Originally Posted By: Pat Marr
This is a question worth asking. Without a purpose we're just running on a gerbil wheel.<...>


Indeed. It's part of the reason why I won't retire. The other part is that playing music to an audience is my second favorite thing to do (can't tell you what's first on a family forum wink )

Living in Florida and playing for the retirement audience for 30 years now, I've seen too many people die of "retirement disease". Golf and fishing are OK for a year or so, but for all by the most avid enthusiasts, it gets old quickly and they end up sitting in front of the TV until they are literally bored to death.

Fortunately, I have something I am passionate about that I can do during 'retirement' and still have a purpose in life.

However, now that I'm old enough to be retired, I don't take non-pleasant gigs anymore. If someone asks, I quote a high price, if they bite, it's worth the money, but most times they don't. I think it's kinder than telling them that I don't enjoy playing for them.

We had a great gig yesterday. We've been playing there 9 years now and the audience is like our extended family. We mourn with them when they have problems, and rejoice with them when they have successes. We have running gags, and when they sing along, they are our choir.

Life is good.

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