I’m coming to the end of my short unretirement. For several months now I’ve had the equivalent of a full-time job, including two board positions, one interim executive gig, and a part-time project manager position in a cool quantum-tech company.

Given that I was spending all my time at home in front of a computer anyway, taking on this work made some sense. I could spend my time usefully (no online poker or day drinking) and put away some money for re-retirement and travel. And that’s pretty much how it has turned out. Plus I got to learn a lot about quantum computing from a pioneer in the technology and contribute a little to their company’s success.

But they’ve now hired my full-time replacement, so next week I’ll start a month of transition and winding down. (I take some satisfaction in knowing that they’re replacing my part-time effort with a full-time person. One thing that experience does for you is that you learn how to be very productive.) The timing is good and I’m ready to move on. I’m ready to take another shot at finishing my novel and starting another.

I plan to continue to help the two Board-position companies as long as I can, or as long as they need me. That will give me enough time to travel, write, get better at photography, play a little golf and spend more time with the grandkids. In the post-COVID world, that sounds perfect.