Full Transcript for Episode 9 - Learn how to land a new job in a completely different industry

acquisition, and we needed to consolidate all the entities outside the U.S. 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:15.519 And that was what I was going to do for them. 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:27.120 Well, one thing led to another, and the pandemic hit on top of it, and I ended up working for them for about three and a half years and became their global director of operations and helped build that for them. 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:28.639 Um had a great time there. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:39.360 The company went private and on the heels of the the you know COVID pandemic and and just things that were happening in the industry, and it was the time to leave, obviously. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:42.879 And I just felt like at that time that that this was it for me. 00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:46.160 I didn't I didn't really want to go through the process again. 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:49.759 I'd been doing it for so long that I felt like I was done. 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:56.959 And so my wife and I happened to take a long weekend right on top of this, these decisions being made. 00:05:57.199 --> 00:06:05.199 And it was in this area we live in now, and it was a terrific weekend after Thanksgiving, and we just had a wonderful time and kind of thought, why not now? 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:13.120 Like if we're gonna, we relocated as well as kind of changed chapters here, and and and so we thought, why not now? 00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:19.279 How did you pick your new career going from tech to school bus driver? 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:21.519 Unfortunately, to hear the story. 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:24.720 Like most of my career, I didn't know where I was going. 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:30.639 You know, you like to think that it was all planned out in some master plan, how you started your career and managed through it. 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:37.120 But, you know, I I really think I I followed a bit of good good fortune and a lot of hard work to get achieved success. 00:06:37.199 --> 00:06:42.480 And we moved down here and we rented, and then we finally bought the place that we're in. 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:48.959 And I spent the first year kind of getting us moved and root and the house remodeled and a lot of things like that done. 00:06:49.040 --> 00:07:00.800 And she went to work and got us benefits, which is a great conversation for us to have because that's really one of the big obstacles to retiring is to you know, how do you continue to have benefits and what's it gonna cost you? 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:08.639 I was having a really tough time because my resume for the last 30 years didn't match anything I was interested in doing. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:20.879 I saw an advertisement on the news, it was a segment one morning about how bad Pass for Obelisk the situation was there with a shortage of bus drivers, and they were almost gonna have to cancel some of their school routes because they couldn't find enough bus drivers. 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:25.920 And the segment included like how you become a bus driver and encouraging people to consider it as a career. 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:27.439 And I thought, well, that's interesting. 00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:32.639 You know, I've always driven large vehicles and towed things, and uh I could probably do that. 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:35.040 Um, but I didn't really want to commute that far. 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:40.720 And so I looked in our local adverts, and sure enough, our local school district had the same advertisements. 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:50.879 And um interestingly enough, just before that, I had signed up with a temporary agency here, kind of like your workforce logic or manpower, Cali Sources type place. 00:07:51.120 --> 00:08:05.199 And they had put me on an assignment with their regional transportation authority where I was riding long routes and uh auditing whether they were leaving on time or arriving on time and how many people were getting on and off the buses at different stops and doing some of that kind of okay. 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:09.120 So using your operations experience, yeah, completely different fields, right? 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:15.920 So that kind of inspired me to think, well, maybe I could do this. 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:32.879 And sure enough, I uh so what I did was instead of applying, I found my way through my old recruiting skills to who was the head of HR for this department at this school district, and I called her directly and told her my story and said, I would genuinely be interested in this. 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:34.399 I don't meet any of the requirements. 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:40.559 I'm gonna have to go get trained in a license and all these things, but I would genuinely would be interested in doing this, I think. 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:51.120 And um, so she helped me get in touch with the director of transportation as a result, and we had a conversation, and then he said, Come on board and we'll do the be, you know, a classroom training. 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:59.679 You have a lot to do personally to get your license, and and uh, and then if it all works out, we'll give you the behind-the-wheel training, and that's basically how I got started. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:02.000 Wow, how long was the process? 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:06.320 Um, I'll tell you that that's something that was really an aha for me. 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:18.320 It took me about six months to become licensed and be able to drive a bus and um a lot of effort in between, you know, classroom training, behind-the-wheel training, different things I did, road routes with people. 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:31.840 I don't I can understand why they have trouble keeping a staff of bus drivers because the application process itself and the time required for me to get qualified for it was um as strenuous as any position I've ever applied for. 00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:32.639 Wow. 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:34.159 And you're it sounds like you're really happy. 00:09:34.240 -->

00:09:35.600 I mean, you have a big smile on your face. 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:36.399 You're you're lovely. 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:37.360 I am. 00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:38.879 It's I again it's it's fate. 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:44.559 You know, I believe a lot in karma and the universe, and for some reason, uh once in a while I run into a good streak. 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:52.000 But I uh I don't know if I told you this when we we talked before, but um I grew up with a cousin who had Down syndrome. 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:56.240 He was about 10 years old, and I never knew any different except this was part of our family. 00:09:56.480 --> 00:10:03.039 And so when I took the school bus driving job, I had no idea that I would um end up with a special needs route. 00:10:03.200 --> 00:10:13.519 Um, but through the bidding process, because you bid based on seniority for your route every year, I ended up getting a special needs route that I don't think I think a lot of people were standoffish about. 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:18.720 And I just fell in love with it and I found I get more out of this job than the the kids do, I think. 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:27.679 I I just really enjoy driving um these these kids back and forth to school and meeting their parents and taking care of them. 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:29.440 And um, it's terrific. 00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:35.360 You know, it's it's exactly what I needed at this point in my life, and it comes with a lot of time off, which was part of the appeal. 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:39.840 It's literally a culmination of your life, right? 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:42.720 Your your family member that had head down. 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:50.080 So you growing up with that and that not being something that was standoffish to that was just something normal, right? 00:10:50.320 --> 00:11:05.600 And you having the compassion and understanding in the humanity, and then your tenacity and also your experience in how to get a job right in a field and like knowing to go to the HR person and just knowing how to do that. 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:10.320 Um, and then the type of life and being clear about the type of life you want to live. 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:17.759 Well, I tell you it really is as difficult to find your next job as it was to get your first job. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:21.600 Probably the most important thing our manager needs is that we show up on time. 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:31.759 You know, I have to get up at four o'clock in the morning to leave the house by five, to start pre-tripping my bus at 5 30 to pick my first kid up at 6:30. 00:11:32.080 --> 00:11:46.480 And so um you think about the workforce today, all of us have our own experiences and stories, but attendance and commitment and you know follow-through is so critical here. 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:54.559 Otherwise, that bus route's empty, and our manager is scrambling to find a substitute driver at five o'clock in the morning to cover a route. 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:58.080 And so I was able to convince him that you won't have to worry about that with me. 00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:01.039 I will be responsible, I will be there. 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:12.159 I can imagine you just uh your energy and your positivity just making such a difference in the morning seeing and you're on your next chapter and you're getting up at 4 30 in the morning. 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:21.759 So, you know, anybody that's listening to this, like, holy cow, you know, a lot of people would not have Einstein hours and mine have always been in the morning. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:24.159 Again, so this job is it's perfect for you. 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:26.000 So let's switch gears. 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:27.440 Did you have a number? 00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:29.679 And what were the resources and tools? 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:32.799 Yeah, so so the number is a fascinating question. 00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:34.240 I'm wondering if you know that. 00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:52.159 I don't know how anyone comes up with a number because I think my situation is different than your situation, it's different than anyone else's situation, whether or not you own a home to start with, how much you've saved, you know, and and what you need personally, what your plans are in the future, whether you have dependence or not, you know, all these things come into play. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:54.159 I don't know if I had the right plan. 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:56.159 You always ask about what was the plan. 00:12:56.320 --> 00:13:13.519 All I knew when I started my career was I was very fortunate in hindsight to have worked with some pretty senior level leaders in the company who I guess they they were my benefactors because they they really cared about telling me, now's the time to save your money when you're young. 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:17.519 You know, put this money away now, you'll have more time for it to grow and do these things. 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:21.679 And I think that's the best advice I could give anyone is if you're gonna save money, start early. 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:24.879 It's more important to start early than it is later. 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:30.720 But then I learned something later in life, which now I'm kind of thinking, well, maybe I should have done things differently. 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:38.480 This whole 401k was the way to go when I started saving, and it's got so many age attachments to it and different things associated with that. 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:41.440 I thought, well, I wish I would maybe mix things up a little bit more than I did. 00:13:41.759 --> 00:14:03.440 We we did a lot of different things through our life to try to you know make different investments and properties and and other things, but um probably you know, have a lot of money saved that you know, we were fortunate to work for good companies that contributed to the to the system and um and got to a place where for me it was like well, we'll have

enough. 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:14.480 You know, it wasn't it wasn't that we'll be independently wealthy and and all of a sudden have won the lottery, but we'll be able to have enough and live the life that we'll want to live, and we can go do this. 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:22.240 I'd probably make about, oh my gosh, 10% of what I made at the height of my career driving a school bus. 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:23.120 And that's fine. 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:24.879 I don't I don't do it for that reason. 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:28.720 That's that's the difference now, is the compensation is not the main driver. 00:14:29.039 --> 00:15:04.240 But between my wife's job and my job, it's about what I imagine we're targeting to get to a point where we can live off some return on our investments, and that's gonna be about our cost of living, you know, and so so this is great because we're not having to dig too far deep into what we've saved, and and we're both having to still work full-time, but we're living on a new level of income that's much reduced to what we're used to, and it's gonna help us prepare for when we are on more of a the fixed income and want to draw off some of the money that we've saved. 00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:14.480 That's a really good way to think about it, and you're trying out the fully retirement while you're not quite retired on a financial from a financial perspective. 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:17.440 Like, hey, let's see if we can live this way. 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:21.600 And and it sounds like you're flourishing because you have a big smile on your face right now and you're shaking your head. 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:27.279 So yeah, no, it's I'm happy that I haven't heard I haven't heard anybody else doing that. 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:34.080 So your plan, you're living, and you are piloting and testing out the plan. 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:36.399 So you might not have like a way to look at it. 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:37.120 We're piloting it. 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:38.720 You're piloting the plan. 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:42.320 So a lot of people use spreadsheets and whatnot and financial planners and whatnot. 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:49.600 And you, your process is hey, let's try it this way, and it's working out, and you have joy in your life. 00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:53.919 So it's you know, it's I think it's a wonderful way to do it. 00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:56.879 One of the things I always say, you ask about philosophy or life earlier. 00:15:56.960 --> 00:16:06.480 The other thing uh I wish I would I would have learned this far earlier in life and in my career, but I don't know is a good answer as long as you're willing to find the answer. 00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.759 So, you know, I don't know. 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:10.799 A lot of things are gonna happen next, but we're gonna be able to find the answer. 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:12.320 We're gonna work at it and figure it out. 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:25.279 I think getting involved with things and continuing to work has been a big benefit because my wife has friends now that she's been working with for three years, just like we all do when we we go to work somewhere. 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:31.919 I have a great group of friends that I've been driving the bus with now for three years, or I'm going on my third year. 00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:42.480 In fact, my wife was in the Bay Area last weekend for something she had to do, and so I invited a lot of the bus drivers over and we barbecued and watched football at our place. 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:47.919 So we've made new friends that way, but you know, we continue to have the friendships we had before. 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:49.440 It does take some effort. 00:16:49.600 --> 00:17:02.159 My wife initially she just put herself out there and joined a hiking group and ended up making two really good new friends that she has down here that she's had for three years now, and they're they're people that we go to events with. 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:11.200 We just went to a dueling piano thing at a winery on on Friday night, and uh, and we went with one of those women, and it was great. 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:19.599 And so, you know, you I think you have to nurture your existing relationships and help them along under new circumstances, and I think you also have to get involved. 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:28.319 And I ended up, I I do this to myself, Lisa, I don't know why, but um trying to trying to lose responsibility is really what I'm trying to do in life. 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:37.039 And um, now I'm the president of our hoa, I know all my neighbors, I'm you know, I'm working again and I have co-workers and I know parents. 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:40.240 I was in the San Luis Obispo holiday parade. 00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:44.160 We took a school bus and decorated it, and of course I got involved and helped make that happen. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:49.519 And so we're out in the parade, and people are yelling at you from the sidelines there's our bus driver. 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:52.960 That's that's really neat, you know. 00:17:53.279 --> 00:18:06.640 I wanted a job where I don't have managerial responsibilities anymore, and I wanted a job where you know, if I showed up and did what I was supposed to do and did it well, I could go home and forget about it at night. 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:09.440 And so it's easier said than done. 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:21.039 Uh, like I said, you know, I I want to contribute and get involved in things, but um, as soon as I started working in the bus, for example, yeah, there's a role called dispatcher, which is a job I wish on no one. 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:30.160 Um I was a dispatcher early on in my in my making sure other routes are covered, and if someone doesn't show up, how it gets recovered and show up, whatever. 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:37.519 Dealing with all the clients and like yeah, but they said, God, you'd be a great dispatcher, or even you know, my

boss's job. 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:42.799 And and I because you know, you get into these jobs and they're thinking about their own succession planning and everything. 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:45.200 I don't want those people's jobs. 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:46.480 Let me be very clear. 00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:58.480 In fact, yeah, um, a lot of what we do in bus driving is in addition to our normal job, and it's considered voluntary, but it's really highly encouraged to do voluntary extra work. 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:02.079 And a lot of the people that drive buses do it because they do it for the money. 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:10.000 And so you get into overtime really quickly by adding field trips and working summers and doing different things that they need help with. 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:18.000 And so, what I made clear with my new manager was that I definitely don't want to be the person that says no and leaves you hanging. 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:19.119 That's not me. 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:21.920 But I also would prefer not to. 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:24.240 So please make me the last call. 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:29.519 Ask everyone else first, and and if anybody else wants to do it, give it to them. 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:32.079 And if you absolutely need help, call me. 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:46.880 But it's really difficult, having been the person responsible for so many things, to not want to um pick up loose ends when you see them or get involved where you you know there's opportunity to do more. 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:54.960 Um, and it's it's do you practice that or do you recognize that before you before you open your mouth or before you like take it on? 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:55.359 Right? 00:19:55.599 --> 00:20:06.960 What I practice almost every day is something, some small piece of advice I'll I'll offer to you is um I try to think of work as just something else I have to do today. 00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:10.000 Um, my morning route was something I had to do this morning. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:12.720 My afternoon route is something I have to do later today. 00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:14.799 Um, I try to think of it that way. 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:22.240 Like my whole day includes a lot of different activities, and two of those things are going to drive that bus back and forth for this school. 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:28.240 Um, and and try to leave it at that, just as part of a larger agenda of things I have on my list today. 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:28.960 Yeah. 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:40.880 What are the other things that bring you purpose, joy, uh, meaning uh besides driving the bus for the special needs children? 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:44.079 Well, we've been busy since we we came down here. 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:47.200 So, you know, I'm I'm a big do-it-yourselfer. 00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:52.000 It comes from growing up with a father and friends and uncles in the trades and things. 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:55.839 But I I really have enjoyed working on our new home. 00:20:56.079 --> 00:21:01.440 My daughter has forced me to become a landscaper over the last 10 months. 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:17.279 So um my spare time is spent doing those things, and my wife and I are just we've always, you know, been the weekend warriors, get away, go do something, try to check out for a couple of days, and before we check back in to work. 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:24.000 And so now we're in a new environment that we we one of the places we used to check out to, we live in now. 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:28.799 And but we can stretch further in different directions and check out even new areas. 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:43.200 And so between us wanting to explore and do a lot of the things we've always done, and our new careers and having a new home to get up and running, and our daughter's wedding to to plan for, it feels like I'm as busy as ever. 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:45.359 I don't I don't feel like I'm overloaded with free time. 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:48.640 I'm still wondering how I'm gonna accomplish all the things I have on my list. 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:53.039 Yeah, wow, but it sounds it's fun, it sounds like. 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:53.680 Oh, yeah. 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:56.960 I mean, I mean, I think we made the right decision. 00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:59.119 Um, who makes the plans for the trip? 00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:02.000 Because you don't want to Be responsible per se. 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:04.160 So tell us about that. 00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:06.640 Let me be clear. 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:11.359 Um, I don't want to be responsible from the traditional work aspect anymore. 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:11.920 Okay, got it. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:15.039 I don't want to be the guy that has to take this home with me. 00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:23.359 You know, there's there's a difference between going to work and being part of a team and then owning the success and failure of it all, right? 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:27.119 And and I I don't want that kind of responsibility anymore. 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:29.839 But you have it with the landscaping for your daughter. 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:31.200 Well, that's different, right? 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.640 So there's okay. 00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:38.160 So from a work perspective, but family projects and what you're never gonna get rid of all your responsibilities back from. 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:42.480 Yeah, trying to maybe maybe you're not I'm not trying to lose it, maybe I'm trying to shift it. 00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:43.519 There you go. 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:51.440 Have you talked about when you want to fully retire as a couple or individually? 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:53.039 Yeah, yeah. 00:22:53.359 --> 00:23:06.880 Um I have uh I I hope it's I hope it's not too much of a false hope, but um I hope I can finish my current bus driver license and not have to renew it. 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:07.839 That's where I'm at. 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:10.160 A bus driver

license lasts for five years. 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:18.240 I'd like to get into my early 60s and and not have to to worry about going to work somewhere anymore. 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:34.000 Uh, I imagine I'm always gonna be involved in something, but I I I still feel like I have to go to work, and I'd much rather feel like I can focus my energy on something until I don't feel like I want to focus my energy on it anymore. 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:38.400 And I know Jerry has uh, she hasn't achieved what I've achieved yet. 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:52.000 She's still working in the same field that she's always worked in in the medical industry, and she looks forward to you know, pouring wine or doing something else in the area that's radically different than anything she's ever done. 00:23:52.240 --> 00:24:06.240 And what we start to talk about, and we're trying to encourage our friends that are our age that we spend a lot of time with to think the same way is it would be okay if we worked weekends and holidays, as long as we had the other days off where we could all get together. 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:12.480 So we'll come to your cabin Monday through Friday, you know, instead of rushing to do it on a weekend, right? 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:14.480 Yeah, that's a great plan. 00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:22.400 And I hear the the winery scene in Paso and Roy Grande, is that really hopping? 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:26.400 Oh, you can't you can't turn around and walk in any direction here. 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:38.000 We we live right on top of Vedna Valley between San Luis Obispo and Royal Grande here, and even if you go south towards Santa Barbara or north towards Pasarobles, you're just gonna run into more and more wineries. 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:39.119 They're they're all over here. 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:41.440 Yeah, we need to go down and check it out. 00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:44.160 It's uh it sounds like yeah, yeah. 00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:50.000 Um, so last question: how has the next chapter of your life been so far? 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:53.200 How is it different than you thought? 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:55.519 And any happy surprises? 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:59.200 And what's been a challenge that maybe we haven't already discussed? 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:00.880 A lot there. 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:02.720 I'm really happy that we made the decision. 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:03.519 I told you that. 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:05.039 Things are going well. 00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:20.799 I I would say, you know, almost in a way as planned, like without a plan, but I knew we could make it financially and and we wanted to be in this area, and that's all turned out to be true. 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:22.640 We we really do like being here. 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:24.079 I think that's important too. 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:26.799 We didn't we didn't just move somewhere we weren't familiar with. 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:30.400 We spent a lot of time in this area before we decided to live here. 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:39.200 We window shopped in this this area for years for houses and visited all parts of the central coast and knew that this would be a place that we'd like to end up. 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:48.960 I think that you know, the the we talked about, you know, finding for me a next step was an unknown. 00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:51.119 It was I didn't know what I was gonna do next. 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:58.640 And and trying to figure that out was a little bit of a challenge, and then trying to feel like you're being accepted in the process was a little bit of work. 00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:04.000 But I I I never guessed I would have been a school bus driver, but I am thrilled with what I do now. 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:05.599 I really enjoy what I do now. 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:11.119 It's it's a rewarding job, and it's just a exactly what I need with the time off that comes with it. 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:14.480 Yeah, so I think then the next step's been terrific. 00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:15.759 It's it's where we want to be. 00:26:15.839 --> 00:26:23.599 We're not we're not there yet, we're not retired yet, but we're in a much we're in a much better place where we feel less stressed than we did before. 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:30.640 And we're making an effort to keep the other part intact and and to to build what's here. 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:43.440 Yeah, I feel the friendships that you have that you've built over 20, 30, whatever years, and then you go someplace different, the history's not there, right? 00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:44.720 You're gonna have to build the history. 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:45.359 That's right. 00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:47.359 And the history with your children. 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:51.519 And for some people, those friendships last a lifetime. 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:54.559 Some of those people actually end up moving, right? 00:26:54.799 --> 00:27:02.240 So going someplace new is actually not as much of a loss because a lot of people have scattered and moved anyway. 00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:07.440 So sometimes people assess that and go, like, okay, what am I holding on to really? 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:11.759 Because half or a third or whatever people have have moved. 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:34.000 Any pieces of advice that you would have for anyone thinking about, hey, I'm not quite ready to retire yet, but I really like what Tim's saying as far as a phased approach to full retirement and maybe slowing it down a little bit or maybe a move, maybe not. 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:37.920 But people that are like thinking about that or wrestling with that or curious about that. 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:39.279 Any advice for that? 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:40.799 Well, I'll pass on some. 00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:47.680 It's not it's not my advice, but it's some that I took from an older person that I know and and spend a lot of time with. 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:51.279 And his question to me has always been

what do you need? 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:52.480 How much do you need? 00:27:52.640 --> 00:28:00.960 And I think before you make these choices in life, you need to kind of ask yourself those questions and think about those things. 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:03.200 Because, like I said, it goes back to the number. 00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:04.319 What's required? 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:10.079 Well, it depends on what you need, what what what you're gonna want to do going forward. 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:12.000 And so you have to have that. 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:19.599 That's kind of the conversation that my wife and I had that weekend that I told you about at the end of 2022 when we decided it was the right time. 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:27.440 Was you know, are we gonna be comfortable with what we think we need and and we'll be able to do if we do this, right? 00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:36.640 And right I think that's one of the most important conversations to have with yourself and your partner in the process is is this is this gonna work for us? 00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:37.200 Yeah. 00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:42.480 So so the other part of that is you know, being honest, open, and willing under any circumstances, right? 00:28:42.640 --> 00:28:57.599 And so that's why I say it's so important to have a good relationship with the person that you're gonna, if you're if you're together with someone, the the two of you agree on what you're gonna be doing and know a little bit about where you're going and be sure that you know what's what's the fallback plan, right? 00:28:57.759 --> 00:29:03.200 You know, uh how will I, you know, if it doesn't all go perfectly, will I still be okay or not? 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:07.039 You know, and yeah, and you are, you are, right? 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:09.119 You're like you're better than okay. 00:29:09.359 --> 00:29:23.599 So and I love that you've the way that you've done it in this phased approach, and that you're still putting a lot of effort forth with your family and friends in your previous chapter, but also in your next. 00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:29.359 So you've got your ecosystem has expanded, you know, 200 miles, right? 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:30.640 Well, thank you. 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:32.079 I had so much fun. 00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.599 I hope you did too. 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:36.079 Yeah, I really appreciate you reaching out to me. 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:38.799 Yeah, thank you so much for including me in this process. 00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:39.599 Oh my gosh. 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:47.039 Well, the next time I go down there, I'm gonna like I'll text you and I'll hit you up and you know, glass of wine for dinner together. 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:47.839 I will. 00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:50.960 What a fun interview with Tim. 00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:56.000 It's so awesome that he's living on the Central Coast and having the time of his life. 00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:59.279 So, Ricky, what did you think of the interview with Tim? 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:02.799 I like his life is short, stay focused piece. 00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:11.279 That really resonated with me because I feel people in my generation don't really have that full grasp on the life is short perspective. 00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:15.920 We can get caught up in either that day-to-day or just thinking too far ahead. 00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:23.039 It was interesting to hear him talk about his career changes from his time in tech to becoming a special needs bus driver. 00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:27.200 This stuck with me as I've had to pivot a few times myself. 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:32.480 I think it's important for everyone to understand their skills and how they can translate into something new. 00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:40.319 I admire Tim's honesty about the real struggle 50 and 60-something people experience trying to get a job. 00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:49.519 The step-by-step approach Tim followed to finally get the job of his life is a story that anyone looking for a job could benefit from hearing. 00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:52.960 Do you know someone who's going through something like this? 00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:55.759 If so, share this episode with them. 00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:57.359 They aren't alone. 00:30:57.680 --> 00:31:00.880 I believe his process could help them.