I’m on vacation. Hold on a minute, I’ve got to take this call from the office.
You probably think I am nuts, but this is the vacation that I wanted and expected. My wife Risa is the same way. She usually has a meeting or two every day and phone conversations about clients. They punctuate her days. They stimulate her and give meaning to her life.
For me, the business calls from Graff-Pinkert are often with Noah and Rex. They are usually about opportunities and possibilities that allow me to stretch my mind and enjoy connection with them.
If I did not have these calls I would be bored.
I do not want them constantly. I may not answer if I am involved in a vacation activity or deliberate non-activity.
But these are the facts. At 78 years old I’m a smorgasbord of aches and pains, but with the gift of an active, curious mind, a successful business, and a son who pushes me, this is the vacation that I really do want.
I am extremely grateful not to be retired but also not forced to work at something I do not enjoy.
I am rarely bored. That is a real gift. I still have a good memory, though names and words can occasionally elude me.
I see peers and acquaintances who are retired. They move away from family and friends, looking for warmth and leisure. But then they are miserably bored and lonely and spend much of their time worrying about their illnesses and ailments and those of their wives and children if they are fortunate enough to still have them.
The very lucky ones have no money worries, children who want to be with them and visit, and the physical ability to go on walks, play golf, and deal a card game.
Keep the calls coming even when I’m on vacation and not feeling like an Olympic marathoner. I need the stimulation. I’m searching for opportunity and serendipity. I’m looking forward to a visit this morning with the customer over breakfast at my favorite coffee shop.
I am extremely happy for these kinds of days and I am truly grateful for each one. But excuse me, I have to take a call from Rex.
Question: What are you looking forward to if you reach older age?
3 Comments
You seem to be living a dream life especially because you are doing what you love to do. I am basically doing the same, I have worked at our company for 53 years and I like the involvement I have with our company. I was the President for 20 years but now I am 4 years into being involved in an advisory capacity in engineering and management. I have to have some kind of challenges to keep me from being bored. So between working some and having fun keeping my small collection of classic cars up and running I don’t have time to be bored. No idle hands here.
I’m reminded of my 94 year old mother, who still drives, complaining about some “old” person driving in front of her. I’ll ask her, “Mom, how old do you think they were?” Forever young!
That’s awesome.😃