Peanuts In My Pocket

My transition from hard-driving IT professional to “that old retired guy” is progressing surprisingly well. I wanted to share three recent experiences that illustrate the point.

☀️ The After-School Corner Crew

I’ve started picking up my grandson after school each afternoon this year. During these daily outings, I’ve gotten to know Ken, the semi-retired crossing guard. Over time, our quick hellos have evolved into regular chats—often joined by another retired guy or two, and occasionally a few younger parents.

A few days ago, I had a classic “old dude” moment. Ken and I were joined by another older gentleman—someone I actually worked with back in the ’80s. Neither of us remembers the other clearly, but that wasn’t the point. As we stood on the corner waiting for the rush of eager school kids, the three of us started comparing notes on medical issues, copays, and how unsettling it is to have doctors who look like they’re still in college. We all agreed: the copays are way too high, and the doctors are way too young.

As I walked back to my car with my grandson in tow, I thought, “Wow… I think that qualifies as old dude stuff.”

🏘️ Local Historian in the Making

On another day, while walking through my neighborhood, I ran into a younger man and his new puppy. We chatted briefly about dogs, and then he asked how long I’d lived in the area. I told him we moved into this neighborhood in the mid-’90s, but I’ve lived in the region since the late ’60s.

That was all the invitation I needed to launch into local historian mode—talking about dairy farms, orange groves, and how we used to buy eggs directly from farmers. I managed to stop myself before putting the poor guy to sleep, but it was a close call.

🐦 Birding and the Volunteer Vibe

I’ve been visiting a nearby park regularly to go birding. On a recent visit, I struck up a conversation with one of the volunteer guides. She was at least 15 years older than me, still active, and seemed to genuinely enjoy engaging with visitors.

We started chatting about hummingbirds and nesting sites. She wasn’t an expert, but she knew enough to guide me to another volunteer—a man who gave me tips on where to find woodpeckers in the area. Later, as I was leaving, I retraced my steps and ended up talking to the same volunteers again. That’s when I got the question:

“Do you have time to volunteer here?”

I passed this time—but I have to admit, I was tempted.

I’m enjoying growing into retirement. I thought I’d be bored, but the reality has been the opposite. I wake up each day with a smile.