That is an interesting title for the problem I have. That lift cylinder on my office chair is becoming shot. So every once in a while I’m sitting here and “that sinking feeling” starts and before I know it I’m much lower in the seat. So we quickly get it back to the top with the lever and spin the base because it seems to go down quicker in two or three spots.
I just got rid of another old office chair. I believe this one is a hand-me-down from my father inlaws old office. Regardless it’s seen better days. So someday in early 2023, a new office chair will be purchased. And here you thought with that title of today’s post it might be something of substance.
A fellow blogger Sheree of View from the Back asked if I was looking forward to retirement yesterday and I responded rather affirmatively. In some ways, I’ve planned for it all my life and in others, I haven’t given it a thought. I’ve never had a firm date or goal year. I’ve always taken that as it comes. Far too many factors along the way influence those decisions.
I know when I did start thinking of it about 2-3 years ago, it became harder to give all the extra hours I used to. It’s not like I don’t give them more than a full day’s effort every day but due to a number of circumstances, it is far from the joy it used to be. As a matter of fact, what we used to do (make Newspapers) is a dying thing. Not the information and entertainment, just the way in that you consume it. And that is part of it. We now work for a media company that is mainly online. Oh yeah, we print some papers, and still have a plant with huge buildings and equipment floor to ceiling in them. But the days are numbered.
Also, my career changed about 8 years ago. A senior UNIX admin in a company that was restructuring and I had a choice to change employers or change roles and duties. It’s not like I hadn’t done this before but it was always a step up and this was a step down. I could look at this two ways. That was high pressure and high stress and a lot of on-call. And I had done years of it. Or maybe lower level stress and challenge. In most ways, I’ve been happy with the latter decision.
But, it’s become a job instead of a passion. And that is OK because it’s always been a job. But sometimes along the way we made it much more. But back to retirement.
It’s so interesting to see the different takes on retirement that my friends, family, and acquaintances have. I spoke to one friend this weekend and we never speak about retirement because I know he probably never will because he hasn’t prepared for it in any way and will be working till he can’t. I have some others that don’t seem to want to retire for fear of not having anything to do. And of course, others who just enjoy their jobs so much that it’s become their lives.
But I have seen some lately who I thought might work longer think about retiring because the people around them retiring have made them take another measure of life.
Personally, I’m looking forward to more family and friend time. Time to develop and work on interests I had as a youth that I didn’t follow up on. I have new interests that I’d love to explore and create. I’d like to relax and get a good night’s sleep each day. When I get in the car I’d like it to be with no direction or destination in mind. I’d like to cook more. And I’d love to see more of this beautiful country.
So I’ll have no problem filling my remaining years. The only question is when do I transition from working stiff, to that crazy grandpa who’s always making things?
Random Thoughts of the Day
- I wonder if I have a magic number?
- Being a good business owner doesn’t mean one has to be greedy. And may karma visit the ones that are.
- Does anyone know where the last 11 months went to? Oh yeah, history.
- To all those stressing out. Be happy with yourself, be happy with your effort. Sometimes the best gift you can give someone is your time, interest, and love.
