I swore off my commute by car, van pool, and ferry that took 70 minutes minimum each way. After 31 years on the factory floor and in the Machinist Union I took an early retirement yesterday. The job involved a frenetic pace. One day not too long ago I wore a pedometer and it registered 10.27 miles in 8 hour shift. I was starting to feel just exhausted after work. I'll make the tradeoff of having a smaller income in exchange for more freedom and less stress.
I am retiring to rural island setting living in a solar heated home that I designed, managed the construction of, and have lived in for the past 17 years. I live a few miles from one of the small towns on this large island, and a free county bus runs right past my front door into town and other free buses. My carbon foot print just shrunk drastically.
I plan on doing more slow travel on my newest vehicle culminating with a trip down the coast to San Luis Obispo Ca. in September. Of course I'll have a lot more time and energy for political activism.
The usual swarm of hummingbirds that goes on for the hour before dusk around my feeder this time of year is in full swing right now. There must be at least a dozen+ of them around it now.
I know I won't miss getting up at 3:45 AM. I will miss the people I worked with, they were unforgettable. Thanks for reading.