this post was submitted on 19 Nov 2023
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Asklemmy
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I love tinkering with computers. Building, fixing, upgrading... software, hardware, networking, it's all fun. I enjoy the troubleshooting process and the satisfaction that comes from solving a problem. I spent 20 years as an IT guy in the US Air Force and I enjoyed every minute of fixing computers while serving.
Now I'm recently retired and I could easily make 2-3x as much money working IT in the civilian sector, but... I just really enjoy doing it for fun. I don't want to go back into a corporate environment and be told how and when and what to fix or upgrade.
My wife and I are planning to build our "forever home" (the last home we ever plan to live in) and we're in the design phase right now. I can't wait to wire the place for modern computer systems. I'd like to build my own server suite in a cold basement room and then network the whole house so I can automate tasks anywhere in the house. Open all my curtains from an app on my phone, answer the door, play music in any room (or all rooms) through an intercom system, stream movies/TV shows/video games to any TV in the house, etc. I'm definitely building a giant theater room in my basement, at least big enough to hold a dozen people, maybe more.
I'm excited for the possibilities that wiring my own house present. I also want to make it upgradeable over time, in case better standards for technology come out. Maybe run all cables through PVC pipes in the walls, so I can easily push new cables through without having to tear apart the walls.
Yeah, I'm really enjoying retirement as a former IT guy. I could make more money going back to work, but then I'll have less time and freedom to engage in my hobbies. What's the point in having more money if you don't have the time to enjoy it? So I'm living off my govt pension now, which is more than adequate for me to live comfortably, and I'm just enjoying retired life.
Let's get that 2PB of storage, 10 Gbit connectivity and lots and lots of VMs going! The selfhosted community will absolutely love you when you post your setup
I like IT as well but on that front I want to start a small hobby shop because there is nothing where I live besides dollar stores and phone shops, which sell cheap low quality material.
Wow, it sounds like you're living the dream, which also happens to be my dream. I await the day when I'm retired and can wire up and get some servers in the basement which I can use to play around and self host, do whatever I want whenever I want with no boss or deadlines pushing me to do things in a different way.