Are you retired from or currently working at your "dream" job?

[Deanna777]

I spent all my working life in pharmaceutical research. Started out in the UK as a lab assistant for Roche. Was allowed 1 full day per week off to attend classes to get a BSc. Got paid for that day as well. Took me 5 years as I was not the most diligent student.
Graduated & got married to the perfect wife in '65. Had met her in those 5yrs of classes. She studied harder & graduated a year before me. We then emigrated to Canada & I studied for a PhD in Alberta.
Got a job as a Research Scientist in Montreal & worked for Wyeth for 37yrs ending up as a Senior Research Scientist. Retired at 65 back in 2004.

We've been travelling ever since. Two long driving holidays in the SW & NW USA every year. We fly to LV or Denver & rent an SUV for 4 weeks & just drive.

A couple of years after I retired, Pfizer bought Wyeth for $72 billion & proceeded to fire all of Wyeth's scientists!!! Somewhat ironic as the reason they bought us was because of all the very promising drugs coming through our pipeline. Their wonderful pipeline was empty. So they fire our productive ones & keep theirs. Couldn't quite understand that.


I'm 78 now & feeling a bit worse for wear these days. Hope to get another 2 years of riding at least. My bro comes over from the UK every summer for 10 days & we go riding for a week in Canada & the US north east. I on my '08 GS & he on the '04 Honda Shadow Aero VT750 I bought for him to ride. He's coming again this year so keep an eye out for 2 old farts on the loose in VT, NY & ON in July.


I have 2 beautiful daughters & 2 great grand kids. Life couldn't be better. Hope you all have a great Christmas.


ps...I can't help noticing how many veterans we have on this forum. In case if any one wonders how I could live my life without military involvement it was purely fortuitous. I was born in '39 so obviously missed WW2. Not old enough for the Korean war. Canada did not participate in the Vietnam war (to the best of my knowledge) then far too old for the Iraq & Afghanistan wars. I sort of slipped through life without my services being called for. For that I am truly grateful but admire all of you who met the challenge & kept us all safe.[/QUOTE

***We will keep an eye for you and your bro on the roads in VT. in July. Give us a wave if you see us on the roads in VT. I( 2014 RTS-SE6 Cognac/ [ painted dashboard) & my significant other vtrider- Adrien 2016 F3- Special all black). *** Deanna

 

[oldgoat]

***We will keep an eye for you and your bro on the roads in VT. in July. Give us a wave if you see us on the roads in VT. I( 2014 RTS-SE6 Cognac/ [ painted dashboard) & my significant other vtrider- Adrien 2016 F3- Special all black). *** Deanna[/QUOTE]



Our eyes will be wide open as well & a wave will be forthcoming.

 

[Oldest Sage]

Interesting thread... as I look back on my past (70+) jobs I think they were all my dream jobs during that time. Many jobs during high school, worked my way thru some college and they all got me what I wanted...enough to get by without debt. Enlisted in Navy as an Aviation Electrician and after 30 years had advanced to a LT. After the Navy was hired as a Laser Repair/automation Tech...still working because I really enjoy it. Don’t get me wrong, none were perfect jobs yet I enjoyed and learned from all of them. Thru most of this I married a wonderful woman and had 2 great kids. My next perfect job, as many have stated, is retirement. I am currently searching for a touring Spyder to purchase soon so I can prepare it for traveling with wife and grandkids. In the meantime, I’m here lurking and learning.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

job

After 42 years and change in law enforcement, I'm 219 days away from pulling the pin for good. By that time I will have 43 years, 10 days under my belt (not that I'm counting ) and have come to the realization this is a young mans/womens game.

As a fellow LEO , I'm glad you are near this event ..... and I agree this job is/was for the young ....although I don't envy anyone who is still waiting, ...................good luck ..... Mike :thumbup:

 

[R FUN]

Yes. MISTERP I should consider adopting someone because when I get to 100 or 105 in a few years and decide to retire
I might need help getting under the Spyder to service it HA HA, Heading out right away for my 3 mile daily walk, only -47 below with wind chill.
Have a good one.
Roger

 

[bscrive]

After almost 25 years working for the Federal Gov't in Canada, we will be retiring in just over 5 1/2 years. Our retirement cannot come too soon. We are really considering a move to Spain for our retirement years. The housing is cheap and the Costa del Sol weather is perfect year round. It also gives us a jumping off spot to do our dream job...travelling. We would be able to see all of Europe and Asia without all the air travel.

 

[ARtraveler]

Yes. MISTERP I should consider adopting someone because when I get to 100 or 105 in a few years and decide to retire
I might need help getting under the Spyder to service it HA HA, Heading out right away for my 3 mile daily walk, only -47 below with wind chill.
Have a good one.
Roger

That's cold enough to cut with a knife. Saw -40 a few times in Northern, MN and got -60 below (one time record) while in Northern WI. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I feel for ya. Will have a cup of hot chocolate and reminisce. :bowdown::bowdown:

 

[dpetrick]

I spent 4 years teaching in a private elementary school. Then ran my portrait wedding photo business for 42 years, retired from that this year. Now I photograph only sports and special events for charities, local newspaper and local college and high school and teach photography classes at the local community college. I am a Iowa Newspaper Association award winning photographer because of these events. During college, part time I had jobs working in the machine room of a paper mill, as a broke hustler, and cleaning cheese wheels for Kraft grated parmesan. Also worked in home construction, plumbers helper, painter, roofer, and electricians helper during high school. Dad was an electrician and uncles were home builders and plumbers, so I worked for them.
I am enjoying my semi retirement and spend as much time on the Spyder and my Nomad as possible during the summer months. My wife enjoys riding with me on the Spyder.

 

[UtahPete]

Digging through and arranging old photos and found this one. I am grateful for my years at KW and never could have retired at 56 without KW and the benefits they provided. However, it was not my dream job and I never was really thrilled with the place. I did motor and generator rewinding for 12 years or so and I loved it. Everyday was different, you never knew what was going show up and usually at quitting time. You had to think, actually use your brain for formulas and logic. Never was a math fan, didn’t take much in school and had to learn trigonometry on my own in the work place. It was a challenge and a blast. I could have done this work forever, but with a growing family I had to follow the money. No regrets, I’m glad I did what I did because life has been good, but I did enjoy this job.


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We do what we have to do to provide for our family, right? I'm not sorry for what I did (10 years US Navy, 30 years CPA and small business consultant) but can't say I did any of it out of 'love' for the work.. Glad it's over and can retire (modestly, for the most part) and enjoy the golden years somewhat intact.

 

[burg650]

Happy Holidays to all, kind of late but better late then never I say. My dream job is retirement, did it at 50 and moved to Thailand. I do miss my Spyder but would not consider getting one here, first they are very rear and would cost about between $65,000 and $95,000.

 

[murphybrown]

Tremendous journey sooooo far.

Over my 77 years I have done a multitude of things. Started my first business when I was 6 years old. Done a lot of stuff...all legal (I think)...some jobs I took strictly to "survive" and very grateful...ideal, dream OH HECK NO...but made sure my employer got the best employee I was possible to give. I did the official retire "thing" in 2005. I bought my first Spyder in 2010 and here is the rest of the story:
I quickly became addicted to Spyder travel and the wonderful folks I meet and sites I see. After a couple years I discovered that the fixed/retirement income I was receiving was the only thing fixed...all those basic costs of living sooo not fixed. So that I could continue my addiction to Spyder Ryding and a couple others!! I knew that something needed to change. One option. Sell my home and move back in a tent (did that during one survival mode)...or find a solution. AND the option of "working for the man"..even part time was NOT on that list:
Soooo following my passion for business...I went looking and found the answer to how to "DO IT ALL"...even as I continue to age...yep that just keeps on keeping on,
Soooo I'll be seeing you on the road on my Spyder...First stop for 2018....headed to Bayou Rally then to Spyderfest Rally... hope to see you on the road in 2018. Yep life is Golden in the world of murphybrown. Luving life..:thumbup::thumbup:

 

[UtahPete]

I knew that something needed to change. One option. Sell my home and move back in a tent (did that during one survival mode)...or find a solution. AND the option of "working for the man"..even part time was NOT on that list: Soooo following my passion for business...I went looking and found the answer to how to "DO IT ALL"...even as I continue to age...

Soooo, what did you do to fill the income / expense gap?

 

[murphybrown]

Started a Home based business

Soooo, what did you do to fill the income / expense gap?

Pete send me a PM if you want more info. Have a greatday. Dang wintery here. Oh way it is WINTER.