We had a chat last evening. She believes I should sell and retire. Take life one day at a time, relax. Maybe, she said, do a monthly gunshow. Read, write, restore my stoves and lanterns. Reload and shoot. Return to my first editions. Dig into my collection of cook books and actually build a complicated two day recipe.
She flicked those big green peepers at me and reminded me how difficult it is for me to rise every morning; the moans after only three hours of rest. The six day work weeks. Tired, sore feet.
I sat and listened as she reasoned and explained how I'd earned the right to retire. She's concerned with the fact I seldom, if ever, sleep. (Even now my mind is a jumbled mess.) I argued, in soft tones, I'm not old. How I'd like to work at least another ten years. My shop is a great base of operations. It is my sanctuary.
Finance is her strong suit. She gently shoved this mini-depression up my nose. Asked, "How's business?" Okay, fine. She jerked my chain with that one. Business isn't as strong as before the crash. Actually revenue is off. But, isn't it for every small business in the country. She snickered...changed direction.
"Honey, it isn't necessary we (Did you catch that, we.) make a decision tonight. Let's set a few goals, it'll give you time to adjust to the idea of retirement."
Nope, sorry, it's not for me.
*****
About midnight I eased from the bed and came out and slipped 'The Book of Eli' into the player. I rate it second only to 'The Road' in the post-apocalyptic genre. Its subtle. If you've seen the movie, and I'm sure many of you have indeed, I ask...his he or isn't he?
*****
Yesterday I placed an order for two hundred business cards. Plain white cards printed with only my name and cell number in black script - just an old fashioned classic card. You'd have thought the task simple. Not so much.
"Really, only white? No address, business hours? Nothing else?"
Repeated my request.
"Well, then we'll need to add a surcharge."
Stephen
Have you ever tried melatonin? I take 3 mg each night. The best is Natrol with B6 from CVS. They will have to order it for you, but the three days will be worth the wait. Not sleeping is making you old. If I don't sleep, I feel like I am 90 years old and sinking fast. My joints hurt. My muscles have not recovered. Will you try melatonin? Have you tried it? Look up sleep hygiene and follow that.
ReplyDeleteNot only am I a night owl but I have trouble getting to sleep. It's rough.
Yes, in fact I have and still take 30 milligrams a night. It doesn't seem to help. My doctor prescribed medication too...waste of time and I didn't like the results, side affects. I've had this problem for years. I close my eyes and think, worry, toss and tumble. In a few minutes I shall hit the shower and drive to work. Normally my shop is closed on Mondays. These are not normal times. I don't advertise the fact I'm open on Mondays and still I do a wee bit of business just from the walk-ins. It helps. Willing to bet today will be short. I must make sure my a/c is working correctly, so that will be my excuse.
ReplyDeleteI don't have trouble sleeping... my problem is staying awake :) Work interferes with looong days and nighttime call outs. Different side of the same coin.
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll leave a bit of time for blogging if you do retire. I'd miss you buddy.
Trust me, Bubba, I'll continue to blog. Heck, what else would I do to kill time in between books. Thank you, my good friend.
DeleteSounds like you have a smart wife. It would pay to listen to her.
ReplyDeleteIt's been my experience that retirement is wasted on old people. Don't retire like I did, hauled out in an ambulance. Took a long time to get my life back after that.
Tend to agree with you Sixbears. Retirement isn't for me. Thanks, my friend.
DeleteIf you can, it is something to think about. It's not any easy decision to make.
ReplyDeleteRetirement means really, really big changes in your lifestyle and it is not easy to adjust to. In fact, It's hard. Damn hard. But not having every day horrible work aggravation probably saved me from a heat attack.It was harder on Hubby - he missed being with people all day. I'm a loner, so I it doesn't bother me a bit. I still don't sleep well, but I can take a nap in the afternoon if I want. There is more than enough to do around here to keep us physically active. I don't watch tv so I have plenty of time to do the things I love, like being outdoors, woodworking and reading. Even found blogging as a new hobby!
I totally agree with Sixbears, take advantage of it now if you can. It can be a wonderful life for you and Sweet Wife.
I'll think about it....nope, not yet. Thanks, my sweet friend.
DeleteWhat about reducing your work hours. Say 5 days week for a month or two then cut down to 4 days a week.?? Another suggestion would be to open later in the day or close earlier.?? Do what your heart tells you to do, that and the Mrs. I do beleive that with your strong work ethic slowing down will be hard. As far as sleeping goes do you drink too much coffee or caffeine?? I had a teacher in high school that drank so much coffee he was wired all day. After school he was a flight instructor more coffee after flying, or sitting around the airport. Have a good week my friend.
ReplyDeleteGood idea, Rob, but it just wouldn't work. Perhaps, some day in the future, I might try three or four days a week. We'll see.
DeleteI have Microsoft Publisher. I've created business cards for myself--they're simple, easy, and you don't have to pay a surcharge for an idiot that doesn't know how to do that without a template.
ReplyDeleteMy mother in law said it was hard to adjust to retirement, because she didn't know what to do with my father in law constantly underfoot. Said she married him "for better or for worse, but not for lunch." He picked up a few hobbies, and she picked up a few hobbies, and they traveled a lot while they learned how to slow down together.
I had a local fella that printed my cards for years. Then one day I drive by and find his shop closed...the depression kicked him a good one.
DeleteIf the both of us retired I'd close and be happy...but not like this. She's just worried about me. The heart attack I had back when really shook her.
As you know I am retired but I did not stop working, I just work at my pace and on what I want to, We need to talk more one on one but there are pros and cons to retiring if your spouse is not retired as well. I will tell you this (and I have heard it from many other retirees) you won't run out of stuff to do and you will have fun doing it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we could start a pawn shop.
What about fire arms training. Why let all that experience go to waste. You can pick and choose your clients.
DeleteDuke, 'ole buddy, we'll chat. Funny you are...
DeleteRob, it's very possible.
I learned something important the last decade. We can be dragged kicking and screaming into a situation of major change where all we can do is react to the change,
ReplyDeleteor
we can instigate the change and exert some modicum of control over the event to our benefit.
I've been on both ends of that stick.
I'm not advocating either way in your case. Just be sure to be on the better side of the decision.
Indeed. You know, Matt, if you're not careful people will begin to believe you're a fairly intelligent fella. Thank you, my good friend.
DeleteBusiness cards are easy, even in Word. But the other decision ... that's a BIG change. You'll know when it's time, sir. You'll know.
ReplyDeleteI think so too, my friend. Thank you.
DeleteStephen,
ReplyDeleteIf you can't sleep at night, and your brain is still working maybe consider cutting back on some of your hours and coffee. Truthfully, I would retire ..... oh I did :-) and do everything on my schedule. Sleep in, instead of getting up early for the shop and rebuild camping equipment, guns, enjoy the gun shows, your friends, and most of all spend more time with your Sweet Wife. It's obvious how much she loves you, and looks forward to spending the rest of her life with you.
She said so last night, or was it the night before...anyway, she asked we set a couple of goals and I agreed. Thanks, my lovely friend.
DeleteIf you can retire, and enjoy doing it, then that's something to consider. The main goal, I think, should be to have fun and leave the planet having lived a full and good life. I agree with Matt, do what's best while you have the choice.
ReplyDeleteI'm also a non-sleeper but don't care, I realized many years ago that nothing will help and just deal with it as best as possible.
Cheers!
Thanks, Max. You make a good point.
DeleteHavent watched "The book of eli" yet.. must get to that one soon.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, my lovely friend, you'll enjoy it.
DeleteYou should make you own cards the way you want them, without the surcharge. . Its ridiculous. Think about retiring while you can still enjoy things. Don't wait till you are all hobbled up and can hardly get around. My mom is in the worst shape and she went out at 63. Nothing like she thought it would be. Now at 72 can't do much, volunteers at church.
ReplyDeleteI'll think about it, Little Sis.
DeleteHe isn't. No way he could have shot a cat off a dead guys foot while wearing a gas mask if he was.
ReplyDeleteClose the shop for one month. Spend ever waking hour with your lovely wife during that month trial run. Tell her ever minute of everyday this is retirement and you are ready for "Our" retirement. After one month she will tell you to spend time at the shop.
As I read things you are already better than retired and doing the thing you love when the money doesn't really matter anymore. Why ruin a good thing?
There was also the clue when he looked up at the hanged guys face. If he was there would be no point in that glance.
DeleteExactly. His everyday functioning was far too easy. Having the only copy of that "book" in existence would have forced me to learn to read it in that "language" it was written in.
DeleteMatt, you win the prize of 'cool guy.' I agree. Did you notice he always made eye contact during conversation...Thanks, to you both.
DeleteEly is suppose to be a prophet and a Prophet is suppose to be able to read/interpret the word of God no matter what form it is presented in. Or so I always thought that was the dogma behind it.
DeleteValid point. Thanks, my friend.
DeleteThe whole thing with the cards is endemic of the way everything is going lately... You gotta 'pay' to play... And I'm tired of playing...
ReplyDeleteI guess my request went against form, thus the extra expense. I told them to shove it. Thanks, my friend.
DeleteFor what it's worth, my dad retired at 55, yes 55. But it wasn't really retirement the way some people think of it. He gardened, worked wood, chatted with buddies, hunted, fished. The one thing he and Mom agreed on about retirement was that it was the end of a specific job, life carried on. They had witnessed too many friends take retirement as free license to spend all day on the couch in front of the TV. 99% of them were dead within a year. Dad passed away at 72 from cancer. After Mom retired too, they traveled, hunted together, and had the all important "Me" time to pursue individual interests. 12 years of basically good health after working 16 hour days as a trucker for 35 years? You bet retirement was worth it. Just food for thought.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Elaine...trust me, I'm thinking. Change is indeed hard.
ReplyDelete