Once you start feeling you would rather be doing something other than what you ARE doing, it is time for a change ...
I worked for the same company for 40 years ... had a good job, a great staff, and a good boss who left me alone most of the time, but was there when I needed him ... when I started feeling bored with the job, I knew it was time to retire ... don't know when (if?) I'll ever retire from gigging, but no doubt that will happen at some time ...
Best of luck in your decisions, Gary ...

Most people that think so called "retirement" will ease their lifestyle quickly find out that they will be much busier then they ever were when they weren't so called "retired".
We only get one life and it goes very fast,............
Live EVERY Day as if it were your last

And, sooner or later you'll be right!

Great post, Brian...lots of wisdom in those words.

Ian

I put off doing what I really wanted to do for many years. Now I think I'll just do it! I am going to be a Viking. First I have to sharpen my skills at looting and pillaging.
Who wants to be in my crew?
As always I am totally serious about this. Don't laugh.

Tough choices Gary.

I'm 65..retired from my day job 10 years ago. We live in a rural area and we're lucky to get 2 to 4 gigs a month. I could get more gigs if I wanted to travel...which is expensive.

Even at 65 years young, I still struggle a bit with hauling keyboards, amps and you name it. A few years back, a 40lb. speaker was nothing...now, I've got to think about whether or not to bring something bigger along.

I'm still hauling the Tyros 4 because it can do so much more than our S950. But there is a weight difference.

You mentioned doing a number of gigs a week. Any thoughts of just cutting back?

One other thing....

This morning I had breakfast with a bunch of friends in a town that I grew up in.

We had a band back in the 60's. We all returned to the area when we retired and started doing music again. My 60's band mates include an M.D., an investment banker, a guy who has run city governments and you name it.

Thing is, it's music that keeps us linked...not the jobs we had when...

Do you really ever get the music out of your blood?

And Gary, if you retire, will you really retire?

my answer to both questions is "I don't think so" ... when I moved to Rhode Island and left the band we had in New York for 26 years I was devastated ... I did not play a gig for 7 years ... but I started again and I am still doing it ... once music is part of your life I think it remains part of your life for ever ...