Post retirement careers

[CBR_rider]

I know we have folks on here at various stages of their working lives (and some with side jobs); I am wondering if ya'll could help a brother out. It appears that my latest OJI's are now going to lead to a medical retirement. Besides processing all that; I'm having trouble figuring out what I am going to want to do for work. I guess the other big variable that is throwing me for a loop is this will probably be my opportunity to leave CA; however, some post LE career options that I think I have a shot at here are probably not as likely in the more rural locales I am looking at.

Only thing I have really pondered is maybe an armorer type job; but again I am concerned about not being the most experienced person available (I am not an armorer for my agency). I am open to burning through armorer's schools ahead of time on my own dime(I have been through some in the past); but I just don't know if any such jobs will exist anywhere outside of LEA (which usually hire their own retired it seems if they aren't currently sworn members) or private contractors which are often back east where I don't want to move.

Part of my problem is also I really don't feel like I should be qualified an "expert" in much of anything; I've had my sights on some really specialized training that due to work schedule and injuries I have not been able to attend over the past year and a half. I am no boot; but I haven't been working this career for 30 years yet either. Things such as a UOF "expert," DUI "expert", etc just feel wrong because there are so many other folks with so much more knowledge out there.

Many years ago I had to take some vocational tests or whatever they call them to finish my degree; the highest rated careers were: Ranger/game warden (or whatever they titled that particular subset of jobs), military, and law enforcement. I don't think I will be able to do any of those, so I'm kinda stuck I guess what I'm looking for is just ideas/job opportunities that other folks have come across that might hold my interest. I don't need to roll in the big bucks if I can land somewhere with reasonable housing costs; but I also don't want to work for pennies just because I don't broaden my horizons or put in work on the front end.

Any info/ideas you may have here or in a PM would be awesome.

[roostersgt]

Retired and stayed on as an annuitant 20 hours per week. Doesn't sound like you could do this. I also did a 4 month stint as a security chief for a public agency (special district). Paid really really well, $92K plus full PERS benefits, but had to quit due to my resistance to working 5 days per week again and starting off with only two weeks vacation. Too old for that. Went back to deputy annuitant work. There has to be some type of city / county work you could do, preferably something indoors?

[CaptMike]

If you have your bachelors and 10 years LEO experience, you can teach at the community college level. that's my plan when I pull the retirement trigger. especially with your trainer and expert certifications, you would be ahead of the game.

[Spanky8601]

Some of the nationwide trucking/freight outfits are on the look out for investigators (loss prevention) and safety stuff.

[TrailerparkTrash]

Man when I retire, I’m not working again. Isn’t that the idea? Winning.....
Look for me fishing in Alaska, the Sierras and Cascades.

[code_blue]

How about consulting or teaching to the private industry? You can work at your own pace. Background investigations? I know that fire folks retire and make really good dough as consultants.

Maybe apply for one of your favorite firearms related businesses. Weatherby moved to WY. Magpul is in TX. Heck, Holoson is hiring (see jobs forum).

[Big D]

I looked into being a home inspector as a retirement job. It seems to tick a lot of boxes I enjoy, work for yourself, be outdoors and in new locations all the time, real estate and construction without the heavy manual labor. If you're doing it to supplement retirement income the money should be pretty good, I think they usually charge around $500 to do an inspection and write a report for the potential home buyer. if you can get a few inspections a week you'd probably be set.

[wazafuzz]

I spent a year and a half after I retired just traveling and relaxing. Then I decided I wanted one more gig so I started applying for fed jobs. Because of my age I couldn't go sworn, but there's a ton of non-sworn positions out there that are still in the LE area. I ended up being an investigative assistant, good hours, great co-workers who valued my previous experience and a decent salary. Did that for 5 1/2 years and retired again. USAJOBS.gov. It helps if you have military, but it's not necessary~most of my co-workers didn't. Good luck!

[oddjob]

I did 4 years as a retired annuitant. Now I'm really retired and loving it. My wife and dogs are happy too. I doubt I'm going back to work.

One of the LEO's from the bay area went to work for Glock in Smyrna. With his retirment and pay from Glock he's living well.

[CBR_rider]

Thanks for the ideas; some I had pondered a little bit and other's hadn't really thought of.

I don't really want to work full time (who does?!?) but I NEED to find something "fulfilling" because I am to young to go out to pasture yet. I guess I am thankful I don't have to put up with all the crap that comes with this line of work at some point in the future but on the other hand I don't really have "it" out of my system yet. Maybe that is the real "problem" is with me: I crave that adrenaline rush still, the teamwork, and I crave that ability to at least sometimes make a difference in someone's life.. yet at the same time like I said I am kinda looking forward to being able to leave behind some of the corrosive parts of our job and look at life a hair differently.

I think ideally if I could find a part time gig that eithers pays big bucks (for the amount of time I would put in) or just really interests me I would like to then find something I could do with my injury maybe on a volunteer type basis.. Search and Rescue would be cool but that kinda circles back around to my injuries and I'm not sure certain I'd be able to do "enough" to make any kind of real contribution to such a team.

I have to make a run up to help family out with the aftermath of the Camp Fire; hopefully at night I can burn the midnight oil a bit and ponder some more of these ideas. Thanks again for every bit of advice/experience (even if it is to just consider "chilling out," LOL. Believe me; I've thought about moving overseas for a time..)

[johnthomas]

I retired 2 years ago. I refuse to get another job. I starting paying SS at age 15 and quit paying it at 63.

[mixicus]

If you are going to be medically retired, you'll get a large chunk of your current salary. So you can take a dream/altruistic job for a low wage and still maintain your current standard of living. Are you eligible for re-training or continuing education?

You have the opportunity to do almost anything you'd like. If that's an full time engineer or 10 hour/wk Red Cross employee...go for it. Shape your future.

[The War Wagon]

My son... have you considered the ministry?

[Spyder]

Man when I retire, I’m not working again. Isn’t that the idea? Winning.....
Look for me fishing in Alaska, the Sierras and Cascades.

This is pretty much my plan. I want to retire while young/healthy enough to still be able to do back country elk hunts. I dump 20% of my monthly in to my 457 along with the other stuff.

If you have your bachelors and 10 years LEO experience, you can teach at the community college level. that's my plan when I pull the retirement trigger. especially with your trainer and expert certifications, you would be ahead of the game.

I'll probably do something similar on a way less than half time basis. Teaching a couple of academy classes would be a fun side gig for extra cash. I already do it now, may as well make retirement slush money doing it later!

edited: Ha, and I realize that I just contradicted myself, but I don't consider getting paid to do things I enjoy as really working.

[oddjob]

OP,

Another item to think about is Social Security. Do you have enough quarters in? If not you may want to think about a job that pays into it and get more money in your later years.

If your job related injury forces you out I thought worker's comp would send you to a school of your choice. One of ours went to polygraph school (?) or voice stress analyzer training. He does contract work for agencies and private organizations.

PI work for the "dark side" is always there.