OT: I retired today.

Submitted by Lordfoul on

Yes, thanks to the University of Michigan, I met a wonderful woman that went on to become a doctor and allow me to quit being a bench-jockey chemist and follow my real dreams.*

So here's to her, and retirement at the age of 35.

 

*Currently to build a kick-ass Inn/Lodge on acreage by South Haven and serve up some killer trenchers of beef to clientele. 

MGoBoard

Red is Blue

January 26th, 2013 at 8:02 AM ^

I don't doubt what you're saying, but I'm guessing there is a huge sample selection bias.  How much of the success of home schoolers is because they were home schooled vs. the kids that get home schooled would have also been successful in regular schools. 

To blather on a bit, WTKA runs a spot that says a similar thing about High School Athletics.  Namely, kids who participate in High School athletics tend to do better academically than those who don't.  Of course, to participate in High School atheltics, you have to have some drive to want to participate and work hard.  Some that don't participate in athletics also have drive and work hard, but the kids that have no drive or self-motivation skew the results because they do not participate in athletics, nor do they do well in school.

 

Joined: 05/13/2010

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XM - Mt 1822

January 26th, 2013 at 12:37 PM ^

to be part of that sample bias?   it goes much deeper than that, but just doing the test numbers on performance is enticing.   then go to OP's hugely enhanced ability to mentor his children on a daily basis and having a close-knit family.   then think of your own kids and how they've come home from school with an attitude which you had to try to deal with, or maybe a young one suddenly dropped an 'F-bomb' on you, or the dog, or their little brother.  

Joined: 12/21/2011

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inthebluelot

January 26th, 2013 at 10:07 AM ^

when you use school shootings as a reason to homeschool. That being that violence can occur anywhere, and you can't control or determine the actions of other individuals by alienating your child from them in a classroom. You fail to see that once homeschooling ends, your child has to enter the real world. If that means college, well, we need only to look at the VT massacre from a few years back as proof that violence can happen anywhere. Kids bring guns to schools because they are neglected at home or they fail to adjust to others in society, not because the Detroit public schools score lower in tests than home schooled kids. That argument is so ridiculous that I'm surprised you even mentioned such a drastic comparison. Also, without the real-world social interactions that children get while at school, they are more likely to grow up as the awkward, maladjusted kid who doesn't fit in later in life. Their ability to collaborate and problem solve with peers is diminished greatly, and their stock as an employee can be greatly reduced because they just don't know how to be part if a team in that setting. For all if the positives of "potentially" higher test scores, there are just too many negatives to isolating your kids during their formative years. Again, I'm not going to change your mind, just like your not going to change mine. But to make a statements about homeschooling being better than a traditional school is far fetched. No other country adopts this model of education as the norm, and yet the education in countries like Japan and India are far better than the US. It's about a proper balance for kids, not locking them away until they're adults. That's when the real problems will occur. Involvement and parenting is the key as well as anti-bullying campaigns. Afterall, if all were using as a litmus test is test scores, I would submit to you that Theodore Kaczynski was highly intelligent and had great test scores, but once he was advanced ahead in school due to his high IQ, well, if you don't know the story, google it. High test scores mean nothing.

Joined: 01/05/2010

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XM - Mt 1822

January 26th, 2013 at 12:31 PM ^

again, you obviously weren't homeschooled and don't homeschool your own children, assuming you have children.  i coach all manner of sports for my kids and they have plenty of interaction with kids from all walks of life, as those who have kids who go to church, or a park, or the movies, or indeed with the growing homeschool community.   i have to generalize since there's nothing worse than 'see how great my life/family/yada yada' thread is, but go spend some time with the homeschoolers in your area.  generally,  they'll be the ones that will look in your eyes and shake your hand like adults when they meet you, not with their finger in their ear staring at a video game and mumbling 'yeah'.     but let me say this too, there are many many wonderful kids and families that don't homeschool, and of course you can find bad apples in the homeschool community if you'd like.   

guess who the largest contingent of homeschooling parents are:   former teachers and spouses of teachers.   i actually think superior schooling is secondary to the character training they receive and that OP will give them.   the newton mention was just a current reminder of what goes on in public schools as we started homeschooling with our first child in the 90's before shooting kids in schools became fashionable.  move away from that though, and think of what you/i/everybody learned in school.  my list would be: drinking, fighting, girls.  others' lists would have drugs, boys, and many other things that as you look back you'd say - man, i sure hope my kids don't do that and thank you God for not killing me when i was young and foolish.    my guess is OP would have a similar reaction, but now he can do something about it. 

Joined: 12/21/2011

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XM - Mt 1822

January 25th, 2013 at 8:24 PM ^

with the possibilities of no work and being able to be home all day with the kids.  you could have so much fun and teach them so many good things.  take advantage of that and good luck. 

Joined: 12/21/2011

MGoPoints: 102763

Cope

January 25th, 2013 at 11:45 PM ^

in the most valuable thing in your life, more so than money, a good cause, or someone else's business: your children. Though you may feel like you've treaded water for a decade, you've been paying into likely the only thing worth counting when one's life is over. You should be proud. Self-seeking it is not. All the more reason to be honored.

Joined: 10/07/2010

MGoPoints: 2648

cozy200

January 25th, 2013 at 8:43 PM ^

Just quit to hopefully not lose all of your wife's money investing in a B & B. Either way since you have no income hence no stake in the game, its a win win. That is a power move!

Joined: 01/02/2011

MGoPoints: 2430

M-Dog

January 25th, 2013 at 8:48 PM ^

Your 1227 MGoPoints should now go up to 12,227.  That's what I would do.

I always wondered how people got up to 10,000+ points and still existed in the working world.  Maybe they don't.

I've wanted to start a thread that asked 10,000+ points people how they got there, but I'm too lazy.

 

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257476

mgobleu

January 25th, 2013 at 9:10 PM ^

In regards to being 4 years older than me and "retired"; you suck. In regards to your inn/lodge, keep us informed. South haven is nice and beef is my favorite.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 38428

M-Dog

January 25th, 2013 at 9:15 PM ^

Guy I know retired early.  People kept asking him if he was bored now that he was not working.  He would say "Not at All.  I'm retired from work, not from life."

 

Joined: 07/06/2008

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evenyoubrutus

January 25th, 2013 at 9:22 PM ^

Holy shit, man. I think you and I are very similar. I also married a doctor (although she treats those of the animal kingdom), she's the most amazing woman who ever lived, and I retired in my 20's. Congrats. I know the feeling. And it is freakin awesome.

Joined: 11/04/2008

MGoPoints: 178188

Wendyk5

January 25th, 2013 at 9:37 PM ^

I admire a man who can not only admit he's being supported by his wife (at least for the moment), but also embrace it! Good for you and best of luck! 

Joined: 11/20/2008

MGoPoints: 67706

doughboy

January 25th, 2013 at 9:43 PM ^

Nicely done. Hopefully you have an awesome location already picked out. We goto SH every year and it looks like the North side has become void of restaurants and good B&B's. Keep us all posted with the name and the stories. We "stepped out" of corporate 11 years ago to open a bakery and love it.

Joined: 10/27/2009

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Lordfoul

January 25th, 2013 at 10:09 PM ^

35 acres of some of the most beautiful land I have seen in Michigan.  Creek runs through it, lots of sugar maples and even a 80' or so tall white pine.  South Branch of the Black River runs right by it and only 5 miles from the beach as the crow flies.  Can't wait to see what it looks like in the summer.  It is going to be the best disc golf course the world has ever seen.

Where's your bakery?  My wife loves bakeries.

Joined: 07/01/2008

MGoPoints: 1747

MLaw06

January 26th, 2013 at 9:12 AM ^

69749 County Road 388, South Haven, MI 49090

For Sale: $450,000

This is a hidden gem, right on Phoenix Road, just east of I-196 and South Haven. With two houses and 34.1 acres (the back 30 acres of which are wooded with mature trees), this property offers great potential. One or both houses can be rented to generate current income, while the back acreage can be used for a wide variety of purposes. It could be sold off, developed, used for recreational purposes, or held for future options. The topography, mature trees, and stream toward the rear of the property are all great assets. Walk this beautiful property to fully appreciate its potential. Brokered And Advertised By: Lake to Lake Realty Listing Agent: Brian S. Morris

Joined: 02/29/2012

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Wendyk5

January 25th, 2013 at 10:19 PM ^

I left a job in advertising to become a pastry chef years ago, and did it for about five years, until I had kids. Running a bakery is tough work. My first job was in a pastry shop, and I worked 12 hours a day, from 5 AM to 5 PM. It was particularly hard in the winter when I never saw the light of day. I did the finishing work, wedding and birthday cakes, etc...I then worked in restaurants, doing desserts for dinner, which was much more fun. I loved cooking on the line - a lot of action and great characters. 

 

Good for you for making it work for so long. It's not easy to make a financial go of a bakery. 

Joined: 11/20/2008

MGoPoints: 67706

Lordfoul

January 25th, 2013 at 10:47 PM ^

I think her contract says different.  Hell, just her base salary is ~ 4 times what I was making as a chemist, and I wasn't getting paid all that bad.  Add on bonuses and she will be making more than I can currently imagine what to do with.

I will definately work on getting a life though.  A sweet, sweet life.

Joined: 07/01/2008

MGoPoints: 1747

Lampuki22

January 26th, 2013 at 12:47 AM ^

and if you have a father in law, he does not respect you and he tells the family what a loser you are. like i said i have a brother in law like you. coincidentally he lives in your beck of the woods.

my dad, who was considerably more wealthy than my Dr-Sister and her douchesband, had me put in his undisclosed will if the freeloader didn't get a job, no inheritance just to screw him.

cant wait to see the look on their faces when that plays out.



Joined: 09/16/2009

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Lordfoul

January 26th, 2013 at 9:58 AM ^

I have been married for 12 years after dating my wife for the last 3.5 years at UM.  We worked in the same field after graduating for 5 years before she decided to do Med School and that decision was not made lightly; we were doing just fine.  I have had a great relationship with my in-laws and have their utmost respect.  My father-in-law is giddy with excitement at the idea of working with me on developing our property as a matter of fact.

I feel bad for your family.  If your sister is happy with her choice in a mate then the problem lies with the rest of you I would say.  If she is unhappy then support her in getting rid of the guy, but support her either way.

Joined: 07/01/2008

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gopoohgo

January 26th, 2013 at 10:27 AM ^

It all depends on perspective.

I'm in a 10+ doctor group, my wife is a Kaiser primary care doc.

Do we make as much as a partner in a major law firm, or a partner at Goldman Sachs?  Nope, and few doctors ever will.

However, we make significantly more than the median household income in the US.   Each.

So it's all about what you expect.

Joined: 09/12/2011

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JohnnyBlue

January 25th, 2013 at 10:46 PM ^

so you became a House Husband because your women is the bread winner?...sorry couldn't resist...

in other news..my wife just got a promotion and now makes almost the same money as me...

Joined: 01/18/2011

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