Don’t retire early, buy a home, or be a lawyer if you want to be happy

[DGUtley]

Then you are close to Cleveland?

I am 18 miles west of Akron and 25 miles-ish south west of downtown Cleveland. Tomorrow I have 9:00 am court in Akron and a 1:00 in Cleveland.

[Collateral Damage]

It's funny -- I'm the lawyer (civil defense litigation attorney) and a few always wants to come at me at family gatherings. I was at a retirement party for my wife's BIL Saturday night and my wife's sister's husband (not the retiring one wanted to debate something. I politely told him that this was a party and not the right time. He insisted and insisted. I stayed over by the kids playing catch with two young boys and he wandered over. I try to be really laid back at these things; but, he insisted. Uncomfortable.

While I can put up a relatively good argument over most things when necessary, an off-hand comment on the better way to eat shrimp does not require a 10 minute opening argument, lol.

He can be laid back on occasion, but he seems to pick odd moments to turn on the lawyer mode. Not to say he hasn't loaned a lawyer phrase when family matters needed it (he accepts payment ONLY via seafood) but shrimp debates do cause deer in the headlights moments.

[DGUtley]

While I can put up a relatively good argument over most things when necessary, an off-hand comment on the better way to eat shrimp does not require a 10 minute opening argument, lol. He can be laid back on occasion, but he seems to pick odd moments to turn on the lawyer mode. Not to say he hasn't loaned a lawyer phrase when family matters needed it (he accepts payment ONLY via seafood) but shrimp debates do cause deer in the headlights moments.

This guy started in 1985 when I showed up yacking about my Japanese car (he'd only buy American - he now drives Japanese) and crowing about the union strength and putting down white collar workers. He didn't realize I grew up driving a tractor, milked cows since I was 7 and have worked in more factories than probably he has. He's spent 34 years trying to one-up me. He's a good guy generally, I was raised to be modest / humble so I don't brag and I think it bothers him that he stayed in that factory and I moved the family out to the country, become a named partner in a firm.

[Common]

Every profession that you do after day for decades comes to suck after awhile, when you deal with people and see what they are all capable of, it wears you out, lawyers see alot of that.

[gamewell45]

5 hours!!! Wow. I have a 25 minute drive from Medina to Akron.

25 minutes? That would have been a dream come true! I only did the 5 hours daily so my wife and kids could enjoy the open space that comes with living in a rural area. The train ride was okay since I slept most of the trip into and out of the city.

[DGUtley]

25 minutes? That would have been a dream come true! I only did the 5 hours daily so my wife and kids could enjoy the open space that comes with living in a rural area. The train ride was okay since I slept most of the trip into and out of the city.

When I worked downtown Cleveland, living in Medina was like being on vacation.

[Cotton1]

Flintstone, Fred Flintstone..

I don't miss the pace,
Of the rat race,
Waking up,
No obligation,
Its so wonderful to feel this free,
Alone I live ,
No pancakes being made,
So I eat a cupcake or two,
In the shade,
I look in the mirror,
To the person I see,
I say " good morning , hello me",
With no cares I can go the zoo,
Talk to a giraffe,
Or simply watch Bullwinkle ,
Laying in bed and laugh,
As noon rolls up,
Its time for lunch ,
Afterwards is my workout,
Aka " one stomach crunch",
Am I happy,?
Most of the time ,
If not I write,
Occasionally it rhymes.

Cotton 8/19/19

[Cotton1]

I was very happy when I worked. I am happy enough now when I don't. Ive always tried to be careful to find a balance. Usually I failed by working too hard then playing too hard to make up for it. If I was 10 years younger I would do it all again but this time with no mistakes or regrets.

[Cotton1]

Every profession that you do after day for decades comes to suck after awhile, when you deal with people and see what they are all capable of, it wears you out, lawyers see alot of that.

Very true. For the first 20 or so years I was very passionate about my work. I loved it so much I couldn't believe I actually got paid to do it. The last 6-7 years I began to feel like a babysitter. I still loved what I did but the constant of dealing with so many people got to me.

[Collateral Damage]

I get the feeling that Mr. Utley and myslef maybe the only two still working in this thread. Though 'retirement' may be 4 years away for me, I'll likely continue to do something part time, for entertainement purposes only. Working 55-70 hours a week year after year grows tiring.