Cliff, you have the right perspective.  I’m the same age as you are and I wish I had the wisdom I have now when I was a teen or in my 20’s.  It doesn’t matter how you figure it out as long as you do.  So many spend their lives chasing things that add no lasting value to their lives.  They don’t know the difference between the priceless and the expensive.  Your time and happiness is priceless.  Give it away with extreme caution. 
Last night I flew into Liege, Belgium (Nightly milk runs from the UK), met 3 other company  pilots there in the lounge.  We had 2 hrs to burn  and there were 5 of us total shooting the bull at 2am in the morning drinking coffee and cracking jokes.  We flew back in there tonight (same guys except one was missing). His name was Peter Souza.   Come to find out he died last night after he landed.  No idea what happened.  Makes you take account for your own life, what’s important.  He didn’t think he was going to die within 24 hrs after we met.  Married, 2 kids and only 47 yrs old.   You have to live a little for today, and more so the older you get.  Be kind to others, be a generous and be that someone you want to be remembered for.  All we really leave behind are what we do for others, everything else fades away.  
You’ve figured it out…..that’s winning in the game of life not how many zeros on the check on pay day.  Glad to have gotten to know you on the forum.  You’ve added value to more people’s lives than you think.   

15 hours ago, siteunseen said:

Update:

I made it 1 month at Lowes. I hired in on a part time job, 30 hours max. A guy quit in the lumber department so I got promoted/demoted to opening lumber guy. The last week I worked 45 hours. People can't understand somebody that just wants part time work. I made some good (some bad) decisions in my life that allowed me the choice of working. "Work is for suckers" was what I learned. 

Anyhow after I worked out my schedule and left I was freaking out on keeping bills paid and my good credit score.

The paint store I started working at in 1989 is were I work now. 3 blocks from my house and we sell Benjamin Moore paint. There's a paint shortage now so we're the only ones that have any. The store is busy, busy and we have ridiculous prices but that's what is sales for now. $12.99 in 1989, flat wall paint is now $29.99 for pastel base colors. We have some oil that's $80 per gallon.

Prices are a whole lot higher but I'm back doing what I did in 1989. Life is good! (but strange).

My life is getting back on track so I'll be able to dive back into my Zs addiction.

Thank you all for putting up with me through a rough patch.

Cliff

 

 

 

Wow Cliff, two job changes in one month.

 Whew!

The key is happiness though. 
 

I’ve been fortunate that most of the work I have done has always been work I enjoy, and mostly long term.

I worked 30 years at an electric utility, maintaining and repairing the fleet. I served a 4 year state indentured apprenticeship to become a journeyman mechanic. It was like auto shop everyday. But after 30 years I grew weary of the management, wasn’t sleeping, and pissed off most of the time. I still enjoyed the work, but disliked the people I worked for.

So I “retired”.

After bouncing around in the private sector and not liking it much, I put my CDL to work and got a job pulling flatbed trailers loaded with airplane parts all over the US and Canada. Five years and over 800,000 miles later I moved on, to a job as an aerospace machinist.

Now after seven and a half years at The Big Shed building 777 300ER/777 freighters, then 767 freighters /KC46 tankers, I am planning my exit to permanent retirement.

Then I can spend everyday in my shop, working on my Z collection.

 

 

 

Good for you. I too, worked my whole life for people who couldn't care less if I was Ok or not. And some big wig Politicians. Once I was able to retire I jumped at it. If I could do it all over I'd start my own business or whatever, working for others only pays if your in charge of who you work for and how much they pay you. Once I retired I relaxed and in a pursuit to end the useless clutter on life, I ditched the cable Tv and went back to an old hobby I enjoyed, Reading. Don't ever sell yourself short. In the end, only you, your family and reality have a worthwhile relationship. God bless and good luck !

Edited February 27, 20223 yr by Killain