After reviewing my Goals in life, I realize that they are not going to be very difficult to attain.  Most of my goals will come to fruition just by me remaining alive for a few more years.  I only have five more years until I reach my retirement goal.  I will then have four or five years use my post 9-1-1 GI bill education benefits to complete a college degree. 

Five years.  This might seem to be a long time to some people.  Time for me has been going by faster as I get older.  It seems like i rarely have any time to get anything meaningful accomplished.  My job keeps me tired most of the time, since I am on the night shift, but it also makes the weeks and months evaporate quickly. 

College Degree.  Once again, this goal will be accomplished in it's time.  Of course, I will have to apply myself to complete the course work.  Current VA rules require that students be enrolled in full time classroom courses.  I'm not sure how many classes i'll need to take during each quarter/semester ect.  I am sure that it will be more than a few, since I will only have 3 years to finish.  I do have some education credits that will take a small bite out of the many that I will need though. 

Small Business.  The more I evaluate this dream the less desirable it becomes.  There are many obstacles to overcome, and not much benefit.  I fear that my hobby that I enjoy will be impacted if I am required to work at it too much.  For instance;  I enjoy doing yard work.  Since there isnt "enough" (a facetious statement-as I have more than enough) work to accomplish in my yard, I have been working at the Fallbrook Oddfellows Cemetary.  The manager of the cemetary talks about hiring a landscaper to keep the weeds and grass cut down, even though I volunteer to do it.  I thought about letting him pay me, but then it becomes a JOB that I have to do, rather than a hobby that I enjoy doing.  I figure that once I get settled into "retirement" I will be able to spend more time on my old truck hobby.  I'm sure that I will meet other folks with similiar interests who need someone to help with a project.  I can use that interest to build a small business using the barter system. 

I enjoy reading and own a "few" books.  When I'm out and about and see a used book store, I almost always go inside for a look around.  I then leave with at least one addition to my library.  I've thought about renting a small shop where I can pursue my hobby of rodstorating old trucks (and cars for that matter).  I could have a used book store up front and maybe a Wi-Fi to draw in a few folks.  Of course, I'd have to attend numerous estate sales, yard sales and swap meets to have enough inventory to make it a worthwhile enterprise.  I might be able to convince folks that have a vintage vehicle to bring it over when they need a part installed.  I think this is all a pipe dream though, since I am sure that there are numerous environmental and bureaucratic roadblocks.