On 31st March 2019, at a (mere) age of 58, I decided to officially quit formal work.
What followed next, was travelling and writing with a vengeance.
In just the last 10 months, I managed to generously cover the countries of Australia, Fiji, Thailand, Lebanon, Jordan, as well as Indian destinations like Nagaland, Delhi, Shekhawati (Rajasthan) and Lucknow. And simultaneously, I’ve managed to get some of my articles featured on India’s leading travel magazines!
Okay, let me back up for a bit and give you some background!
For the longest time, to me, the age of 50 years marked a point of no return for a human. He was a goner, poor chap! Grey hair, a stoop, thick eyeglasses, trembling hands. Just enough energy to plonk himself on the couch in front of the television all day. But as fate would have it, the dreaded day of me hitting that half-century finally did arrive!
I looked myself in the mirror that day and did a reality check.
Grey hair? yes.
Stoop? well barely.
Glasses? yes, but not the thick soda bottle types.
Hands? no sign of tremble.
TV? never, that’s one thing I never indulged in.
This reassured me that such an ‘ancient 50-year-old man’ could go on working for some more years!
I was working in Hong Kong at the time and decided to return to India and travel all over the country with my wife. This was followed by a trip, that made me wander into the enchanted land of Kenya and soon enough I got involved with a wildlife safari camp in Maasai Mara. I was based in Bangalore but was involved with selling safari packages to Indians. This went on for over 3 years until it got monotonous and boring. This safari thing was not letting me travel as much as I wanted to.
So, I did a second reality check.
Was I pursuing my passion? no.
Was I doing what I love? no.
And just like that, one day not too far from this revelation day, I decided to end my 30-odd-year career innings!
My friends (especially those I meet after a few years) ask me, “What do you do these days?” “Retired”, I say. “Oh, then how do you pass time?” I tell them, “I travel, return, write on my previous travel, and plan my next travel”. I can sense a look of confusion on their faces!
My sons, both in their 20’s and studying abroad, would have had the same view which I harboured about 50-year-old people. And they are quite astonished at my travel madness. The younger fellow joked one day over dinner, “Papa, you are quite drifty for a man of fifty”.