This past weekend I was out in the workshop, puttering on various projects. It was a long weekend and the shop was quiet. I did a little work on paying projects and also on my pet pieces. I did a little cleaning of the shop and various other tasks which called my name. The weekend days were much like every other day in my life. I enjoyed every task I put my hand to. As I played quietly I was thinking of various family and friends, around my age, who had recently retired or were soon going to be. I was happy for them, for each had expressed a lot of joy at the prospect of not going to work any longer. Recently, I have been often reminded that I am of ‘retirement’ age and have been frequently asked when I will quit my job. The answer is ‘hopefully not for a very long time’. The reason I was in the shop ‘working’ this weekend was not because projects desperately needed to be done. there are no pressing deadlines. It wasn’t for the money. I was there to simply enjoy myself, to do what I enjoy so much. I retired from my ‘real job’ a very long time ago at the age of twenty-three. That was the last time I punched a clock, answered to a boss, or was away from home and family on a daily basis. Deliberate choices made back then instead allowed me to do what I loved, in our backyard with family close at hand. Forty-four years later not much has changed. I still ‘play’ in our backyard, with family members helping. I still do what I love to do every single day. If I was to cease doing ‘work’ for customers I would still head out to the shop daily and do similar projects just for fun. I get to have fun with the very best tools and have unlimited materials on hand. Family members and awesome employees help me out when I need it. The very best customers imaginable even pay me to travel far and wide. I am extremely fortunate to be afforded this opportunity and I absolutely love my version of retirement!