So I’ve initiated a “staff departure” and my last day of part-time work at Space Telescope will be at the end of this month. Then it’s back to the retired life again. When I came back I set myself a goal of working it at least until the Roman Space Telescope launched. And now it has. So my goal is met. And I think this time, it is time.

That first time I really didn’t want to belly flop into being retired but part-time work wasn’t available at the Institute then. So when my project lead came to me after a couple years and asked if I was interested in coming back part-time I jumped at the chance. Now I think it really is time to move on. I’ll always be a part of it, my den walls are full of artifacts from my 26 years working for a NASA contractor, but it will be good to have the time to explore my art more. I want to give my cameras and my drafting table more love now.

I’m going to miss having that extra amount of income, and it’s probably going to be scary watching my 401k slowly shrink, but so it goes. It’ll be a comfortable, if not fabulous retired life. I have a house of my own. My car is paid for. My health insurance is good. My neighborhood is walkable.

…is going to be a walk through hell. This from a Facebook page I follow…

I was planning on taking a road trip to Oceano right after retiring, then I remembered we have an election coming, and I will walk through fire if I have to so I can cast my vote. I’ve been getting the Maryland mail in ballot ever since COVID but I don’t need to mail it back as there is a convenient drop box not far from the house. But given how badly Trump and the republicans want to screw up the mid terms (if we even have them) I will stand in line at my polling place if need be to cast a vote.

Which means no California trip until after the election, and maybe even not then depending on the mood of the middle part of the county I’d have to drive across with my Maryland plates afterward. We shall see.

But, 1) use the drop box or 2) if Trump’s USPS won’t send Maryland it’s paper ballots, I’ll vote in person. Early if I can, if it’s still allowed, or on election day if that’s what has to be.

Everyone needs to plan ahead for this one. Consider every possible way they can screw it up and how you will work around it.

…let alone take a road trip to California after I retire (again).

I took a drive to Manheim Pennsylvania yesterday, to The Turntable Store where I had my Nakamichi cassette deck in for repair. The Turntable Store is a small, classic audio shop that sells used component stereo equipment from the late 20th century, and also does repairs. They also sell used vinyl and open reel music.

Funny story…sort of. I asked the owner once if he ever got in any Heathkit stereo equipment, like maybe an AR-15, which I wouldn’t mind owning one of, and he looked at me funny. Then I realized that “AR-15” designation was a tad unfortunate these days and I had to explain. In Heathkiteze “AR” meant it was an integrated Amplifier and Receiver, “AA” was a unit that was only the amplifier section and “AJ” was the receiver section only. I still own the AA-14 I built back when I was a teenager that I use as a headphone amp.

I did notice he had an AJ-14 receiver for sale there I could have bought to complement my AA-14, but I have the Radio Shack FM receiver dad gave me long ago as a birthday present so that’s not being replaced.

On the way there and back I couldn’t help noticing something I’ve been dreading for a while now. Diesel is over six bucks a gallon now! $6.30 in some spots. Great. Swell. Though I can’t afford to retire to the land of my birth I can still enjoy California fuel prices. But if it’s over six bucks around here I don’t want to think what it is in The Five Cities. I may not even be able to afford another road trip to California for the rest of the Trump presidency, and maybe even beyond, let alone living there.

Getting really tired of all this winning…