Simple Works

I met a guy at the office today. He reminded me of me. Except he had a bigger family and a lot more money. He spent a career at GE (the manufacturing side) and walked out at a very young age a decade ago. Since that time he started up a handyman business while his wife continued her parttime teaching gig. She’s the CEO of his operation and he’s the one employee~~he says most weeks she tosses him a small salary as walking around money. 

Every summer for the last several years the family has taken 5-6 week camping trips around the country out of the home-base in South Carolina. With this year’s trip the kids have now hit all 48 (+DC) lower states. He’s unsure if the camper will make it to Alaska and certain it won’t make it to Hawaii. The couple look younger than they are (estimates based on kids ages plus other conversation) and a happier guy I’m unsure I’ve met. Well, except for the guy I met yesterday from North Carolina who was about to marry off two kids~~ happy because they’re finally gone, not because of the big check he has to write for one of them~~. 

Phil reminded me of me in that he’s doing what he wants by making a couple smart decisions, taking a couple chances and being happy by being simple. So far this has been the best (of a number of good) month of our time in the Mid-Atlantic. A dog client, some out of town guests, a couple new touristy-things, a fair number of bike/run miles, a great (if sometimes harrowing) bike-commute to work, a bunch of stories out of my volunteer work and an upcoming actual real-live mini-vacation. Yea! 

Oh, and Samantha never fails to inappropriately jump in the Crystal City Water Park every time we go by–like at dusk this evening. Simple works.