| What began as a hobby, has become a full-time | | | | at a busy community-based mental health facility. |
| obsession. I refuse to refer to drawing as a "job", that | | | | There are no more staff meetings, schedules or |
| would defeat the original purpose of what I do. | | | | mountains of paperwork to deal with. I now spend my |
| It started as a search for some part-time way of | | | | days at home in my studio, listening to vintage rock'n |
| augmenting Social Security. I needed enough additional | | | | roll music and creating caricatures from photos people |
| income to keep the wolves away and facilitate my | | | | send me. |
| being able to focus exclusively on art; the fulfillment of | | | | I'm not getting rich, but I am comfortable and, more |
| a life-long dream. | | | | importantly, much more at ease with myself and the |
| For the past three years, I have been making the | | | | world. I have succeeded in making retirement a truly |
| transition from my previous life as a mental health | | | | "golden" experience that has rejuvenated my spirit and |
| counselor to that of a semi-retired caricature artist. It | | | | replenished my hope for the future. |
| has been one heck of a trip, but well worth the time | | | | I strongly encourage anyone who is contemplating |
| and effort. | | | | what to do with themselves in their later years, those |
| I feel very comfortable saying to one and all that I | | | | who do not necessarily see themselves fishing or |
| have now made it to where I had always wished and | | | | playing golf until they're planted, to consider a similar |
| hoped I could someday be. My list of art clients number | | | | course. Turn your hobby or latent passion into the |
| in the many hundreds and include orders from not only | | | | means to a happier, more productive retirement. |
| nearly every State in the Union, but also from a dozen | | | | For me, it was art and caricature drawing. Whatever it |
| foreign countries as well. I have divested myself of the | | | | is you've always wished you could do, remember: If |
| stressful routine of being a full-time counselor, working | | | | not now, when? |