Something like that would certainly set you thinking , life really is far too short...............
That is so true.
A bit of a back story coming but hopefully will add a personal facet to the needing/wanting/having to work once you reach a certain time of life.
As some know (but others not) I had a cardiac arrest on the outside lane of the local motorway whilst attending a 4 car shunt of an evening rush hour (Trafpol) in 2006. Fortunately, I dropped dead 15 feet from the back doors of the ambo sent to the crash. No memory of actually hitting the deck but I was jump started and awoke in the back with paramedics working on me and wired from top to toe. I was just turned 48 years old. 5 stents and now medicated to the eyeballs for forseable time to come.
I medically retired in 2008 and the intervening two years or so found me in a bit of a dark place for a bit. The forum did a great assist in getting my head squared up but life can still be a rollercoaster, mentally, even now.
What I did settle in my mind is that life, is, too short.
I got a wee job driving for a LR main dealer up and down the UK delivering cars. No stress as such, minimum wage, driving nice cars to and from generally nice people. Lasted 10 years then had enough. Even prestige dealers chase the shillings to the detriment of honest customers. I couldn’t continue to tell untruths to good people on why their car was late/not fixed/ripped off so told garage to stick it.
I now drive weekday mornings for a local dental lab, collecting and delivering false teeth and crowns etc. Groundhog Day but it gets me up and pays for the shopping of a weekend. No stress, take my time and I watch the seasons change.
I’m lucky that I have a police pension (all my own contributions, not a brass washer from HMG) but more importantly, I don’t ‘have’ to work.
Took a lot of adjustment within the family circle and finances obviously but I feel so much better for it.
Bottom line is, do the sums financially, mentally and most importantly, gauge your time.
We walk this path once so best admire the view when you can. No windows in a box!
Ps - hotel two one was the call sign for the company car I most enjoyed driving in my police time. Around St. Andrews and the fishing villages of the east neuk of Fife. A lovely part of the world that I would heartily recommend (see what I did there?) for a visit.