Every morning when I shuffle out into the kitchen, I see a fading birthday card on the fridge door, with a dreamy marine scene and the following quotation from some long-dead writer:
"There are two things to aim at in life: First, to get what you want, and after that, to enjoy it."
The meaning has sunk in lately, since I can say that I've gotten exactly what I want in life--a great, loving and supportive partner, a home (finally) with no mortgage, a shop just across the driveway, and a bunch of old boats. But I've been working just hard enough that I never seem to have enough time to fully enjoy what I've gotten in life.
So, with that in mind, and having turned 70 in recent weeks, I'm planning to retire before the end of this year...closing down Island Boatshop over a period of months. (It'll be quite a process, first completing the existing customer boat restorations, then steadily getting rid of tons of "keen junk" I've been lugging around for decades, and finally having a blowout Boatshop Closing Party & Sale sometime later this year...to offer up whatever hardware, vintage engines, boat projects or other goodies are left at that point.
In retirement, I'll continue working on old boats, but they'll strictly be personal projects. We'll have more time for actual boating ourselves, not to mention walking, gardening, attending to all of the home-maintenance items I've been ignoring, and generally spending more time enjoying what we have and "living" a bit more, while we still can.
So, I'll hope to see all of you on the water. If we haven't met before, I'll be the old Norwegian with the ridiculous smile on his face.
Best to all,
- Marty (and Marjiann, aka Mo)
"There are two things to aim at in life: First, to get what you want, and after that, to enjoy it."
The meaning has sunk in lately, since I can say that I've gotten exactly what I want in life--a great, loving and supportive partner, a home (finally) with no mortgage, a shop just across the driveway, and a bunch of old boats. But I've been working just hard enough that I never seem to have enough time to fully enjoy what I've gotten in life.
So, with that in mind, and having turned 70 in recent weeks, I'm planning to retire before the end of this year...closing down Island Boatshop over a period of months. (It'll be quite a process, first completing the existing customer boat restorations, then steadily getting rid of tons of "keen junk" I've been lugging around for decades, and finally having a blowout Boatshop Closing Party & Sale sometime later this year...to offer up whatever hardware, vintage engines, boat projects or other goodies are left at that point.
In retirement, I'll continue working on old boats, but they'll strictly be personal projects. We'll have more time for actual boating ourselves, not to mention walking, gardening, attending to all of the home-maintenance items I've been ignoring, and generally spending more time enjoying what we have and "living" a bit more, while we still can.
So, I'll hope to see all of you on the water. If we haven't met before, I'll be the old Norwegian with the ridiculous smile on his face.
Best to all,
- Marty (and Marjiann, aka Mo)
Comment