Yeah, no

I turned down a gig last week. Not just any gig mind you, this was a lucrative long term job that was willing to pay my full boat day rate. And it was for a very high profile client with an even higher profile visibility factor.

Discretion prevents me from revealing any further details about the assignment. So I can only answer the obvious question of why I chose to say, "No thank you."

To be sure the money would've been nice. 

I don't know if you know this but the price of salmon, even the lower grade Atlantic farm-raised variety pumped full of artificial food coloring for that important salmony-hue, has gotten outrageously expensive these days. I've reluctantly resorted to purchasing my piscean provisions at Costco. Yet despite the claims by our president that "groceries" -- the food stuff that goes in the bag -- have not come down in price. Not 50 or 60 or 600% percent, depending on which spittle-heavy rant you listen to.

And there is something disconcerting about withdrawing money from a portfolio I have dutifully been building and contributing to during my 50 years of labor.

But the truth is, and with my 68th birthday quickly approaching, my time is worth more to me than my nest egg. 

You may be under the impression that once you start working you can start playing. And to some extent that's true. But it doesn't happen overnight. In fact many nights are plagued by "work dreams" where I am haunted by account people and Chief Creative Officers for the next big idea. Consequently many mornings I have awakened in pool of sweat that even disgusts my dog Lucy.

Ms. Muse suggests I expand my yoga sessions and begin meditating. But I am to meditating as I am to broccoli.

Perhaps those of you nearing retirement don't want to hear this, but it has taken me more than 2 years to shake off the need, and sometimes even the desire, to work, and settle into a routine where the hours of the day belong to me. Not just 16 hours of the day, but all of them.

Just as the transition from steady ad agency full time employment to freelance fractional employment required me to get my sea legs, the transition to retirement takes getting my sea chaise lounge and dissuading myself of the need for clothing while in my backyard.

In fact, I'm gonna pop the cover off the hot tub, grab my coffee and enjoy today's sunrise.

Where did I put the Bailey's cream?