Please don't retire! I love reading your essays. And I even enjoy some of your YouTube stuff! (i'm not remotely an artist and can hardly draw a real stick man)
"Well, certainly Covid made us leery of airports and planes full of coughing strangers" Yeah. Between that and how awful air travel has become I am also reluctant to fly anywhere. I've lived in Europe twice. While there are places I'd like to see or see again, it's just not enough motivation to endure flying. I'm older now, too.
I worked a demanding job in hospitals and clinics. So retiring was nice. It's been 15 years and I got involved with Urban Sketchers right after.
I like the idea of a staycation, or just driving a couple hours to see and sketch my favorite locations in WA and OR.
When I retired, I put my home on the market and took off with my dog, in a 24' motorhome. No car. I'd never driven an RV before I bought it, but for seven years Katie, my Deer Chihuahua, and I covered parts of California, but mostly we travelled up and down AZ and NM, driving where the weather was best. Almost always off grid.
Around Yuma and Cottonwood and Sedona there were some of the best BLM camping spots I could imagine, all free for 14 days at a time. NM has an annual pass that includes all their NM State Campgrounds, for a very reasonable fee, most of which have water in free sites. I was told by a Ranger that I could park my RV anywhere, as long as there wasn't electricity, and I wasn't in anyone's way. I almost always stayed off grid in those too!
You can paint, draw, journal, become a "birder," take fabulous photos, write your newsletter, start an RV travel blog (mine won an award!) where you can post your fab photos, write another book about a traveling artist - all kinds of things - "on the road." And you'll meet some really nice people, too!
The next thing I read having read your essay was this:
"A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between work and play; labor and leisure; mind and body; education and recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both."
Lawrence Pearsall, Education Through Recreation (1932)
I think you’re “a master of living” so keep doing what you’re doing please.
After travelling to lots of countries having adventures, like you, travelling has lost its charm someone what. Just too many people, in places I discovered years ago but are now inundated with tourists blah blah. I could go on, but won't.
So in 2 weeks I am off to N Thailand to live in a lovely villa with a wonderful pool. Not sure there's a beer fridge, yet..
And as well as pootling around discovering Thai places to eat, understanding Buddhism and learning Thai (amongst other things), I intend to paint and create to my hearts content.
So glad you're not going to retire because I enjoy what you do so much. x
When I retire my goal is to keep up with your content and participate in more of your workshops. So please don’t ‘retire’ just call it your hobby if that helps!
I do hope that keeping up with my content is not a full-time job. Feel free to talk to your boss about making some extra time each week to read my essay. 😉
I am planning to go to Chase Field on July 4. Milwaukee Brewers are playing Diamond Backs and then fireworks! I am from Wisconsin and get to see my team in person without traveling. Chase field has a roof and in 4 minutes the roof can be opened for the fireworks. Air conditioned fireworks when it’s 100 degrees F. Nothing better in Phoenix. Hope to be inspired to draw or paint fireworks. I am retired. With no work to escape from retirement does not feel like there is ever a vacation. Maybe keep up with your current jobs with more and longer travel breaks. Get the best of both worlds.
You forgot to mention one of the greatest things about Chase Field is that you can watch the game while sitting in the pool just beyond the outfield! 🏟️
"Plus, my home is so cozy. I have a pool of my own with an outside beer fridge. I have an acre of lawn rimmed by pomegranates and Mexican primroses. And I have my studio, full of projects and art supplies, computers and napping pugs. The homebody in my head asks (whines) why we have to trade all this for a cramped hotel room and exorbitant room service.
Fine, I admit it. I’ve become an agoraphobic old grouch."
Hi Danny. Ayesha here from Pakistan. Love your essays btw. I think you retire when you are doing a job, that has taken a huge chunk of your life, but if you do what you love then why would you retire anyway. 😊
Don't they say that if you love what you do, then you never work a day in your life? By the way, I miss Lahore. My mother was born there, and I spent the best parts of my childhood in Gulberg V.
That was a great read, thanks, Danny.
Please don't retire! I love reading your essays. And I even enjoy some of your YouTube stuff! (i'm not remotely an artist and can hardly draw a real stick man)
I think this is the dream- not wanting to retire. Just doing what you enjoy doing. 🤗
"Well, certainly Covid made us leery of airports and planes full of coughing strangers" Yeah. Between that and how awful air travel has become I am also reluctant to fly anywhere. I've lived in Europe twice. While there are places I'd like to see or see again, it's just not enough motivation to endure flying. I'm older now, too.
I worked a demanding job in hospitals and clinics. So retiring was nice. It's been 15 years and I got involved with Urban Sketchers right after.
I like the idea of a staycation, or just driving a couple hours to see and sketch my favorite locations in WA and OR.
When I retired, I put my home on the market and took off with my dog, in a 24' motorhome. No car. I'd never driven an RV before I bought it, but for seven years Katie, my Deer Chihuahua, and I covered parts of California, but mostly we travelled up and down AZ and NM, driving where the weather was best. Almost always off grid.
Around Yuma and Cottonwood and Sedona there were some of the best BLM camping spots I could imagine, all free for 14 days at a time. NM has an annual pass that includes all their NM State Campgrounds, for a very reasonable fee, most of which have water in free sites. I was told by a Ranger that I could park my RV anywhere, as long as there wasn't electricity, and I wasn't in anyone's way. I almost always stayed off grid in those too!
You can paint, draw, journal, become a "birder," take fabulous photos, write your newsletter, start an RV travel blog (mine won an award!) where you can post your fab photos, write another book about a traveling artist - all kinds of things - "on the road." And you'll meet some really nice people, too!
The next thing I read having read your essay was this:
"A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between work and play; labor and leisure; mind and body; education and recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both."
Lawrence Pearsall, Education Through Recreation (1932)
I think you’re “a master of living” so keep doing what you’re doing please.
Well, this just sounds like perfection to me.
After travelling to lots of countries having adventures, like you, travelling has lost its charm someone what. Just too many people, in places I discovered years ago but are now inundated with tourists blah blah. I could go on, but won't.
So in 2 weeks I am off to N Thailand to live in a lovely villa with a wonderful pool. Not sure there's a beer fridge, yet..
And as well as pootling around discovering Thai places to eat, understanding Buddhism and learning Thai (amongst other things), I intend to paint and create to my hearts content.
So glad you're not going to retire because I enjoy what you do so much. x
I mean, to be fair, your home does sound pretty amazing. 😁 I'd probably stay home, too 🌸
Danny, sounds to me like you're already retired, living life, and, hopefully, enjoying the heck out of it. Keep on keeping on, Amigo.
When I retire my goal is to keep up with your content and participate in more of your workshops. So please don’t ‘retire’ just call it your hobby if that helps!
I do hope that keeping up with my content is not a full-time job. Feel free to talk to your boss about making some extra time each week to read my essay. 😉
I am planning to go to Chase Field on July 4. Milwaukee Brewers are playing Diamond Backs and then fireworks! I am from Wisconsin and get to see my team in person without traveling. Chase field has a roof and in 4 minutes the roof can be opened for the fireworks. Air conditioned fireworks when it’s 100 degrees F. Nothing better in Phoenix. Hope to be inspired to draw or paint fireworks. I am retired. With no work to escape from retirement does not feel like there is ever a vacation. Maybe keep up with your current jobs with more and longer travel breaks. Get the best of both worlds.
You forgot to mention one of the greatest things about Chase Field is that you can watch the game while sitting in the pool just beyond the outfield! 🏟️
"Plus, my home is so cozy. I have a pool of my own with an outside beer fridge. I have an acre of lawn rimmed by pomegranates and Mexican primroses. And I have my studio, full of projects and art supplies, computers and napping pugs. The homebody in my head asks (whines) why we have to trade all this for a cramped hotel room and exorbitant room service.
Fine, I admit it. I’ve become an agoraphobic old grouch."
SAME.
Wait, you have pomegranates, primroses, and pugs too?
Close, I lived in Phoenix for fifty years, make art projects, have a Heeler and cold beers in the 'fridge. 😁
I hope you never retire!
So does my accountant.
You may "suck at vacations" but you excel at real life. 😃 That photo is awesome, by the way!
I'm lucky to have a gorgeous wife. She makes me look good.
Hi Danny. Ayesha here from Pakistan. Love your essays btw. I think you retire when you are doing a job, that has taken a huge chunk of your life, but if you do what you love then why would you retire anyway. 😊
Don't they say that if you love what you do, then you never work a day in your life? By the way, I miss Lahore. My mother was born there, and I spent the best parts of my childhood in Gulberg V.
Lahore is a beautiful city indeed. So much history and culture. I live in Islamabad.
Oh, good luck with France at the end of July... we already have above 40°C (104°F) for the last 10 days and it is not even high summer yet ...
Yes, we're bringing a lot of ice with us.