Every few days, a message will appear in my email box from someone looking for help on a consulting project. When I first retired, I’d do dozens of these in a year for as much as $500/hour. Many of them led to extended contracts. Lately, however, I hardly respond to them at all, other than to say “thanks for thinking of me.” The issue with … Continue reading Dialing Out Of Consulting
Since Roman times, they have described August as the “Dog Days” of Summer. Our little pupper, Riley, hasn’t gotten the message. When it is hot or humid outside, he prefers to stay inside … snoozing where it’s nice and cool. On Tuesday this week, I was up early to take him for a walk. The heat of the day had not settled in yet, so … Continue reading Outside … From Dawn To Dusk
My oldest brother joined the ranks of retired goof-offs with his final day of work last Friday. Unlike me, he said he dutifully put in a full days work. Now that he’s done, he’s enjoying his first Sunday night that’s not a “school night” in quite some time. It’s still cold in Minnesota, but summer break is here! Related: Sunday Night Blues I know he … Continue reading Sunday Night Blues No More …
I met a former MegaCorp colleague for a beer on Monday. He’s not someone that I worked with directly, but we had a lot of friends in common. He said he had heard about me from others at MegaCorp and had been reading this blog. He is in his early 40s and well on his way to FIRE. He was talking about ‘FIRO’ … Financially … Continue reading What Do You Do With Your Time?
After two years of full & partial pandemic restrictions, it feels like summer is really back in full force this year. The CV19 precautions had locked down a lot of the concerts, festivals, and events that summer typically brings. This year, the Thursday newspaper events listing for the weekend is fully-loaded again with car shows, new bands on stage, small town festivals, and blockbuster summer … Continue reading Summer Is Back … !
I don’t take a nap every day, but I’m not opposed to a good afternoon snooze. It’s one of the benefits of early retirement. After pulling out 7 shrubs, playing a softball doubleheader, losing a close tennis match, getting the Jeep in for an oil change, and going to 3 board committee meetings at our metro zoo – in just 24 hours – I deserved … Continue reading The Perfect Nap
My friend and neighbor, Jeff, has organized a great activity as he transitioned from the world of work to retirement. He has become a garage brewmaster and hosts backyard monthly ‘tap release events’. Brewing beer and getting people together fit perfectly with his background as a chemical engineer & MegaCorp operations executive. About a dozen guys got together a couple weeks ago for his latest … Continue reading Monthly Tap Release Parties
People have been trying to work remotely since long before the start of the pandemic. Ever since the first BlackBerry came on the market, folks could search the web, answer their email, or easily text back to the home office from anywhere with cell coverage. As we waste away at Margaritaville this month enjoying our Winter Summerland, I see guys that look like my former … Continue reading Mixing Work & Paradise
Our wonderful neighbors invited us to a fantastic concert on Saturday night at the enormous Minnesota Vikings stadium in Minneapolis. George Strait, Chris Stapleton, and Little Big Town played as a huge triple act in front of over 50K fans. The stadium was filled to the rafters! It was the second big stadium concert we’ve done in that many weeks. A few weeks ago, we … Continue reading Tuned Up For Concerts
I decluttered my closet about a year after retiring early, but kept some of my ‘execu-wardrobe’ for board meetings and special occasions. Then the pandemic hit and I stopped dressing up for much of anything. I just needed to put a collared shirt on over my fleece pajama pants when I was on Zoom. Related: Fuzzy FIRE Lifestyle Related: FIRE Station FUN – Decluttering Work … Continue reading Dress-Up Wardrobe Update
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