Retired
It took several years; I was formally "retired" in 2020; I collect a modest stipend but I left myself open to consulting work. My skill set is highly specialized but overall, has faded from importance in the field. Lately, however, I've noticed a resurgence - probably because my work is involved with fundamentals and the industry moved away ... and discovered that those fundamentals were important but the talent pool had faded away in the interim.
I enjoy my work. I miss the profession. It was a hobby long before it became a profession, and it became a hobby again once I "retired".
A hobby is an activity with negative cash flow ...
I recently saw a job posting on LinkedIn. I couldn't have written a better job description for myself: my specific specialty, remote work, pay far above and beyond what I'd ask for in my position here in Idaho (but in line with the last corporate job I held), small start-up, interesting ideas.
Keep in mind many if not most job postings on LinkedIn are ... shall we say ... suitable for questioning.
I pulled out my resume. I looked at it, I thought of the "cost" of returning to the formal work world. 60-80 hour work weeks, air travel between Boise and San Jose, corporate meetings, dressing the part ... dealing with California.
I swore to myself long ago I wouldn't work for a start-up unless I was a principal - my name on the corporate papers.
They pay me thousands so they can make millions off my work.
I put my resume back into its folder.
But funny thing - as I write this, I look again at the posting, I look again at my resume ... and I ask myself "Should I submit it just to see what happens?"; let them tell me No?
What do I do if they say Yes?
That kind of income would certainly help build resources for the coming "adventures". I sure do enjoy the work. I've got patents in the field. I've done the Silicon Valley start-ups before. And ... I'm in my 70s and don't really have the desire to work 10 hour days for a mid-30s boss.
Stay tuned. Wishy-washy is my middle name.
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I delayed posting this until the wishy-washy faded away.
I did not submit my resume ... I'm now officially a "has-been; once-was" in my own mind.
It was a good run, ended sooner than I expected.
But gives me time for a new adventure.
Doing what ghost does ... sort of ... in miniature.