Ravings of a Mad Printer: Retirement

It has been slightly over 21 months since I retired. You would think that over that time period most of my work-related convictions would have changed. It took a bit to beat those feelings down and yet I still have moments that irk me.

A perfect example is the recent snow, ice, and sleet storm of 2026. Many places of employment were closed due to the storm. Closing work and instructing folks to work remotely, always rubbed me the wrong way. Still does. It is like remote learning, and we know how that turned out. Not that I wanted people to risk life and limb to get to work, but the fact that customers could care less is what sets me off. Due dates are never changed, the phone continues to ring in the office and regardless of what Mother Nature throws our way, the jobs still needed to be “caught up.”  I guess they think we had presses, copiers, and folders in our garages at home. This is a universal truth and has not gone away because of my retirement.

On the flip side, every day is now a snow day or Saturday for me depending on how you look at it. Sounds pretty awesome and it is. It took me a full year to shed the “got to get to work” mantra that ruled my life for 50+ years. I would categorize the first retirement year as difficult. Many of you might say, not me! I’m walking out the door and not looking back. I hope you can, but I wonder if maybe something was missing during your work years? For me it was the daily interaction with the people and the constant evaluation of processes and procedures. I was never satisfied with status quo and believe there was always a way to make things work better. Those things I miss.  The corporate BS, not so much.

Now that I am past all that, I find myself much more at peace. It is reassuring to know the operation is in good hands and moving forward. I can now drive by the shop and not want to turn into the parking lot. When I do go in, it is to drop off a small project and say hello. It is still hard not to think of myself as the boss and even that is fading.

Recently my friend, Mark McCarty, passed away. Mark was a great guy, and I believe he was a good manager. He fought many battles and won all but the last one against cancer. Mark had just recently retired. He never had the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of his labor. If we could ask him, I am going to guess he would have no regrets.

I guess my point would be not to overanalyze, lament, or delay your retirement. Understand that everyone is replaceable. Embrace what you have built, stay connected, but in a disconnected way.