Retired at 47 ...... what to do now ? Discussion thread

[Fraser]

I effectively retired (VES) on Friday after 27 years serving HMG. I am only 47 and sadly suffer from M.E. after a period of serious illness. That will pass though.
 
I have had a very full and enjoyable working life with many ‘adventures’ and experiences that are the stuff of ‘Boys Own’ magazine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boys%27_Own

After such an enjoyable and interesting working life I am left feeling a bit like the lead Replicant in the film Blade Runner (a firm favorite of mine)



I know that I have enough capital to last me until my Pension is paid at 60 and there are plenty of outstanding projects to keep me occupied for a while. I am left with the question of “what next?” though. I have extensive experience and a very decent skill set in electronics and mechanical engineering.

I am a skilled component level repair and maintenance engineer in electronics, RF communications and mechanics. But I am not a skilled coder or whiz with programming modern microcontrollers. Some of the younger generation would consider me a Dinosaur as a result. I can build and repair stuff that many cannot, but that is only any good if there is a demand for such, and cheap Chinese imports often make commercial repair services something of the past.

So to anyone on the forum with experience of leaving a long term role and going into semi, or full retirement……any gems that you can share with me regarding a heading to program into my ‘auto pilot’ I cannot work full time at the moment due to my M.E. but I feel that I still have more to give and, if careful, knowledge to share. Hmmmmm do I just go and work part time in a Charity shop, B&Q DIY shop or other worthy establishments ?

This is really just a discussion thread as I would be very interested to hear other people’s experiences and thoughts. I am in a good position and very lucky to retire at 47 financially self-sufficient. But like in the Blade Runner video, I kind of feel like ….is this all there is before I die and what of my lost knowledge and experiences ? 

In another thread I discussed my early days in Electronics and the Electronics Emporium that taught me much.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/maplins-uk/msg620130/#msg620130

Sadly such places are now rare so I cannot work at such an emporium as a specialist advisor giving help to others.

I look forward to others thoughts 

Aurora

[SeanB]

Consider doing consult work, you probably can pick up some that involves managing a team or other sort of job that calls for experience, not a knowledge of the intricacies but with a good broad experience.

At present you probably can do thermal camera servicing, thermal leak checking and verification as a side job ( and you have enough stuff to be good at it) and you could make some pin cash off this.

Would love to hear the memoirs, you could write it now, place in a safety deposit and only open it in 25 years when the original stuff becomes declassified. some might still need to wait 30 years, and some might only be something your grandchildren will get, but still get it down while you can remember, preferably written as well as audio or video as well. As most of the highly classified stuff I have read is incredibly dry, and often is just incredibly boring, having a personal note will be a good take on it.  Pot Shards: Fragments of a Life Lived in CIA, the White House, and the Two Koreas comes to mind.

[Howardlong]

Had you thought about "inventing" something? We all have ideas, how about implementing one of them?

[oldway]

http://repaircafe.org/locations/repair-cafe-london/

[Fraser]

@SeanB

Thanks for the thoughts. My memoirs are a definite no-no. I like my freedom 

@howardlong

Sadly being an inventor can be a very challenging role these days as Trevor Baylis found out. The Chinese manufacturer apparently made some small changes to his design and cut him out of the business. He is now totally broke and had to release the equity in his house to live.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/9875026/Trevor-Baylis-Ive-wound-up-broke-despite-inventions.html


Dyson did better but then he is a very savvy businessman.

Aurora

[JohnnyBerg]

Learn sailing, buy a boat and sail around the world.

[Fraser]

Already thought of that....... colleagues who sail tell me I would burn through my cash reserves pretty damn quick and advised against a boat. I can repair ships Radars and electronic systems though 

Aurora

[tggzzz]

Dyson did better but then he is a very savvy businessman.

Eventually. Consider the BallBarrow, and weep.

[JohnnyBerg]

colleagues who sail tell me I would burn through my cash reserves pretty damn quick and advised against a boat.

Once you're in a nice bay on your anker, you only need cash for water (not free on most nice islands), diesel, food and some change for the daily happy hour.

[SeanB]

Already thought of that....... colleagues who sail tell me I would burn through my cash reserves pretty damn quick and advised against a boat. I can repair ships Radars and electronic systems though 

Aurora

Boat (noun): A hole in the water you pour money into.

Or as Stuart will say, a good way to make money as a boat chandler. I have known him long enough to say that both are true. You rarely get rich boaties, unless they have an income from elsewhere to pay for this passion.

[Mechatrommer]

Learn sailing, buy a boat and sail around the world.

why this stupid idea is soooo famous?
1) sailing to learn navigation around hometown is fine.
2) sailing to find treasure gold is fine.
3) sailing to find lost tribe, find a lady, get married and settle there is fine.
4) sailing to fish is a little bit fine (i still tend to advice my younger brother to just buy from market)
5) sailing around the world is stupid.

[tggzzz]

I know that I have enough capital to last me until my Pension is paid at 60 and there are plenty of outstanding projects to keep me occupied for a while. I am left with the question of “what next?” though. I have extensive experience and a very decent skill set in electronics and mechanical engineering.

I am a skilled component level repair and maintenance engineer in electronics, RF communications and mechanics. But I am not a skilled coder or whiz with programming modern microcontrollers. Some of the younger generation would consider me a Dinosaur as a result. I can build and repair stuff that many cannot, but that is only any good if there is a demand for such and cheap Chinese imports often make commercial repair services something of the past.

Do whatever you want, of course

If you want to start to learn MCUs and coding, then start with the Arduino Uno or any of the many other boards based on the atmega328 MCU. IMNSHO if you are interested in low-level machine control type things, it is a better place to start than the RPi, since the software is much simpler (no operating system) and the learning curve is gentle. (Minimum cost is ~£7 for an 8-pin version of the atmega328 that you just connect to a USB port.) Good ecosystem, lots of hardware, can use the free Arduino libraries and IDE or not, as you choose.

If you are more interested in anything that is connected to the internet, then the RPi might be better, provided you are happy writing linux applications.

So to anyone on the forum with experience of leaving a long term role and going into semi, or full retirement……any gems that you can share with me regarding a heading to program into my ‘auto pilot’ I cannot work full time at the moment due to my M.E. but I feel that I still have more to give and, if careful, knowledge to share. Hmmmmm do I just go and work part time in a Charity shop, B&Q DIY shop or other worthy establishments ?

If you are a member of the IET or other professional organisation, you could become a mentor to youg engineers or schoolchildren.

But like in the Blade Runner video, I kind of feel like ….is this all there is before I die and what of my lost knowledge and experiences ? 

Learn to deal with it

[tggzzz]

Already thought of that....... colleagues who sail tell me I would burn through my cash reserves pretty damn quick and advised against a boat. I can repair ships Radars and electronic systems though 

Aurora

Boat (noun): A hole in the water you pour money into.

Old aphorism: if it flies, floats or f**ks, it is cheaper to rent than buy.

Consider learning to fly gliders - surprisingly cheap, very social, addictive, dry (in both senses!), and above all  - fun. Cost is ~£25/hour including instruction - because the club members do everything for free. They help you get in the air, you help them get in the air. See https://www.gliding.co.uk/club-finder  for a local club.

[JohnnyBerg]

5) sailing around the world is stupid.

You're saying I'm stupid?

[SeanB]

To Mecha it is, but he lives in a tropical paradise, war notwithstanding. From the lowlands sun is something to be treasured. Me I can walk to the harbour in 5 minutes, and the beach in 10.

[KJDS]

Aurora, Do whatever you find fun, try new things, or things you've tried before but had little time to do before.

The other thing I'd recommend is getting out of the house on a regular basis. It's far to easy to sit at the workbench, in front of the tele and forgetting what that big yellow thing in the sky really is.

5) sailing around the world is stupid.

You're saying I'm stupid?

Sailing round the world isn't stupid, however suggesting to someone that is retiring with ME that they sail round the world is kinda dumb

[Mechatrommer]

Consider learning to fly gliders ... and above all  - fun.

with all the sensible matters in the world... when i posted a video of bare naked live wire switched by relay activated by 12V SLA batt, everybody went o my farking dog that so dangerous you can kill someone for posting such advice, you (me) should be hanged blashphemy. consider again... when a glider is stalled up in the air... everybody still think gliders, parachute, bungee jump, cliffhanger and all those "sensible" matters including sailing around the world to find shark are.... "fun". i thought of building a electricity generating threadmill...

[SeanB]

If you are feeling stuck go on holiday. Lots of off the major tourist trap places that you can visit. You could even go to Daveland ( if you are not on a watch list already) for the touristy thing with ease. Just take 50ml of SPF30 sunblock to put on before you get off the plane, Pommy white burns easy, and is no fun.

Mecha, I like flying, despite having been involved in 2 plane incidents. I just have a rule I do not fly in anything where I am the heaviest part in the whole plane. Thus I do not do paragliders or microlights. I lost a friend in a microlight ( drowned) and had a paraglider crash next to me and nearly drown. The other I was thinking this would be a good time to take up parachuting, and knew a guy who used to base jump. We thought he was crazy jumping off a 30m water tower.

[Mechatrommer]

To Mecha it is, but he lives in a tropical paradise, war notwithstanding. From the lowlands sun is something to be treasured. Me I can walk to the harbour in 5 minutes, and the beach in 10.

it has nothing to do with where i'm at (i also have dream to own a boat but not for go round the world). but go round the world is for what actually? if to find treasure gold then its sensible, if to find shark its nonsense unless you want to eat the shark. its like asking someone, ok go in the car see that straight road? drive straight indefinetely... no purpose. if i want to own a boat, i'll make autonomous underwater robot to salvage whatever "useful" down there.

[Rick Law]

Do what keeps your mind active.  If electronics can do it, do that.  If not, find something (legal) of interest and do it. 

If it is your cup of tea, another one is volunteering and teach some kids who is interested in learning.  This will keep your mind active along with giving something worthwhile (knowledge) to someone.

Perhaps get politically active, heck, I think Britain (like any other place) can always use some positive change.

Keeping the mind active and the outlook bright is what makes life worth living, I think.

[CatalinaWOW]

I actually knew a guy who sailed a great deal (entered most of the oceans and seas of the world), and primarily financed his operating costs by repairing electronics gear on other yachts.  Purchased a reasonable stock of the usual suspects (output transistors, fuses etc.) and just left a note with the harbormaster whenever he made a new port.  He never ran out of money, but did eventually decide there were other things in life.

Assuming that money really isn't an issue for you, just keeping interested, think about a product or service that doesn't exist in support of one of your hobbies or interests.  I have not seen many where there is not something that can be done.  There are few opportunities to get rich or even make a living, but plenty that will cover the costs of your development, even with a bit left over.  You have the advantage of being able to take the time to really think through your item and do it right rather than rush it to the market, or try to beat an impossibly low price point.  Recognize that if whatever you do takes off you will be shouldered aside, but that is just a chance to do something else.

Being a consultant at a nearby Maker club or fair is another opportunity.

I am a few years into my own retirement, and the list of things to do continues to exceed the time available.  Same thing happened to my father.  List grew until the day he died.

[Kjelt]

You have a luxury problem (except your illness which is terrible) I guess a lot of people would like to have your problem 
I am also 47 and I have to find ways to keep working till my pension at 68 
If you already have the filled bankaccount that is luxury my man, so to give a few starters: hobbies! Yeah they can cost a bundle but they don't have to. Find some hobbie association or start one yourself for youngsters. The young generation at this moment (a lot of them anyway) have no active hobbies anymore, they watch stupid videos at youtube, watch tv or play on the gamecomputer. Nothing active. Teach them the basics of electronics 
Maybe even learn yourself with current microcontroller technology to get up to date.
It does not matter what you do as long as it gives you a flow, a sense of meaning and there are plenty around there. For now just take a holiday let is all rest for awhile, even bore yourself a couple of weeks and let then the new inspiration come to you 

[tggzzz]

Mecha, I like flying, despite having been involved in 2 plane incidents. I just have a rule I do not fly in anything where I am the heaviest part in the whole plane. Thus I do not do paragliders or microlights. I lost a friend in a microlight ( drowned) and had a paraglider crash next to me and nearly drown. The other I was thinking this would be a good time to take up parachuting, and knew a guy who used to base jump. We thought he was crazy jumping off a 30m water tower.

My motto: never use your legs as undercarriage! But you don't in a glider, as I'm sure you are aware. 

Going 0-50mph in <5s, then climbing with your feet higher than your head is good fun - and that's only the first 45s

[mikeselectricstuff]

There is probably some part-time mileage in becoming the "go-to" guy that can fix and calibrate old, expensive thermal imagers, especially ones the manufacturers aren't interested in supporting.

If you're interested in doing something for good rather than money with repair skills, it may be worth getting involved in / starting something like this locally http://therestartproject.org/

[Fraser]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions 

I used to fly a 1930's designed glider called the Slingsby Kirby Cadet, and also the 'Tutor', when I was a teenager in the Air Training Corps ..... it was a stringbag when compared to modern craft, but still gave a lot a pleasure and was pretty robust.

My M.E. has put the brakes on any fast decisions and I need to concentrate on either conquering it or at least managing it well enough to work a normal day. I have had it for over 2 years but close friends at work thought the high stress loading associated with my role wasn't helping me. That was when Voluntary Early Severance (VES) became appealing. Others have got over M.E. and I intend to do the same. It seems to be an illness of the 20th & 21st Centruries.

As many have said, I need to take some time out, relax and consider options later. I have had electronics as both a trade and hobby all my life so I will maintain that interest at the very least. I need to keep the old grey brain cells active and I love solving the puzzle that is a faulty piece of equipment  I could certainly set myself up as a company carrying out specialist repairs such as Thermal imaging Cameras but in other areas the large companies tend to go for support contracts rather than sending equipment to a lone specialist. It may be an option though and my previous employer is keen to keep in contact too. As has also been said, it is important to do something that makes you happy. Life is too short to waste on a job that either bores or annoys you 

It has been really good to read the various comments and nice to see that anyone could be bothered to respond  Thank You.

This forum is certainly somewhere I will maintain a presence. It is both good and bad for me .....good in that I have learnt much, and bad because it has cost me a small fortune over the years in equipment that I discovered here and then 'had to have'    Its a great place to hang out though.

My thanks to all

Fraser aka Aurora