As the title implies, as a young child, maybe 8 years old back in the late 50's I would often lie in bed at night and dream of the future, or rather my future, now some 60 years later I can see the highs & lows of life so far, I actually think I've been very lucky in my life, okay a couple of failed marriages behind me but me and both the ex's are all on good terms these days.

 

My career as such as it was with no specific training was most enjoyable and to be honest my attitude and easy going nature opened quite a few doors, I've actually had internal & external job interviews that lasted the time it took to drink a cup of coffee, note I said cup not mug ???? 

 

 I think my my best job was the 5 years I spent with Bomb disposal when in the army, even the trips over the water to Belfast were reasonably enjoyable, the worst was working for a company ( American I think ) called Ezee Kleen, delivering cleaning solution to workshops & garages around Essex , I've had a few jobs between then and going back to work for the MoD in 1999 until I retired in 2011, fortunately my previous army service also counted for my civil service pension, woohoo ????

 

So, 60 years later, my knees are shot, my back can't take more than 10 minutes standing in the shower, but life's been good, I'm happy, I'm retired, I'm here, who could ask for more ?

 

What about you?

Sounds like a terrible life. No thanks.

If you have arrived at this time of your life and find it satisfactory enough then good on you!

My own life experience has been quite different in background but I too am quite comfortable with my eventual outcome and current situation.

 

If by 'future' you meant the coming weekend, then yes, but not much after that, My long term planning horizon in those younger days was a little over 7 days. 

17 minutes ago, Golden Triangle said:

I'm happy, I'm retired, I'm here, who could ask for more ?

Many folk want more, but you have the best attitude to life possible.

Well done Sir, keep happy and have fun.

I was born in 57.  Grew up in what would be called a stable environment. Grandparents all came from Greece.  Had fun family get togethers, a dozen or so first cousins.   Quiet neighborhood in little state of Rhode Island.  All single family houses.  No apartment buildings, no transients.  Good elementary and public schools. Luckily my best friend be friended me in the 4th grade.  The best possible influence all through Junior High, high, college, etc.  His Dad was a technical engineer so I got exposed to a lot of stuff.  Boy Scouts was a blast.  We went camping.  I loved learning and getting merit badges.  It taught one to learn, to read a checklist, to make a goal.  I could star gaze, got a microscope.  I don't recall thinking ahead or planning anything at all.  Had good friends in High school and college.  No abusers, none did hard drugs.    Family had a restaurant so I had to waste thousands of hours and so many wonderful summer weeks there just doing nothing I liked and for no pay!  No social life or people my age to meet as it was not that kind of place.  That <deleted> me off at the time as my other friends from school were out and about.  Did watch the drunks and alcholics coming in every day.  Maybe that taught me something.  But a completely unfilling job.  Parents did not encourage college as Dad wanted me to work for him! Sure, I don't rob or steal, I open up in the AM and close the lounge at night!   Oh well.  Life is not perfect.  Growing up was cool as Dad played ball with us and the neighborhood kids. 

 

Really had no idea about college until the last minute in the spring of High School senior year.  I got in to a few schools and took good old URI.  Took 6 years and 11 semesters along with a semester out working at family restaurant.  Finally graduated.  No jobs with my GPA so low. Joined the Air Force, went to OTS.  38 years later, did a lot. Really had no direction though.   Private life was boring.  At one point,  was broke, jobless and homeless after a few years of taking and switching various salaried jobs.  Just none of that stuff interested me.  I was kind of lost, but not due to drugs or anything. 

 

  The lesson was have outs as they say in poker.  I had no criminal record.  I at that time already had my BS in engineering and my MS in Math.  I had my Air Force Background.  Then thanks to the internet and a floppy disk I carried in my one carry on all I owned piece of luggage that had my resume, I walked into the local library, was able to use the computer, posted on Monster com on Monday. Tuesday got a call back, interviewed Thursday, had the offer Friday, Saturday AM I took a bus from Providence RI down to Huntsville, AL.  My last salary job had been 67k.  The contract job was 90k.   If fell into contract engineering in 1999 and never looked back.   I quickly learned that I could get 120k a year contracts and more.

 

Synopsis.  Separated as a Captain , 10 years in.  Got BS and MS degrees.  Worked as a direct and as a contractor for many companies.  20 years as a contractor.  Have worked in 18 of the USA states.  Have been in all CONUS states. 

 

  In 2004, I had things together, all debts settled, new passport, was enjoying the contract job in Anaheim CA.  Went to Thailand in September at age 47.  Picked that because it was easy to travel, no visa pre planning needed, etc.  stunningly good trip.  On the flight home I knew I was going to go there two times every year, and I did that each time staying a bit longer, eventually working up to the entire 30 day visa exempt and a few times a 30 day extensioin.  Jobs started paying better and better.  2009 I got my windfall break with Northrop.  Great pay, fun job in Rancho Bernardo CA, just north of San Diego.  Really started putting the money away, 401k, ROTH IRA outside of work, tax free per diem, etc.  5 years as a contractor and 3 years as a direct with them.  Was busy so only took one 3 week trip to Thailand each year. 

 

   I thought I retired in Dec 2019 but COVID popped up and coincidentally I got an offer for 135k an hour in Jersey, so 2020 was my best financial year ever,  Currently spinning my wheels in 2021, waiting for Thailand to settle out.  Going to take one more gig next week for a while for the final dosh up.

 

  So in early life, had no plans.  Was lucky I had some good influences.  Get options as soon as you can.  I watch kids these days think they can be big poker players, quit school, get no work experience, get no social experinces, etc.  In my opine, they are missing parts of life that give them more choices later on. 

3 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

If by 'future' you meant the coming weekend, then yes, but not much after that, My long term planning horizon in those younger days was a little over 7 days. 

Did you read the OP ? It wasn't about planning, it was about how my future would play out, from 8 years old to today 68 years old ????

4 minutes ago, Golden Triangle said:

Did you read the OP ? It wasn't about planning, it was about how my future would play out, from 8 years old to today 68 years old ????

You need to chill out a bit mate. 

2 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

You need to chill out a bit mate. 

I'm chilled ????

well, depending upon what you would call 'youngster' - but by late teens my plan was not to have a plan, not to live a normal structured, 9-5 lifestyle... and somehow, with some good luck along the way, I handled the twists and turns of life fairly well... and had a different style life from most that I knew... 

1 hour ago, gk10012001 said:

I was born in 57.  Grew up in what would be called a stable environment. Grandparents all came from Greece.  Had fun family get togethers, a dozen or so first cousins.   Quiet neighborhood in little state of Rhode Island.  All single family houses.  No apartment buildings, no transients.  Good elementary and public schools. Luckily my best friend be friended me in the 4th grade.  The best possible influence all through Junior High, high, college, etc.  His Dad was a technical engineer so I got exposed to a lot of stuff.  Boy Scouts was a blast.  We went camping.  I loved learning and getting merit badges.  It taught one to learn, to read a checklist, to make a goal.  I could star gaze, got a microscope.  I don't recall thinking ahead or planning anything at all.  Had good friends in High school and college.  No abusers, none did hard drugs.    Family had a restaurant so I had to waste thousands of hours and so many wonderful summer weeks there just doing nothing I liked and for no pay!  No social life or people my age to meet as it was not that kind of place.  That <deleted> me off at the time as my other friends from school were out and about.  Did watch the drunks and alcholics coming in every day.  Maybe that taught me something.  But a completely unfilling job.  Parents did not encourage college as Dad wanted me to work for him! Sure, I don't rob or steal, I open up in the AM and close the lounge at night!   Oh well.  Life is not perfect.  Growing up was cool as Dad played ball with us and the neighborhood kids. 

 

Really had no idea about college until the last minute in the spring of High School senior year.  I got in to a few schools and took good old URI.  Took 6 years and 11 semesters along with a semester out working at family restaurant.  Finally graduated.  No jobs with my GPA so low. Joined the Air Force, went to OTS.  38 years later, did a lot. Really had no direction though.   Private life was boring.  At one point,  was broke, jobless and homeless after a few years of taking and switching various salaried jobs.  Just none of that stuff interested me.  I was kind of lost, but not due to drugs or anything. 

 

  The lesson was have outs as they say in poker.  I had no criminal record.  I at that time already had my BS in engineering and my MS in Math.  I had my Air Force Background.  Then thanks to the internet and a floppy disk I carried in my one carry on all I owned piece of luggage that had my resume, I walked into the local library, was able to use the computer, posted on Monster com on Monday. Tuesday got a call back, interviewed Thursday, had the offer Friday, Saturday AM I took a bus from Providence RI down to Huntsville, AL.  My last salary job had been 67k.  The contract job was 90k.   If fell into contract engineering in 1999 and never looked back.   I quickly learned that I could get 120k a year contracts and more.

 

Synopsis.  Separated as a Captain , 10 years in.  Got BS and MS degrees.  Worked as a direct and as a contractor for many companies.  20 years as a contractor.  Have worked in 18 of the USA states.  Have been in all CONUS states. 

 

  In 2004, I had things together, all debts settled, new passport, was enjoying the contract job in Anaheim CA.  Went to Thailand in September at age 47.  Picked that because it was easy to travel, no visa pre planning needed, etc.  stunningly good trip.  On the flight home I knew I was going to go there two times every year, and I did that each time staying a bit longer, eventually working up to the entire 30 day visa exempt and a few times a 30 day extensioin.  Jobs started paying better and better.  2009 I got my windfall break with Northrop.  Great pay, fun job in Rancho Bernardo CA, just north of San Diego.  Really started putting the money away, 401k, ROTH IRA outside of work, tax free per diem, etc.  5 years as a contractor and 3 years as a direct with them.  Was busy so only took one 3 week trip to Thailand each year. 

 

   I thought I retired in Dec 2019 but COVID popped up and coincidentally I got an offer for 135k an hour in Jersey, so 2020 was my best financial year ever,  Currently spinning my wheels in 2021, waiting for Thailand to settle out.  Going to take one more gig next week for a while for the final dosh up.

 

  So in early life, had no plans.  Was lucky I had some good influences.  Get options as soon as you can.  I watch kids these days think they can be big poker players, quit school, get no work experience, get no social experinces, etc.  In my opine, they are missing parts of life that give them more choices later on. 

Could you enlarge on that please and expand your answer!

8 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Could you enlarge on that please and expand your answer!

sure.  book coming out next year right after I no longer need my security clearance.  A lot of casinos will be offering me jobs in their theft and loss prevention department

14 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Could you enlarge on that please and expand your answer!

Hey, I'm bored to tears now, waiting for Thailand to finally sort out their COVID and travel policies.  It looks like I will work 7 more months to wrap up medical and switch to Medicare in May at age 65.  And I will have some tax things I have to be in the States for in February so its not worth traveling and punching out to Thailand just yet.  I'll bear down and take the money on this new Gig for now starting next week.  Killing me not to be hanging out and walking about Pattaya, or touring other parts of Thailand.  But Thailand still needs to open up some more before my trip # 16

Really? Sorry I don't really think 8 year olds dream often about their future.  Maybe about when their next tooth will fall out.

2 divorces, British government pensions, bad back and knees all sounds not good.

Was that your 8 year old dream?

2 hours ago, Golden Triangle said:

my back can't take more than 10 minutes standing in the shower,

Hope you can afford a nice bathtub or even a jacuzzi : )

Jokes apart, I haver always dreamt being in the limelight...it didn't work. Maybe this post will me bring closer to my goal, or not ???? 

From 8 years old to forty, I had always wondered what

women looked like without their clothes on.

 

Yes, it was  never  going to  happen to me

6 hours ago, Golden Triangle said:

As the title implies, as a young child, maybe 8 years old back in the late 50's I would often lie in bed at night and dream of the future,

Yeah for sure...sometimes my sister & I would talk/imagine what it was going to be like in the year 2000

Maybe like the Jetsons with flying cars etc ????

 

Yes.

Many of us thought of the future when I was a youngster.

 

I cant remember ever thinking or planning for the future.

I was always too busy thinking about eating and paying the bills !

Pretty much living week to week, month to month The common theme was "what ya gonna do now" !

 

Honestly,I'm surprised I made it this far. I guess all I could say about it was "I managed", I survived and had some interesting twists and turns along the way.

I was 6 years old in 1958. I remember asking my mother if I would live until the year 2000, which seemed impossibly far away. When she replied with a smile, that I probably would, I asked if she would, she replied I hope so. Sadly, she did not. She passed away at 58 in 1988.

8 hours ago, Golden Triangle said:

What about you?

I thought and planned for my future all the time,

When I got there my wife promptly divorced me (if I wasn't earning, she didn't want me) and got most of my assets. So much for carpet slippers and grandkids!

Wish I'd just spent all I made and lived in a rented house.

13 hours ago, Golden Triangle said:

What about you?

No !! Ma said what will be will be. 

I think I lived in the best years of mankind. When I was young I lived for the day and possibly next week. I was too busy playing marbles. When I got a little older I was too busy trapping muskrat in the woods behind my house. Making good money selling the pelts to Sears Roebuck in New York. Way Way in the future I may have thought about of buying my first car.. 

I remember in my teens, early 70's, wondering if I would be alive in the year 2000.

 

I also remember thinking to myself at that time that if I got a job making $5/hour I would be set for life.

9 minutes ago, rwill said:

I remember in my teens, early 70's, wondering if I would be alive in the year 2000.

 

I also remember thinking to myself at that time that if I got a job making $5/hour I would be set for life.

That $5 an hour made me laugh, what was your final hourly rate & were you set for life ?

I never thought I'd make it to the year 2000, and would think if I did how old I would be!

Yes - birthdays, which I now prefer to ignore, Christmas, which I no longer celebrate, and school holidays, which I no longer have.  Now, at my advanced age, I am simply grateful for each new day.

No, never

When I was a youngster I started to know what I wanted my future

to be, I was not reading comics , but atlases and adventure magazines

like Wide World Magazine, etc..

 

I wanted to travel the World, see exciting things, retire early, so I knew

I would have to start saving money , at about 12 was out selling eggs,

potatoes, and firewood (sticks), around the houses with a barrow, fast forward,

through hard work and luck in business , retired at 42 , I was in a business 

that enabled me to travel to many countries around the World ,

 

I have had a good life, so far, at 76 must be nearing the end, but looking

back don't regret a thing, it's worked out just about the way I wanted it

too all those years ago, only 3 places I would like to visit before I pop off,

but this covid thing has screwed things up, so Madagascar, Machu Picchu,

and Easter Island  may not get done, but if you do everything,nothing to

look forward to.

regards Worgeordie