Things That Get In The Way

Wow. I didn't realize it had been so long since I last posted an entry in this blog. Where do I start? Let me catch you up with my attempt to make sense of this thing called retirement.

I have been an eBay buyer and seller since 2002. When I left my last full-time job at the end of May 2006. In the beginning it was just a casual pastime, but has built up to a fever pitch here as we enter 2008. More about this journey in upcoming posts.

I thought that I would try to expand my eBay selling activities and possibly make a little money. Little did I realize the road I was about to travel and the pitfalls I would have to overcome.

Jo, the love of my life, who is NOT retired, had other plans for me. It seems that, in her eyes, we had switched roles and she was now the bread winner and I was now the house husband. I could understand that, but I was now expected to do the cooking, food shopping, errand running, clothes washing, and house cleaning. Along with all of this, the roles of house handi-man, yard and garden worker, car washer, computer and network geek, and small-time mechanic remained. I embraced this challenge -- with one exception -- I hate house cleaning!

I think mentioned last time that we also own a summer condo at the shore (that's what we call the beach in New Jersey) and I bought a 22' Catalina sailboat. Some time later we bought another shore area condo as an investment. I became a board member of both owner associations and president on one. Oh, I can't forget that for the past year I've been general contractor on our complete kitchen and bath makeover.

What to do? How do you do all the household chores and these other responsibilities and still put in full time hours developing a new business. Yes, I can hear all the working mothers saying, "Well I do it!". Regardless of that I concluded that I couldn't or wouldn't.

So, I decided that I would do my best on the chores and work at the new business part-time. By the way, the sailboat is for sale since I've only had time to go out in it a few times in three years. Golf? I've forgotten where they put the course.

Needless to say, the development of the business has taken a back seat. However, in many respects I've still made significant progress since May 2006. Stop back soon to read what I've accomplished as an eBay seller, an Internet marketing guru, an Internet affiliate, a teacher of eBay selling classess, a blogger for dollars, a website developer, and more.

Ken