Here I am, it is late afternoon and I’m sitting in the backyard with Paula, my bride of 53 years. We are sipping wine and enjoying the end of the day. This is a regular experience for us now. We chat and relax around what I like to call the “eternal flame,” a small table with a propane tank below giving us sort of a campfire effect. The yard has a magnificent flower garden as well as two antennas, a vertical and a small three-element beam on a 40-foot tower (Photo A). Times like this cause me to reflect on my radio hobby. I credit my youthful interest in technology as a gateway to my life in engineering education. So here’s my story about my Radio Renaissance.
Life Events…
Five years ago, I experienced one of those “life-changing events”. After 46 years of working for the same organization, the management changed, and it wished to move in another direction. After further review and discussion, I came to the realization that the other direction did not include me. So I pulled the switch on that part of my life and moved into retirement mode.
If only …? Only if I would have …? and What if ….?
Well, thinking back to that time, I can honestly say that it was not the most productive period of my life. Sure, I had plenty of free time on my hands, but it seemed that I was spending way too much time asking myself questions beginning with the words “What if I did something different, perhaps…” or “If only …?”. The pulling of the retirement switch didn’t come easily. After all, before this happened, I really was not considering retirement. I had no thoughts about what should come next.
I sadly spent way too much time trying to figure out how I got into this situation and not thinking about moving forward and getting on with life. Fortunately, I am blessed with friends and a wonderful family who have grown to tolerate me quite well. To quote my darling wife, “Well, at least you’ll be able to have more fun with your ham stuff,
