Come now. Being paid to associate with sociopaths, people that think “The Peter Principle” is a good thing, and who use “The No Asshole Rule” (Great read) as their HR manual? Priceless. The people with severe anger-management issues were just icing on the cake.
When I retired after 40 years of teaching high school, I thought I would take up the oboe. Ten years later I am still trying to find the time. Retirement is great — just like being a kid only you have money and a drivers licence .
When one finally realizes that ‘the firm’ has about as much loyalty to its employees as air-brakes on a turtle, it’s a shock. Then a load is lifted from one’s shoulders, a deep breath heaves forth, and one perceives that the edge of the rut is not the true horizon. Life changes.
A few weeks ago, the New York Times published a piece “Why ‘Find Your Passion’ Is Such Terrible Advice,” which intrigued me because, well, I draw cartoons for a living, and it’s hardly the only thing like that that’s worked out well for me.
It didn’t exactly come out against passion. As in, it didn’t at all come out against passion in spite of the headline. It basically just said don’t get your hopes up because we’re all really bad at just about anything new, especially the hard stuff. And not too many people make, say, the Monday crossword their passion.
This was great, because it only took a little manipulation to make it all about me. I have always been terrible at just about everything the first few … hundred or thousand … tries. Combine this with the attention span of a border collie on a squirrel preserve and you end up quitting a lot of new things, which isn’t as bad as it sounds when you quit them to try something else. Or to go back to something that you actually are starting to get good at, or enjoy enough to keep doing even though you’re still pretty bad at it. In fact, that last one can look an awful lot like grit to the easily deceived. And eventually, after years and years, you do get kind of good at it, maybe even very good, and there you’ve found it. Not your passion so much as you found the last thing you’d ever give up on. Which doesn’t have quite as satisfying a ring to it, but it sure turns out better than, say, having had an early aptitude for accounting.
I am on my 3rd career, 32 years the first flying various desks, 4 years owning a small company, and now enjoying working at a non-profit feeding those in need.
While all the previous comments make valid points, where would we be as a society without people willing to do the desk jobs? I worked at a desk as a programmer and analyst for 32 years and enjoyed the actual work (not the accompanying administrivia so much). I retired at 55 and have no desire to go back to work but what i earned there has made my life now ever so much more enjoyable.
Bilan about 5 years ago
In 45 years of sitting behind a desk, he learned that he would rather be kiteboarding.
jpayne4040 about 5 years ago
Amazing how much fun you can have when you no longer have to work! I hope I can experience that one day.
asrialfeeple about 5 years ago
Grandpa has made the great escape.
jbrobo Premium Member about 5 years ago
I always told people that working was force of habit. Habits like eating,living in a house,driving a car etc……..
Dobby53 Premium Member about 5 years ago
Come now. Being paid to associate with sociopaths, people that think “The Peter Principle” is a good thing, and who use “The No Asshole Rule” (Great read) as their HR manual? Priceless. The people with severe anger-management issues were just icing on the cake.
Uncle Bob about 5 years ago
God help me,I really like this one!
cissycox about 5 years ago
When I retired after 40 years of teaching high school, I thought I would take up the oboe. Ten years later I am still trying to find the time. Retirement is great — just like being a kid only you have money and a drivers licence .
sandpiper about 5 years ago
When one finally realizes that ‘the firm’ has about as much loyalty to its employees as air-brakes on a turtle, it’s a shock. Then a load is lifted from one’s shoulders, a deep breath heaves forth, and one perceives that the edge of the rut is not the true horizon. Life changes.
lagoulou about 5 years ago
I was born to retire….
bobdingus about 5 years ago
For the ageists who couldn’t believe that older people could windsurf, I found out that there are several out there windsurfing in their eighties.
rlaker22j about 5 years ago
Retired for 8 years can’t figure out how I had time to work
cabalonrye about 5 years ago
I managed to get plenty of crazy things when it was easy for my body. Still, looking forward to do some more once I retire.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] about 5 years ago
PostsFrazz13 hrs ·
A few weeks ago, the New York Times published a piece “Why ‘Find Your Passion’ Is Such Terrible Advice,” which intrigued me because, well, I draw cartoons for a living, and it’s hardly the only thing like that that’s worked out well for me.
It didn’t exactly come out against passion. As in, it didn’t at all come out against passion in spite of the headline. It basically just said don’t get your hopes up because we’re all really bad at just about anything new, especially the hard stuff. And not too many people make, say, the Monday crossword their passion.
This was great, because it only took a little manipulation to make it all about me. I have always been terrible at just about everything the first few … hundred or thousand … tries. Combine this with the attention span of a border collie on a squirrel preserve and you end up quitting a lot of new things, which isn’t as bad as it sounds when you quit them to try something else. Or to go back to something that you actually are starting to get good at, or enjoy enough to keep doing even though you’re still pretty bad at it. In fact, that last one can look an awful lot like grit to the easily deceived. And eventually, after years and years, you do get kind of good at it, maybe even very good, and there you’ve found it. Not your passion so much as you found the last thing you’d ever give up on. Which doesn’t have quite as satisfying a ring to it, but it sure turns out better than, say, having had an early aptitude for accounting.
slowlearner2 about 5 years ago
I am on my 3rd career, 32 years the first flying various desks, 4 years owning a small company, and now enjoying working at a non-profit feeding those in need.
Bill Löhr Premium Member about 5 years ago
While all the previous comments make valid points, where would we be as a society without people willing to do the desk jobs? I worked at a desk as a programmer and analyst for 32 years and enjoyed the actual work (not the accompanying administrivia so much). I retired at 55 and have no desire to go back to work but what i earned there has made my life now ever so much more enjoyable.