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Yesterday's background on Manfred Sauer really has been percolating for some time. Boat Guy sparked an idea, which led to the post in question. Nothing really super dramatic, just an avaricious politician not getting his "10% for the Big Guy" so making sure that Sauer's exemption from the draft is lost.
Happens all the time in the real world. (Don't take this as an invitation to discuss politics. No, really.)
In other news, I've decided to keep on working. That is, I shan't be retiring at the end of the year. While trying to convince myself that I wasn't going to be a lazy slug who just plays video games all "day" long, (day beginning around noon and lasting until 2 A.M. or so) it struck me that that was the plan.
I realized too that I really enjoy the people I work with and work is really the only place I get to hang out with them. (While actually, ya know, working.) I'd miss that.
Yes, I was awfully browned-off upon my return from my recent sojourn in Sandy Eggo, I really was ready to hang up my cleats (?) and move on. But I'm not ready to be this guy ...
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Sigh ...
Anyhoo, the way I look at it, I can still be productive, useful, etc., etc., and actually get paid for it. But I will be reducing my hours by another four per week. I'm working four 9-hour days now, in the new year they will be 8-hour days.
As a co-worker quipped, "Gee, stay until you're 80 and you'll probably come in Wednesday at 1000, take an hour for lunch, and leave at 1400. With a brisk, "Have a nice weekend!" on my way out the door.
Yeah, I can see me doing that.
Anyhoo, see you on Tuesday.
Ciao!
¹ And yes, I know today is Sunday. But not when I wrote this.
It is a fact of life that while women and children have intrinsic value, men must produce.to have value. I had to retire at seventy because of health issues, otherwise I wouldn't have. Having had some recovery I am contemplating returning to some kind of work.
ReplyDeleteI know where you're coming from!
DeleteDo whatever makes you happy Sarge and is legal.
ReplyDeleteAll things in moderation, even work.
DeleteAll things in moderation, especially moderation.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like your colleagues, Sarge; I liked SOME of mine but had less and less respect for the outfit and management as time went on. The moment the circumstances allowed, I retired; and found that I was busier and far happier than before. I've pursued crafts using both wood and metal; been passing on useful skills and volunteering as a Docent in a museum. This last has led me to a group of colleagues, people I respect and enjoy; I work when it fits (sometimes a little more if required) and can take the time I want to travel - I also travel to nicer places than work usually sent me and get to make my own arrangements.
If you're still happy, that's great; make some more money and we'll wait a little longer for the book(s).
Boat Guy
The books will continue, just not as quickly as I'd like. (There's that one still in final edits!)
DeleteIt's very good to be useful to the world. That doesn't mean you can't have a good time doing it. For all that detractors complained that Jimmy Buffett was advocating a laid-back drunken lifestyle, he was also known as "the hardest working man in show business!"
ReplyDeleteUseful is good.
DeleteThe reduced hours sounds like a good idea. As long as you still enjoy your job and coworkers that's what matters!
ReplyDeleteVery true!
DeleteIf you are enjoying what you're doing you have it made! It's your life....
ReplyDeleteI feel good about the things I'm doing now. If that changes, then it will be time to call it a career.
DeleteSarge, even after TB The Elder retired, for several years he took part time jobs - in his case, mostly nursery deliveries because he enjoyed driving. He got to travel quite a bit throughout the Northern part of Old Home, and got paid to do it. If you still enjoy it and if they are willing to flex your hours even more, that sounds like almost the perfect situation.
ReplyDeleteI think the social group aspect is one a lot of folks underestimate. We spend so much time on the job that like them or not, our work group becomes our social group. If we do not actively seek to find other social groups outside of work, it goes poorly when we no longer work there (saying this mostly to myself, as this is a point The Ravishing Mrs. TB has made more than once whenever I pull out my "Old Man Yells At Cloud" imitation and talk about retiring at some point).
I think one of the things about the work group becoming your social group is having a common ground. Outside of work that's harder to do, especially as I'm ex-career military and am not from here.
DeleteThat is eminently fair, Sarge. I will say that for my work environments in general, "outside" topics are something we gingerly touch on, if at all. The other thing - somewhat amazing to me - is how when one changes jobs, that social group tends to dissipate fairly quickly. It is odd, going from daily contact to almost no (or no) contact at all.
DeleteI don't really socialize with my work colleagues outside of work. We have other lives outside of work.
DeleteWhen working, I seldom saw my coworkers outside of work. Same with work. It ended at 17:00 (often starting [by my own choice] at 06:00), and nothing work-related went home. Anything I read or did was completely off-topic, and the motley collection of no-hopers, jokers, and rogues I interacted with were a refreshing change.
DeleteTwo different worlds.
DeleteIt's a plan, and it will work.
ReplyDeleteJust make sure that they understand you may want, (and damn well expect to get it!) as many days off for important family events as you want, when you want. Paid or non-paid is sort of irrelevant.
All those grandkids need you more than the bosses at work. And the Missus may have things she wants to do other than watch you write and wait for you to get home from work. Health issues can come up unexpectedly as we age, as you have seen [pun intended].
John Blackshoe
Good points, JB. Work has granted me a lot of flexibility, which is good. I can retire at any time, which also makes things very flexible.
DeleteSarge,
ReplyDeleteAs most of the comments have stated, the secret is to find SOMETHING to do that you enjoy. Personally, Boat Guy's Docent suggestion would be perfect for you. But that's just my opinion. However, I'm seriously thinking about looking into it at the Nimitz museum for myself.
juvat
Oh there's lots to do upon retirement, I'm just enjoying what I do now too much to change.
DeleteThe closest museum where my knowledge might be of some use is in Hudson, MA, about an hour and a half from here.
Well… you could move to Texas. Between you and I we could own the Nimitz. Just sayin’
Delete😉
juvat
I've heard that it's hot down there. Just sayin'
Delete😎
It looks like the Gargle may have left open a back door for me to access the comment function.
ReplyDeleteWhat’s stupid is that I can’t seem to just log in and comment.
I have also become that guy [I won’t say that other word] yelling at a cloud, or whoever else is within the range of my voice.
I have found that I can procrastinate to the point of total avoidance. That’s not necessarily a good thing.
Gargle has many quirks lately, mostly unintended side effects from bad programming. It's just a theory ...
DeleteI love putting things off. It's what I do.
I think you have chosen wisely, grasshopper. If you enjoy what you do and you can call it a day whenever you want to, that is the life best led.
ReplyDeleteI do have that going for me. Which is nice.
DeleteIn all the years I worked for (flew for is a better way of putting it. Not much work involved) we never engaged socially with anyone from the SFO area. I had my life at home and Church. That’s what made me retire early and go to Bible College at an old age. I loved being a Pastor.
ReplyDeleteForgot the words Western (the ONLY way to fly) and Delta (y’all)
DeleteDave#1 - Separate worlds which seldom cross over.
DeleteDave#2 - Western? I barely remember them. Delta is still a favorite.
ReplyDeleteDelta bought Western in 1987. Thank you Lord. I worked for them from 69-89. Retired early.
Delete👍
Delete