Retirement Insights

After a long career, involving various engineering and project management positions in the same industry, I feel compelled to share reflections on my past work life and my thoughts on the future.

Today I feel grateful that I had a rewarding career that challenged me and allowed me to learn and improve along the way and, of course, excited about what’s next!

I’m 65 and apparently today 65 is the new 55. People have said “You’re too young to retire”, “Why did you decide to retire now”, “What are you going to do with your time", etc. I could probably write a book answering all these questions, but it is easier to simply publish this blog, which will probably only be read by my wife, and call it a day. No pressure, I’m retired!

Why did I decide to retire now?

  1. Because I can…at least if my financial planner is right!
  2. My wife Judy is a saint and has always supported my work assignment decisions. Taking a heart felt thought from recently retired supreme court justice Anthony Kennedy…"Its hard to leave something you love, except for someone you love more.” After being too much of a workaholic for too long, I feel a need to makeup for lost time.
  3. After 43 years working in the commercial nuclear power industry, I look forward to change. While I definitely enjoyed my work, I have always been energized by change. For instance:
      • I avoid driving the same route home that I took to get to my destination,
      • I looked forward to new assignments in new places all around the country,
      • I recently completed a 6-month international assignment.
  4. The opportunities to keep learning and be exposed to new experiences were becoming less likely. While I was being challenged, for the most part, they were the same old issues. Further, I realized that I was getting more satisfaction from teaching or mentoring others at work versus actually “doing” the work. ….Maybe I should become a teacher?

What now?

I tend to be ahead of my time. I started first grade at 5 (no kindergarten back then), I graduated high school at 17, graduated college at end of May 1974 and started working for an Architect Engineer (AE) in June 1974 having just turned 21. So retiring at 65, which by some is early, seems to fit my MO.

I received a retirement card, which read:

RETIREMENT
Do WHAT you want,
WHEN you want,
IF you want.

So that is what retirement is all about, right? A newfound freedom that makes you want to shout “Free at Last, Free at Last…..Well I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting it, but I can’t believe how great it feels to NOT work for anybody else. Of course that does not mean I intend to sit home, eat junk food, and watch TV all day. For my second act, I intend to explore things that I am, or become, passionate about. My mission is changing from being a good provider and worker to… I don’t know exactly, but it will be something else just as meaningful and rewarding. I have many of interests and my list of things I want to explore is growing.  Here are my top five interests at this time…

  1. Family responsibilities
    I intend to kick it up a notch and do more on the home front. My wonderful wife is involved in a family business and various local organizations, so my main focus is to support her by being there when she needs me…without her having to ask J. It’s amazing how all of a sudden I am seeing all sorts of things around the house that need attention. What is most surprising is that I am actually excited about those things now, can’t wait to get at it…I didn’t see that coming.
  2. Volunteer
    During my working career, I did limited volunteer work that I really enjoyed. Specifically coaching little league and softball, and also a 3-year stint on the local finance committee. I hope to find new volunteer activities for worthy organizations that will benefit from the skills I have developed over time.
  3. Become an entrepreneur
    I have no regrets about my career choices, but I now have a strong interest in starting anew, being my own boss, and creating products and services that benefit others and serve a need. My current thinking is leaning in the following directions.

Teaching / Online Training Courses

I have always valued continuous learning. My father-in-law would say. “Get all the education you can, it isn’t heavy to carry around.” In my idealistic worldview, wouldn’t it be great if others could avoid or limit some of the mistakes I have made because I was able to share my experience and lessons learned?

Create Apps

My children often laugh at my brainstorm ideas (some of them harebrained, I admit) that are never pursued. Now, I just might surprise them and actually create something awesome! Maybe something useful to the aging baby boomers?

    1. Get Healthy
      Now I have no excuse to keep me from losing weight and exercising more.
    2. Travel
      Taking more trips, large and small, is probably the activity I most look forward to!

I can’t get more specific at the moment. As I find my way over the next few months, however, I expect my new direction will reveal itself, so stay tuned right here to follow my journey.

In the mean time, check out the blogs on "TheLearningEngineer.com" website and coming soon on-line training resources related to project planning and execution.

Dan Yasi  12/5/2018