I’m a retired guy, been that way for 5 years.  During my first years of retirement, I had lots to do in that I was training pretty hard (Marathons & Ironman races), traveling to far away places, writing a book, flying my plane and enjoying the outdoors.  Overall, my life was, what I’d consider, satisfyingly busy.

Fast forward 5 years.  Things slow down.  Book done.  Races over (at least moving ahead at a snail’s pace).  Traveling to far away places pretty much slack off (after Russia what could an encore be?).  I find that I am sitting around feeling sorry for myself.  The bi weekly table tennis outings and the Thursday walk up the street to a gas station for a lottery ticket just aren’t doing it.

I come to a stark reality:  I NEED something new to do.  I grimace as I contemplate one of the most feared & avoided words in my vocabulary: WORK!  After years, maybe even decades of daydreaming about retirement (I refer to it as “pursuing other interests”) and what great adventures it will bring I am faced with reality.  I take another hit off my brown bagged bottle of Boone’s and search through the part time help wanted section.  

I feel myself become squeamish and light headed as I scroll through the offerings. Menards, HyVee, Baxter Auto and on….When I think of “part-time” a glimmer of hope surfaces – then I think of “fixed schedule” and the candle goes out.  I whine to my wife.  She laughs.  I put on my shoes and walk up the street to the gas station for my second lottery ticket of the week. 

At Thanksgiving while chatting around the kitchen table, I sort of, under my breath, mention my too much time dilemma.  I really didn’t want to admit to it, after all, I am a great (but common) adventurer.  Almost instantly our daughters say, “Uber”.  A match was struck!

I had the Uber app on my phone and had used it for rides in the past.  When we go to CA, Joe always uses Uber (or lyft).  I studied over the possibility of becoming an Uber driver.  It seemed like a fit.  Schedule – totally flexible.  Interesting employment?  Just think: you’ll never know who will be climbing into your back (sometimes front) seat.  You think that you’ve experienced adventure???  Hear their stories.  Ha, I thought, Uber might just work for me.    

So……   I sent in my driver’s license info, proof of auto insurance and my information for a background check.  I took Mary’s car to an Uber inspection station (Tires Inc) which is close to our house.  At the inspection station I find a representative, there to answer any and all Uber questions.  I talked to the guy.  I liked him.  He tells me to come in when my back ground check is complete and he’ll walk me through the procedures and provide me with a simulated Uber driver experience.  He gives me an Uber sticker for my windshield.

A few days later I become an Uber driver with a smile of anticipation on my face.  My very first pick up was somewhat of a challenge.   I drove down Pacific Street my I-phone on the dash and the Uber app in full swing.  It suddenly blinks “rider available do you accept”.  I hit “yes” and the app directs me to pick up John near the Administrative Building at UNO.  I get butterflies, as I follow the Uber directions to the pick up site.   Once there John piles into the front seat.  I ask John where he is going as I try to get the Uber app to function.  Something is wrong, I cannot get the Uber app to reset to John’s destination.  No big deal, John tells me that he is going to the bike shop on Farnam Street.  As we drive to the bike shop, John and I talk bikes.  I never do get my Uber app to work right, it continues to tell me to pick up John at the UNO Admin Bldg.  After I let John off (bike shop),  I return to the Tires Inc store and speak with the Uber guy.  I had made a slight error in that I pushed on the “trip destination” icon instead of sliding it.  Armed with the new information I returned to the road seeking riders.

25 riders later I am becoming confident in my Uber skill level.  All riders have been interesting and I have had a spectrum of stories come from the back seat.  Uber is great.  However, I felt that I was not a bona fide Uber driver because I hadn’t experienced the Bar Close Crowd on a Friday or Saturday night ,,,yet. 

TO BE CONTINUED