I find retirement to be a classic double edged sword, parts of it are
wonderful, parts rather dreadful. The dreadful parts all have a common
theme ... boredom. Hobbies that I could never find enough time to pursue
back when I was working long hours have failed to fill up nearly as much
time as I would have guessed and projects around the house have never been
something I've done with pleasure.

Along with the stardard suggestions about financial preparation, I'd
strongly suggest planning for plenty to do as part of retirement. This
will certainly take more than I expected until I got there.


To add to my own list of "things to do" I've decided to lay out a book of
photos and thoughts using inDesign. I doubt it will ever make it to
printing but if it does I'm thinking any small proceeds would go to some
conservation organizations I know to be doing good work.

I've done some research and most "self publishing" is a scam,
true 'vanity publishing' But, if one does all the layout oneself, gets
your own ISBN, and contracts your own printing from a .pdf, copies can be
produced for a sum that allows for some 'profit' if you can peddle a few.

ANYway, I have some formal training in design, made my living a couple years
via photography and have worked in print shops ( all these things many, many
years ago ) so I think I can get a reasonable product produced
..... but
... each year as I travel alone I'm vividly aware of how hard it is to
produce interesting photos of flies ( real and arty-fishal ), and fish.
Most shots I see seem to define cliche, my own especially.

Got any links to what you think are exceptional photos of fish or flies?
I'd love to see them to get ideas ... and I'd bet that most here would enjoy
the break from more normal ROFFian faire.


Oh, and another thing. In YOUR opinion, how much "guy waving a stick" and
" guy with big fish" and "guy looking into fly box" type shots does a book
about fly fishing need to have? MY pleasures I associate with fly
fishing are mostly tangents to fishing .... i.e. ..... the fact that trout
live in some wonderful places, but I DO perceive this as a "fly fishing"
project and wonder if my taste will be too "tangential" for other anglers