Martin,

I know a pat on the back verbally isn't worth much but you are one of the 
blind role models I mentioned a few postings back.  Changing life styles is 
a challenge.  My wife and I are both retired but mine began when I was 57 
years old a little over 5 years ago due to my health problems.  My wife just 
turn 65 but a year ago she was canned after 21 years at the same hospital as 
medical transcriptionist which she had done for over 40 years.  She still 
has a hard time not working and is looking for something to do part time and 
as one thing one the string that might just work for part time employment. 
Regardless, you are to be congratulated and life most certainly, for a ham, 
isn't over when retirement comes.  Set up a big dish in the backyard and do 
some moon bounce or something like that, haha.

Phil.
K0NX



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Martin G. McCormick" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 11:14 AM
Subject: Re: hard work


> I will be retiring from Oklahoma State University on
> March 2 of next year but my last day of work will be December 23
> which is the last work day before the campus closes for
> Christmas break. I will be retiring after 25 years of feeding
> and caring for unix computers of various kinds and I retire with
> mixed emotions as i will have enough Annual Leave to loaf with full pay 
> during
> all of January and February.
> I got this job through contacts while working in a
> previous job as a technician with the Audio Visual Center, here
> so I have been hanging around Stillwater, OK since May of 1981
> and my wife and I have a nice middle-class house just South of
> the campus.
> It has been in walking distance of my work by design
> because it seems like transportation is a never-ending headache
> for non-drivers. We actually now have some mass transit here in
> this town of 45,000 souls plus another roughly 30,000 student
> souls who come and go with the semesters but none of those
> busses drive through our neighborhood so one must walk a few
> blocks North to catch a bus. Anyway, I have walked to and from
> work for almost 30 years now except for when the weather is
> really bad and my wife drives me, then but the daily walks are
> good exercise and I keep my cane skills sharpened up.
> After I retire, I plan to walk to the campus and back
> frequently so I don't rust out.
> I am eternally thankful that I do not get sick very
> often so I should have a few good years left to build electronic
> toys and maybe I can work on writing scientific or technical
> articles to sell somewhere. There are less and less places that
> will buy free lance articles so I have no elusions.
> It's kind of scary but hopefully, I can make this phase
> of life work as well as most of the rest of my life has.
> Please don't think I am bragging. I was so absolutely
> frustrated in my early twenties when trying to find decent jobs
> and get started in the world. Unless one is terribly lucky, it's
> a pain in the back side for everybody especially for people who
> are blind or have some other handicap. You had better know what
> you want because if you leave it to others, you will not get
> squat. If you know what you really want to do that is
> marketable, then friends and teachers, etc, can help you make it
> work and you are more likely to end up at least not hating each
> day.
> Well, enough of this off-topic musing from me.
>
> 73,
>
> Martin WB5AGZ
>