Sadly, some fathers are bigger charsiews than the sons they spawn....

Not so easy. Patients want HIS expertise, HIS hands, HIS experience.

Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt.

And there's something else that I'll say it for people of our profession - many of us, after a while, feel an obligation to keep plugging away, even after the financial objective has been long met and achieved. We feel obligated because patients, having a plethora of choices and options, chose to put their trust in us, and woe be it for us to let them down after they've given us that privilege of treating them. Sometimes, this irritates our loved ones, because they feel they can come second to our patients.

Lucky for me, wife had her own career, but since she's retired, I feel even more pressure to live up to my end of the bargain and allocate quality time for us, and not be immersed in patient care all the time.

It's my calling, but it wasn't hers.

That's because time will run out for everyone, prince or pauper alike.

Smart man

Wife and I have been spending a lot of time over the past year (since she hung up her calculator) talking about how we're gonna spend our post-career years.

For me, it's easy peasy. I've booked so many road trips Down Under with the Porsche Club that I'm probably gonna be elevated to club mascot soon.

For her, well, she doesn't mind going on those trips, but she hates sitting in the car (especially the 911, because the Sports suspension is rock hard) and she doesn't enjoy long drives with the twisties as I do....

So, we compromise. I go on those trips with her (because I want her to accompany me), and she makes me do gardening and plant those succulents and herbs of hers in my free time.

I swear to you, green thumb I have not, but it's what makes her happy, so I'm more than happy to fulfill that part of the bargain.

It's a happy equilibrium for now ...

Bro, never easy to find a balance. Hats off to you that you’ve achieved it

single or married isn’t the important issue. Your innate drive and personal motivations are.

3 to 4 more months, I will be unemployed. Priest suppork my mental health, thankqiu

I’ve actually short circuited the process by taking 2 months off work and spending it in Sydney (again). Spent the first 2 weeks tidying up the house and sweeping the leaves clear of the patio and courtyard and doing bits and bobs like getting my own magnetic door stoppers installed so I don’t need those rubber stoppers anymore… relaxing and therapeutic for me.

Well, it’s not all work and no play…. I’m taking the 911 out for a Porsche Club drive later in the week and catching up with like minded owners

What doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger. Also quote some somewhere.