We were Geophysicists and Geologists – looking for Oil and Gas and we found it…a lot if it.  As the supply expanded, the price dropped and the need to look for more reserves disappeared, along with my career of 35 years.  Any residual market for oil exploration was destroyed by the arbitrary banning of America’s energy resources by a prosperity-hostile President, who is now, thankfully, term-limited out.

I was not ready, mentally, emotionally or financially, to retire.  I searched for jobs for the better part of a year and came to the following conclusions:

I won’t find a job as a Geophysicist.  Decades of experience will not help find employment for me.  I am over forty 😉 and  – despite Equal  Employment disclaimers  – I will not find a professional position as a contractor or employee.

–Update:  That has been confirmed over the three years after.  If you are over 40 😉 …they won’t talk to you.  If you get on without revealing your age, they will eliminate you when they find out.

There was one possibility.  I was offered training to become an over-the-road truck driver.  It will be hard.  It will take me away from home for months at a time.  I will live in a sleeper berth of a truck cab and eat truck stop food.   I will tell you right now – it does not pay much.

Why do this?   Because I have to do something and trucking was willing to ignore my age…for a while.

After that, there were some temporary gigs and I am looking again.  I must find an independent business of my own – because I won’t fire me for being old, like they will.

And still, when I ask myself, “What do you think you’re doing?”  I can only come up with one answer:  Going Walkabout.