Retirement Means a New Chance

Five years ago today, I “retired” from my “day job.”

I left for a number of reasons. One was so I would have enough time to make out annual journey to Quartzsite. Tony and I knew we wanted to make Stressless Camping our top priority.

Also, I was disenchanted with management at work, plus I could see that my position would be changing in ways I wasn’t excited about. I was very happy with my position, and good at what I did. I didn’t really want to change in the ways I knew were coming. I liked the geology work, even though it cut back on our RVing opportunities. But that work was slowing down; and I’d have to make changes.

So I gave plenty of notice and my last day was January 3, 2020.

We had a great trip to Quartzsite. We could take the time we wanted to get there, stay there, and get home without worrying about getting back to the office.

A few weeks after we got home, management of the department I left had a big shakeup.  I found myself wondering if I should have stayed. But we were camping and making plans for another long trip to Arizona.

I was glad I had moved on.

A few weeks later, Covid struck and the whole Country shifted. My former coworkers started working from home, which I had always wanted.

I once again found myself wondering if I should have stayed.

We had to cancel our big trip to Arizona. We spent time with the trailer in the driveway, and set up “Camp Boredom” where we recorded, cleaned the trailer, and learned to use our cast iron over the propane fire pit. We made the most out of being stuck at home.

I was glad I had moved on.

Several months later, I was asked to return in a consultant capacity, and train the person they had finally hired to do my old job. I agreed, and spent the next year or so training not one, but three people.

I wondered if anyone wished I would have stayed.

Today, management has changed, for the better in my opinion. The department is well on its way to being back in its feet, I believe.

Tony and I moved halfway across the country, so there is no more consulting. And StressLess Camping is doing better all the time.

I no longer wonder if I should have stayed. I’m glad I moved on.