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.