Lately, I have been Reflecting where I have come since retiring.
I am achier, mentally and physically slower, clumsier, and less structured. I don't enjoy Band Photography as much as I did before. Starting over in a place that is an hour away from my gravitational center has triggered an extra 2-3 hours in drive time just to get the gig. Bands are admittedly pickier, due to their having to pay rather than get the photos for free. The bands of today want extra editing, removal of double chins; slenderization of their physiques to remove their weight gains; colorized, cartoon-like photos, distorting the original, pure shots; and so forth. But those are the negatives.
The positives include: a drastically reduced stress level. I'm down from 4, to 2 meds due to the more relaxed method in which I live my life. I wished I could have retired earlier.
My nature photography skills are INCREASING! I've done some of my best nature shots since retiring. It's funny, because Nature was where I began so long ago. Now the passion for it has returned, and with it a second income stream just on the horizon. I've shifted my marketing focus toward Agencies rather than individuals for Nature shots, and toward management and booking agents for the bands. Still, The bands still have some income availability and I still do have repeat customers.
Neither negative nor positive, just perception of fact:
The fact that I prefer solitude has risen again. The fact that I am an hour away from my friends and seeing their bands is beginning to twinge again. Bands still don't like to pay, which diminishes the field of customers.
The age difference has crept into my doubtful file again. Since she is now working two jobs, her income and self esteem have crept up. I suspect her comment the other day about getting an apartment at one of Gary's places (if something happened to me), and her potential for hospitalization with Eve, doing a job working for a company she loves, making 150% of what she used to make there has grown not only her income, but her self esteem as well. I also expect her ex's situation will cause her to eventually leave. She now talks about leaving this house one day instead of buying the place. The possibility of moving northward again has dramatically increased over the past weeks.
I'll write more when I formulate it
