WhiteStrat
Don't stare at the eye.
<personal life rant>
About six months ago, I lost my job. I'm fortunate in that it didn't wreck my life like it would have in the past. Our bills are paid, we had plenty in savings, and my wife was doing well. So yeah, at the young age of 48, I thought this might just be early retirement!
In the past 6 months, I learned a couple things.
First, I thought I'd live in the studio and use all this free time to write and record the best album ever. Nope. I haven't recorded a single track in well over a year.
Second, I thought we might struggle financially at least a little bit. Nope. I did alright doing freelance media work and business consulting. Besides that, I really am a kept man. My wife makes plenty.
I also thought I'd sleep till noon every day and stay up all night. Nope. I started feeling guilty for not having a "real" job, so I got up with her every morning. Then earlier and earlier. I'm now getting up at 5:30 every morning and heading to bed at 9:00 pm!
But the real lessons surprised me. As well as my wife does in her work, she doesn't like doing it alone. That's not good for her. And I've always done best musically when under stress. The song only seems to come out when I have to fight for it. Perhaps that's why I've been so musically dry...
In the past six months I've loved being semi-retired. I've worked the land, improved the house, and watched my granddaughter two days a week.
But all that is ending.
While I only looked for new work half-heartedly, work found me. Someone I used to work with contacted me. I wasn't desperate for work, so I played it cool. I did a couple interviews and then asked for twice what I used to make. Hey, what do I have to lose?
They offered me more than I asked for, and gave me 5 weeks paid vacation. I guess I can be bought. So I'm going back to work on 11/2. As much as I don't desperately need it (or even want it), I'm looking forward to it.
While in semi-retirement mode, I got financially conservative. Now I'm gonna have some fun. I see a new truck and a vintage Les Paul in my immediate future. After that, look for some new tunes. I'm sure I'll get frustrated with work and turn to my music for an outlet!
Hopefully this is the last chapter in the "work" book. I'd really like to chill out and make music. I should have done so in the past year. Maybe I'll learn my lesson this time around!
</personal life rant>
About six months ago, I lost my job. I'm fortunate in that it didn't wreck my life like it would have in the past. Our bills are paid, we had plenty in savings, and my wife was doing well. So yeah, at the young age of 48, I thought this might just be early retirement!
In the past 6 months, I learned a couple things.
First, I thought I'd live in the studio and use all this free time to write and record the best album ever. Nope. I haven't recorded a single track in well over a year.
Second, I thought we might struggle financially at least a little bit. Nope. I did alright doing freelance media work and business consulting. Besides that, I really am a kept man. My wife makes plenty.
I also thought I'd sleep till noon every day and stay up all night. Nope. I started feeling guilty for not having a "real" job, so I got up with her every morning. Then earlier and earlier. I'm now getting up at 5:30 every morning and heading to bed at 9:00 pm!
But the real lessons surprised me. As well as my wife does in her work, she doesn't like doing it alone. That's not good for her. And I've always done best musically when under stress. The song only seems to come out when I have to fight for it. Perhaps that's why I've been so musically dry...
In the past six months I've loved being semi-retired. I've worked the land, improved the house, and watched my granddaughter two days a week.
But all that is ending.
While I only looked for new work half-heartedly, work found me. Someone I used to work with contacted me. I wasn't desperate for work, so I played it cool. I did a couple interviews and then asked for twice what I used to make. Hey, what do I have to lose?
They offered me more than I asked for, and gave me 5 weeks paid vacation. I guess I can be bought. So I'm going back to work on 11/2. As much as I don't desperately need it (or even want it), I'm looking forward to it.
While in semi-retirement mode, I got financially conservative. Now I'm gonna have some fun. I see a new truck and a vintage Les Paul in my immediate future. After that, look for some new tunes. I'm sure I'll get frustrated with work and turn to my music for an outlet!
Hopefully this is the last chapter in the "work" book. I'd really like to chill out and make music. I should have done so in the past year. Maybe I'll learn my lesson this time around!
</personal life rant>
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