Going Independent...With A Twist


It has become traditional of late for folks leaving their day jobs to make a post to their blogs observing the transition. Here is mine.

As I'm sure you have observed, it has become traditional of late for folks leaving their day jobs to make a post to their blogs observing the transition. I have had the utmost respect for these folks - especially the ones with families. Paraphrasing the Macalope (speaking of John Gruber last summer), What's that sound? It's the sound of their large brass ones clanging together.

So, in announcing my own transition, I am humbled. You see, I have gone independent by retiring. I have savings; I have a pension; my wife has a good job which she is not leaving. So how is it that I can claim to be going independent?

It is for the most important reason. I am finally pursuing my long held dream to become a full time Mac developer. I have always had to squeeze my development into the chinks and cracks of a full life. Star Patrol, DP Autochanger and Daydreamer were all developed in spare time or on vacations.

Unlike the gentlemen I so admire, I was never gutsy enough to leave my position as the sole breadwinner with children to raise to become a full time developer.

But now my children are grown, through college, married and have jobs with benefits. Almost ten years ago, my wife acknowledged a twenty year old call to the ministry. Since then, she has completed 5 years of graduate school and is the minister of a church. And most importantly, I have reached the age of 55, allowing me to complete my 32 year career at an aerospace company with early retirement.

I restate my question. Aren't I just a retiree with a hobby? No. I am going independent. While it's great that my wife is bringing in a salary, it really isn't enough to replace my salary. I really don't want to touch my savings and the bulk of my pension until age 59.5.

And I really need to know. Can I make a go of it as an independent Mac developer given that I have something approaching full time to devote to it? From my coding productivity when I have taken vacation time to develop in the past, I believe I can. I must do this to find out.

Wish me luck!

Posted: Sat - February 3, 2007 at 10:46 AM          

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