I don’t know that I ever really planed to stop working, not in the traditional sense anyway. Perhaps I am in a different position than most right now in that I really like my job other than the occasional travel shenanigans. I am good friends with many of my coworkers, I make good money, I enjoy my work and my boss kicks ass. So I don’t sit around counting down to the date of my freedom like I did when I was ETSing from the Army. This doesn’t mean I don’t have a dream, I do, but it doesn’t burn inside me with a white hot intensity.
My dream will not surprise anyone who knows me or anyone who has taken 2 seconds to read the URL of my website. It is a good want nonetheless; I want to own/run a hockey rink.
Yes, yes I know what you’re saying; “You know that doesn’t mean you get to close it and have it all to yourself.” Yes, I know and furthermore shut up, it’s my rink Ill close it if I want to.
No, I know it’s a business and one that exists on a pretty thin margin these days. Every time I go up to my local rink I see promotions and tricks that they are trying to get bodies in the door and money out of wallets. My main rink has actually shut down one of their surfaces and transitioned it over to an indoor soccer/ lacrosse rink/surface/ thingy. Initially I was full of indignant middle aged hockey player rage but every time I was up there that place was full of mildly effeminate rugged soccer players running around. They have to be making money hand over fist on that thing.
But here is the main thing, I love rinks. Seriously. I love the way they smell, the way their floors are rubberized the way most of them are in some state of disrepair. In an age of sterile buildings these structures ring true to me. They speak of early morning practices and late night pickup games. There are ghosts of championships won and relationships that were launched during couples skate one Friday night. I have never been in a local rink that did not reek of “character”.
I would love for that to be my office; I would love to help something that is a niche market at best to survive. Being able to bring my son to his families rink would be a big plus as well.
Financially I know that most are a money trap and that there can be long hours involved, but hey, HEY! This is my dream and I’ll continue to focus on the good stuff.
In the end I know it’s a long shot. There are only 2 buildings around where I live and I don’t have anywhere near the money I would need to even buy the pro shop in either of them. But I will continue to dream, when I am stuck in an airport with flights stacked up through the roof, of “Puck Eater Palace” and the iced fun therein.
Flickr Photostream
I have to admit that every time I step into an ice rink I think of you. It’s happening weekly now that Tink is taking skating lessons. She came home from a free skate session today and her hair smelled like ice rink air.
I’d love to see the Puck Eater Palace and you, standing behind the counter, wearing a t-shrt that says “I’m the Puck Eater.”
I used to feel that way about a bowling alley! But now I understand through and through that running a business is something that would never make me happy. I’m not saying that would happen to you, I just know it for me.