Put out to pasture...

[Arlo Kalon 2.0]

I'm sure to some of you the idea of being retired already at age 58 has a certain appeal. It did to me initially. The first few weeks had a lot of boredom mixed in. Then, I bought a beautiful new guitar and decided my new career would be to master a playing style I had never attempted before. I spent hours a day learning new songs in a fingerpicking style. The initial excitement with that has wore off and I'm seeing signs of depression slipping in. Like an inability to resist an afternoon nap almost every day. This Spring, I plan to clear out space in my garage to get after some motorcycle pinstriping - but that is a way off yet. I have to find something to do - not necessarily useful endeavor - just an activity. My wife suggested fine art painting like I used to do, but I have no interest in it anymore. Anybody got some cheese for this whine? I also thought about offering freelance layout/design for some of you who are very busy. The business model was going to be you make me a contribution for the product based on what YOU think it's worth. Does anyone think that would fly? I spent my last 4 years in the sign business designing big electric signs for largest elec sign co in the area. I would never question the amount - after all, it's more of a therapy for me. Fred, would I require a merchant membership for this?

 

[Fred Weiss]

Fred, would I require a merchant membership for this?

Yes it would and so far a few have tried it and then let the subscription lapse ... so I gather it isn't a high demand item.

 

[Marlene]

wishing you the best of luck and hope your plan to freelance works out for you.

 

[James Burke]

I also sense a little apathy.

Here's the cure: find an apprentice and begin pouring your skills into him or her. You'll feel good about what you're doing and they'll be eternally grateful learning a skill that will put food on the table.


JB

 

[SD&F]

I hope you learn to relax and remember the things that brought you pleasure....not that long ago really. I think that many of us look forward to the day we don't HAVE to work, but when it comes we feel alittle lost.
"Be careful what you wish for"
You are still pretty young, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[round man]

I don't have a specific answer for you but I do applaud your intent here,....you have identified a potential problem and are trying to be proactive about it,..,..far too many people just sit idly by and watch the problem occur and then try to deal with it after the fact and then whining about having to deal with a problem they could have prevented,......at least you are being objective ,....my hats off to ya

 

[Gino]

Need things to keep busy ??

• Go for walks and enjoy Mother Nature.
• Join a gym.
• Start planning a vegetable garden and getting the soil ready.
• Clean the house for your wife or make a nice dinner for her two nights a week.
• Go visit with people in old folks homes.
• Find a charity of your liking and help out..... maybe two of them.
• Become a young retired deliveryman for some company.
• Go to the bars at night and pick up young girls.
• After you're rejected 8 times in the first three minutes.... leave.
• Seek out little girls at the playground and offer them candy.
• Paint the house a different color.
• Start doing some DIY stuff around the house.
• Build a recording studio somewhere in your house.
• Learn a different language.

Seriously, I'm sure if you apply yourself, you can find tons of things to do with your new found time.

 

[Border]

Join a band, or two....Learning techniques from a book or instructor and practicing alone would get old fast, for me at least. Join a band where you can be in charge of all the promotional stuff & design work too. That should challenge you on a daily basis most of the time. When that starts to bore you, look for a more challenging band to join.
Collaborate with some other musicians online to record some original music track by track over the internets~

Maybe go and entertain an occasional elementary school class with either your music skills or your art skills. Look into a part-time teaching job at a local vo-tech school.

 

[ddarlak]

make a list of dumb things you would never in a million years want to do.

then start doing them.

i bet some of them will be more interesting than you thought...

 

[TyrantDesigner]

Man, the amount of collective knowledge you have might be worth at least the time and effort to make a series of how-to videos or podcasts. That right there would be about 6 months worth of planning and doing right there. As for the design work ... why not give crowdspring and other freelancing sites a try ... might be worth at messing with.

 

[1/2-4CR3]

Pick up exotic dancing.
It helped me when my kids threw me in the retirement home.

 

[SD&F]

I guess that is what I have to look forward to. Tell me, how does that help while in the nursing home?

 

[HulkSmash]

My dad retired at 50. He had a successful business, and decided to sell at such a young age. He then went to Haiti even before the earthquake, and setup a orphanage, school, and clinic. He started off renting buildings for everything. Now he has raised enough money, that he was able to buy land, and build his own orphanage, and right now they're breaking ground for their own school. He has 30 kids in the orphanage, and will educate about 400 kids for free starting this summer.
The organization is called - http://www.feedmylambsministry.org/

 

[SD&F]

That is something quite amazing.

 

[Steve C.]

I've been trying to retire, but I can't seem to stop hanging around this damN
shop. I'd take up pottery again if I had the time. I still have all the equipment.
Fonts still consumes most of my spare time. And since you got me started
by showing off your new guitar, I been spending much more time with that too.

 

[signswi]

What about turning your love of various sign crafts into art projects for specific people? Once you get into the swing of it the ideas will start flowing and the passion projects will multiply like crazy.

 

[TyrantDesigner]

I've been trying to retire, but I can't seem to stop hanging around this damN
shop. I'd take up pottery again if I had the time. I still have all the equipment.
Fonts still consumes most of my spare time. And since you got me started
by showing off your new guitar, I been spending much more time with that too.

I'm no where near retirement, but I'm going to get back into ceramics. Miss it so much. (what I majored in while in college)

 

[Circleville Signs]

Man, the amount of collective knowledge you have might be worth at least the time and effort to make a series of how-to videos or podcasts. That right there would be about 6 months worth of planning and doing right there.

This. I can personally tell you that I would purchase a DVD/downloadable video series regarding old school sign making methods, included hand lettering, carving, painting, etc. They would have to be detailed and include step-by-steps, but I think you'd be surprised at the market for something like that. If it was good enough, I would easily pay $300-500 for something like that.

 

[TyrantDesigner]

Heck yeah, I can see an entire dvd on nothing but chisel lettering and gold leaf applications, I would be up in there like swim wear with that dvd.

 

[FatCat]

This. I can personally tell you that I would purchase a DVD/downloadable video series regarding old school sign making methods, included hand lettering, carving, painting, etc. They would have to be detailed and include step-by-steps, but I think you'd be surprised at the market for something like that. If it was good enough, I would easily pay $300-500 for something like that.

Me 3! I think you have a wealth of knowledge to share with some of us younger guys and I also wouldn't mind paying to learn.