, I can find something to do.

That’s the way I thought about it. Then I started realizing that all the retired folks I know basically get into a million meaningless hobbies, sleep late everyday and then go to COSTCO. Then they go out to dinner with another couple and discuss all their current medical poop going on and upcoming doctor appointments and “procedures”.
F that…

After being in a career where I have had to be a professional 'people person' for... pretty much forever, I am pretty sure there would be months where my family would be lucky to get 3 words out of me. Pretty sure I would live in the woods and be a hermit for a while

shotgunshooter3 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 4:31 pm

Diver43 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 3:32 pm I'm enjoying retirement to much to go back. And i find it surprising how much extra disposable income I have for trips, dining out, guns, ammo, shooting. Didn't realize how much it cost me to go to work.

There's a "FIRE" (Financially Independent, Retire Early) blog I follow that had a very interesting post about how the commute to work is a sizable hidden living expense for most Americans. It was pretty eye opening to see the numbers.

Other than I don’t want to be trapped in one building to work, that’s a prime reason I’m doing what I’m doing. Had a company van now for 25+ years.
That’s 1300 weeks, on a stupid low average let’s say I spent $25 per week on gas. That’s $32,500 I saved. Just wish that
WOULD have been stuck under the mattress unbeknownst to the wife.

Admin wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 4:42 pm

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 2:22 am

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 10:31 pm

I’m not burned out on my job, but IF I could retire tomorrow
financially, I’d be OUT. I know I would get bored. But, I can find something to do.

That’s the way I thought about it. Then I started realizing that all the retired folks I know basically get into a million meaningless hobbies, sleep late everyday and then go to COSTCO. Then they go out to dinner with another couple and discuss all their current medical poop going on and upcoming doctor appointments and “procedures”.
F that…

After being in a career where I have had to be a professional 'people person' for... pretty much forever, I am pretty sure there would be months where my family would be lucky to get 3 words out of me. Pretty sure I would live in the woods and be a hermit for a while

Luckily my people personing duties aren’t my whole job. It’s still a decent portion, but 98% of my customers are decent to work around, very few do I dread seeing. Some are friends I’ve made through doing work for them.

And even though I’ve made an honest effort to be more peoply to the general public over the past few years, especially this last year, they are still people. And I really don’t like people. But at least I’m trying to be nice.
The downside is, the non-peoply Chris doesn’t have small bursts of pressure that get vented. The pressure builds. One day, I’ll be on YouTube losing my poop at a fast food worker whose day it “wasn’t”.

shotgunshooter3 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 4:31 pm

Diver43 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 3:32 pm I'm enjoying retirement to much to go back. And i find it surprising how much extra disposable income I have for trips, dining out, guns, ammo, shooting. Didn't realize how much it cost me to go to work.

There's a "FIRE" (Financially Independent, Retire Early) blog I follow that had a very interesting post about how the commute to work is a sizable hidden living expense for most Americans. It was pretty eye opening to see the numbers.

When I was commuting to NYC every day my monthly train ticket was $285. Then there was a parking fee for my car at the train station which was over $100 a month. Daily lunches in the city are not cheap. But my company made it easier for me with executive “allowances” and pre-tax commuting money.

My problem was not cost. At the time those seemed like reasonable expenses to me. But the cost in my TIME was absurd. 5+ hours a day dedicated to just getting back and forth to work.

That’s why I quit that lifestyle, and it is a lifestyle for many, and moved out of the City years ago. And since then I’ve been mostly a remote worker in every job I’ve had.

With this gig I actually make money off my non-existent commute. My company gives me a healthy car monthly allowance, +mileage anytime I go anywhere in my car, which I don’t really do except to the airport when I travel. So basically a free new car as part of my compensation.

For the folks at Corp HQ they actually give a new company car every 2 years with all maintenance included and gas cards the company pays. The level of car is based on your position/level. If I was in England I’d be driving a company Jaguar, MB or BMW. But, I’d be living in England, so nope.

Admin wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 4:42 pm

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 2:22 am

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 10:31 pm

I’m not burned out on my job, but IF I could retire tomorrow
financially, I’d be OUT. I know I would get bored. But, I can find something to do.

That’s the way I thought about it. Then I started realizing that all the retired folks I know basically get into a million meaningless hobbies, sleep late everyday and then go to COSTCO. Then they go out to dinner with another couple and discuss all their current medical poop going on and upcoming doctor appointments and “procedures”.
F that…

After being in a career where I have had to be a professional 'people person' for... pretty much forever, I am pretty sure there would be months where my family would be lucky to get 3 words out of me. Pretty sure I would live in the woods and be a hermit for a while

I’m lucky that my job makes me interact with maybe 20 people total and I only have to be nice to those outside of my organization. Which is easy because I actually like them and we are all aiming towards the same goal, making money.

I get it. When I was in sales I sat across the table from small **** ball busters whose goal was making my life hell before they bought even stuff I KNEW they needed.

In business development my partners and I sit on the same side of the table and work cooperatively to design systems and sign contracts that will make both companies a lot of money and bring new technology to whole regions of consumers. This is absolutely a lot more fun and lots more fulfilling.