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I turned 64-ten days ago -- am straight, single and currently unattached. My years immediately after completing my education were marked by as strong resistance to the authoritarian atmosphere and resistance to the pressure to "settle" that usually characterizes that stage of life.
I responded by working in several fields, running a sideline business (tax prep), working the unpopular hours outside the customary 9-to-5 time frame, and picking up a wide variety of skills. To summarize, I have a very large "tool kit", but have always fought attempts by paternalistic supervisors to "jump through hoops" at an increasingly fast pace. I can recall only one occasion in the past decade (with the exception of the usual weddings, funerals and banquets) when I was conned into wearing that absolute symbol of corporate idiocy called a necktie.
And things got crazier as the "new economy" evolved after 1995; I worked as a finance and "governmental issues" specialist for the owner off several transient hotels; when one "gig" ended suddenly, I packed up and moved to a city known for stable employment prospects (Omaha) and found a job within a week
But this is the age of "over-scrutinized" employment, and the warehouse where I've worked for the past two years continues to "raise the bar" with regard to production demands, etc. I have a well-funded IRA ready to go, rent part of my house and can pay it off at any time, but I want to continue the satisfaction of actually "doing something"; volunteer work can fill part of the time, but it lacks the sense of "real" work which is important to me.
So I suppose I'm seeking advice along the same lines as a lot of mature, but "displaced" individuals today. I want to keep doing something, but not in an office that reminds me of a junior high school classroom, or by going back to self-employment in a seasonal business with a very demanding peak.
Any suggestions are welcome.
l
I turned 64-ten days ago -- am straight, single and currently unattached. My years immediately after completing my education were marked by as strong resistance to the authoritarian atmosphere and resistance to the pressure to "settle" that usually characterizes that stage of life.
I responded by working in several fields, running a sideline business (tax prep), working the unpopular hours outside the customary 9-to-5 time frame, and picking up a wide variety of skills. To summarize, I have a very large "tool kit", but have always fought attempts by paternalistic supervisors to "jump through hoops" at an increasingly fast pace. I can recall only one occasion in the past decade (with the exception of the usual weddings, funerals and banquets) when I was conned into wearing that absolute symbol of corporate idiocy called a necktie.
And things got crazier as the "new economy" evolved after 1995; I worked as a finance and "governmental issues" specialist for the owner off several transient hotels; when one "gig" ended suddenly, I packed up and moved to a city known for stable employment prospects (Omaha) and found a job within a week
But this is the age of "over-scrutinized" employment, and the warehouse where I've worked for the past two years continues to "raise the bar" with regard to production demands, etc. I have a well-funded IRA ready to go, rent part of my house and can pay it off at any time, but I want to continue the satisfaction of actually "doing something"; volunteer work can fill part of the time, but it lacks the sense of "real" work which is important to me.
So I suppose I'm seeking advice along the same lines as a lot of mature, but "displaced" individuals today. I want to keep doing something, but not in an office that reminds me of a junior high school classroom, or by going back to self-employment in a seasonal business with a very demanding peak.
Any suggestions are welcome.
l
Seek and you shall find. Only you know what that will look like. It seems you have spent your life being adaptive. Stay on that path as I suspect that needing to is part of what drives you.
I'm thinking like you OP. I'll be interested to watch the responses. I've found a few jobs I'd like. Drive a courtesy van for a car dealership, taking folks to work after dropping off their car for repairs. Some sort of job that does light deliveries. Driving a van for carrying passengers from their parked cars to the terminal at the airport. How about moving cars from one location to another for a car rental company? Since you don't mind odd hours, how about working a motel desk. That's all I can think of for now.
I'm thinking like you OP. I'll be interested to watch the responses. I've found a few jobs I'd like. Drive a courtesy van for a car dealership, taking folks to work after dropping off their car for repairs. Some sort of job that does light deliveries. Driving a van for carrying passengers from their parked cars to the terminal at the airport. How about moving cars from one location to another for a car rental company? Since you don't mind odd hours, how about working a motel desk. That's all I can think of for now.
One of my nephews delivered RVs all over the country. He loved it and made good money.
There are many jobs that don't require working in an office. If you like to travel delivering cars as has been suggested is one. Or sign on to a cruise ship and sail the seas. My cousin got a job in retirement working as a security guard. That may sound a bit odd but he has met some of the most interesting people. He doesn't have jobs in which he carries a job, it's more like he does security work for church socials and entertainment events and things like that.
You could be a paid or volunteer usher at an entertainment venue. There are always people needed for work at hospitals.
I once had a book entitled "Retiree Jobs For Dummies." It was great. Not many office jobs there. You have a lot of options I think. Now that you have the time and the money I would think the world is you oyster.
To the OP: Other than the fact that you once worked in tax preparation, you haven't given any indication of what your skills and experience really are, other than that they are broad. I think that makes it harder to make suggestions for you. A few of the suggestions would be for very low pay; now does that bother you, or are you to the point where the money no longer matters, since you could actually "retire"?
Another reason it's hard to come up with suggestions is that you are very picky about what you want to do. Nothing wrong with that per se; it is an advantage to be at a point in life where you can afford to be picky. As I understand it, wearing a tie is out and situations where you are pressured to produce (or work hard) are also out. Or maybe it's more like you don't like direct supervision - not sure I've understood you completely.
Bottom line: you want to continue to feel productive and useful within the limits of what is acceptable to you in terms of working conditions. Is that a fair summary, or am I off base?
So I suppose I'm seeking advice along the same lines as a lot of mature, but "displaced" individuals today.
I want to keep doing something, but not in an office that reminds me of a junior high school classroom,
or by going back to self-employment in a seasonal business with a very demanding peak.
AS ER noted... you haven't been at all specific about that tool kit you have.
But I'll go along with your idea here of something that is seasonal or maybe episodic.
Something you can fire up or ramp up when your slush funds are low or just bored...
and will allow you the greatest degree of flexibility to spend/enjoy that slush fund.
It could be along the lines of project based employment too rather than a business.
Good luck figuring out the details.
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