Like Cincinatus, I’ve gone from soldiering to farming. Despite my educational level, my extremely poor social skills mandated that I find a career where informal socializing played little or no part. As an army officer, all interactions are governed by rules and regulations that can be memorized. I saw a great deal of the world (mostly the ugly and violent parts).
Approaching mandatory retirement, I returned to my farm, which has been in my family since 1783. As a farmer I have the luxury of choosing whether or not to socialize with others, it not being necessary to the occupation. I generally choose not to. I’m glad to help out my neighbors and community, but prefer to do it without social contact..
My plan of life was completely turned on its head last year. My life is now solitary and I prefrer it to remain that way. Fortunately I do not have to play social games with others to earn my daily bread. As long as the farm comes close to breaking even, I can afford to turn my back on the world.
I’m tinkering with completing my doctorate in history, but it is yet to seen whether this is just a dillitantish fantasy. The nature of academia has changed so much in the last 30 years. My obsolete research methods, lack of computer skills and aversion to working collaboratively may kill this project before it’s properly started.
Even the farm may degenerate into an old fart tinkering with wind turbines, solar panels and biodiesel, as even the minimal social interaction of directing farm labor is painfully irritating to me. If robotics were sufficiently developed to replace people on the farm, I’d be quite content. If my irritation at being around people gets worse, I’ll likely shut down the farm as a commercial venture and simply use the property as a hermitage, 650 acres can assure quite a bit of privacy.