Retired/quit for the third and hopefully last time

[Capt Steve]

I gave the boss my resignation this afternoon after five years working at the golf course as a Marshal. I really loved the job (well most of it anyway), but my mom is in poor health (Parkinson's & Alzheimers = serious dementia), and my 84 year old dad really has his hands full. On Monday he and I selected a nice facility where mom can go when he can no longer meet her needs.

They live 420 miles away and I need to be able to be there for them a lot more, far more than I can be with the constraints of a work schedule. We will be going over at least once a month from now on and will be free to stay as long as needed. This represents a 20% reduction in income but you do what ya gotta do. The boss was cool, I gave 30 days notice, and he will allow me to continue to play golf for free through October when the courses close for over seed.

On the plus side it should one hell of a summer....no work, lots of free golf, camping and quality time with dad. This is third time I have pulled the proverbial pin - retired/quit/laid off (???), back in 1994 from the serious job in Title Insurance after 18 years. Spent a couple of years surfing, diving and cruising (7 months), Mexico on our 34' sailboat and then went back to work. The next 15 years were spent working as a Captain and in the marine retail /electronics biz. Five years ago I retired/quit to move to Tucson and promptly got the golf job. Hopefully this time it will last and I won't do anything stupid like look for an other job. (o;

 

[Iggy]

Stay smart this time and enjoy yourself.

 

[Evil Dog]

The worst part of being retired is that you NEVER get a day off !!!

 

[Faulkner]

. . . after five years working at the golf course as a Marshal.

Not being a golfer, what is a golf course Marshal?

 

[truckemup97]

Your favorite gun shop is looking for a counter guy a couple days a week....

Seriously, though, you're doing the right thing with your Mom and Dad. Spend as much time with them as you can while you still have them.

 

[george minze]

Not being a golfer, what is a golf course Marshal?

A golf course, or Country Club employee that rides herd on the golfers.....Don't drive the carts on the greens, golf carts don't float, etc etc...Bad pay but free golf...Not all bad considering the cost of golf these days......Lots of sunshine etc, etc, Of course there is the head pro most are throw backs to old time land agents in old Ireland, but again there is free golf.....

 

[Capt Steve]

A golf course, or Country Club employee that rides herd on the golfers.....Don't drive the carts on the greens, golf carts don't float, etc etc...Bad pay but free golf...Not all bad considering the cost of golf these days......Lots of sunshine etc, etc, Of course there is the head pro most are throw backs to old time land agents in old Ireland, but again there is free golf.....

Thanks, you explained it pretty well. Job one as a Marshall is "Pace of Play" = keeping people moving at a reasonable speed/pace. We also do lost and found, shovel up after the Coyotes and Javelina's, wash the carts, sell the drinks and generally keep (or at least try to), keep order on the course. The job always paid minimum wage but came with unlimited free golf on three courses and a deep discount in the pro shop. By playing a lot of golf and shopping in the pro shop (most of my friends and relatives are nicely outfitted with logo hats, jackets and shirts), the job was worth closer to $16 an hour. I won't miss the Jack Wagons but most of the folks were very nice. Looks like I'll have a lot more time to go shooting as well....(o;

 

[george minze]

Retirement can be strange..and good I guess

Good luck on your retirement. I also have had a hard time to just quit...period......Over 40 years in LE and all of a sudden boredom....Gun shop sales, golf course marshal, Cart maintenance,,etc....This winter has been hard due to crappy weather. Can't sit still, I guess I should be grateful I feel good enough to complain about boredom.....

 

[dickttx]

I just retired for the second time at 74. Have been a CPA for 46 years, mostly self employed. The first time I pretty much sat, read and goofed off for three years. Really bored. Went back to work as CFO of a small hospital for five years. Really enjoyed it, but was beginning to loose my stamina. This time I jumped right into my guns and reloading that had been mostly packed away for 40 years. Bought a few new ones and have really enjoyed it. It is about 100 feet from my front door to where I shoot. Sometimes shoot a couple of times a day.
Still doing a few tax returns too although my clients seem to be slowly dying off!!!
Good luck, and enjoy.

 

[kraigwy]

what is a golf course Marshal?

A waste of a perfectly good rifle range.

 

[wbraswell]

Bravo to you, for caring for your parents. You did the right thing for you Mother and your Dad. That horrible disease can kill the caregiver before it kills the victim.

 

[writerinmo]

Good luck on that retiring... I am on my third (I think) attempt at it, but I find myself out in the shop machining out another batch of Mosin sight adjusters and powdercoating motorcycle parts way too often to say I 'just sit around and do nothing'!

 

[S&WIowegan]

Congrats

on your third retirement. Sorry it relates to your Mom's health. Both my parents are gone now....thankfully neither suffered dementia or Parkinsons.

I still savor the day I walked in my boss's office and gave notice, especially since some people there had tried to push me out cuz I "was making too much money". I went out when I chose.

 

[george minze]

A waste of a perfectly good rifle range.

I just got it !!! I'm a little slow these days.....Very Good "A waste of a good gun range" Never thought of it that way.....Come to think about it ,,,Could be a interesting first day at the range...Hopefully there would be a few "never get the notice members on course...Talk about FORE !!!!

 

[Rule 303]

I've been retired for since 55yoa.
Everyday is Saturday, except Sunday and then it's Saturday all over again.

Every Morning I wake and say, "what am I going to do that's fun today". Grandkids, shooting and Road Trips. I like old pre 20th Centuary Army Forts and Gun Museums....

And I really like "Lurkin' and Preyn'" around old gun and pawn shops. I look them up online and then I call them up and ask how long they've been in business. Anything since before 1965 is good to go.

Rule 303

 

[ChuckS1]

Retirement...can't wait. Retired from the Army in '95, then to work for Lockheed...Don't know why I'm still there, other than to wait to hit the 401(k) at 59 1/2 (3 years, 10 months to go).

 

[Capt Steve]

Almost there...

As an update I am almost there. Eight shifts left to go, April 29th will be my last day. We are headed out for few days camping with some friends out to Roper Lake. After the end of April we will be free to take off with the trailer any damn time we want...can't wait. Suppose to be 80 tomorrow, we had snow flurries yesterday and Mt Lemon got 6". Weird weather for the high Sonoran desert.