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hoefla
@adroit
I had a really steady and satisfying job, I'd been there for a little over 20 years, I was in charge and had a great team. On the eve of my 50th birthday I was idly chatting to my director and told him I was having a party on the weekend. He realised I was about to turn 50 and qualified for early retirement, and offered to get me the figures. I thought nothing of it until the following week when he emailed them over. I thought it was a joke. It wasn't.
I talked it over with my partner, our kids were at secondary school, she was back at work, we were doing OK, so I took the plunge and the package. I had enough to pay off the mortgage and a few grand a year in a pension that just about covered the bills.
I spent a couple of years doing all sorts of jobs, I wouldn't say no to anything, but ended up overworked so stopped it all. I had managed to put a lot in the bank.
I then worked as a mechanic on a pro cycling team for two years, and a couple more years riding a neutral support motorbike. I got the odd bike mechanic job in between and now have regular slots on some events.
I rode several long bike tours, in some less well travelled parts of the world.
I set up a community bike workshop nearly three years ago, which is almost a full time job.
I do a bit of stuff with refugees helping with language and settling in, and some other work with homeless people (mostly getting them on bikes)
I teach safe urban driving courses, cycle training, and bike maintenance. Probably on average one day a week.
I am an active local cycle campaigner, a keen birdwatcher, I got a couple more rescue dogs than I can cope with.
I work when I want, always being offered jobs, and turn most of them down.
I was terrified when I first packed in the full time job, it was a really uncertain time. Now though I think I must be one of the luckiest people out there.