I CAN'T DO THIS MUCH LONGER

I can't give you the exact day the lightbulb went on but I do know it wasn't long after I moved to Missouri. 

I remember looking at my supervisor one day with total disbelief when she told me the Garrison Commander had told her to tell me how my office was to be set up.  Yes, the commander of the base, an Army colonel, had nothing better to do than to tell some peon (me) how my desk was to be situated.

Really?

How does any reasonable adult respond to something like that?

My stomach knotted up and I was screaming inside.  I wanted to cry because I just kept thinking this can't really be happening. 

Did I really create this?

Obviously I did.

But now the question was, how do I create something new?

As I look back on that period of my life, I realized that I was too old to put up with such pettiness; being told to leave my office door open regardless of the noise in the hallway, where to put my computer on my desk, what to wear or what not to wear to the office, who I was allowed to talk with, who my friends could be.

I was worn out.

After 20+ years, I needed something new to do in my life.

Don't get me wrong, I am totally greatful for all the experiences I've had...each and every one...but it was time to move on.

Unfortunately, this is where the federal government gets you. 

Retirement benefits.

I was/am so close to retirement, I'd be silly to throw away a solid pension plan with benefits.  That's another stream of income that I've worked hard for. 

HOWEVER, with all the silly games with the government (at least in my opinion), I looked to the internet to make my fortune.

My daughter was getting old enough to not need my attention 100% of the time so I was able to start exploring.

And exploring I did.