Life Lessons from a 97-Year-Old Lobsterman (2019)

As one might fear, Olson died shortly after the article was written, still age 97: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.penbaypilot.com&#x2F;article&#x2F;john-w-olson-obituary&#x2F;127469" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.penbaypilot.com&#x2F;article&#x2F;john-w-olson-obituary&#x2F;12...</a>

I am running two software companies. Extremely busy and got to deal with lots of negativities (unhappy people, firing, project delays etc). Yet the financials are better than ever. Sometimes I wish I just had a simpler life. Being a woodmaker or a electrician. I sometimes despise the life of ambitious posh people. Hate the world of VCs, diners and rich fake parties. Taking a step back is hard. Lots of pressure from the outside.

I went from manual to office to manual back to office.<p>At 18 entered college to do computer programming, dropped out and at 19 joined Air Force to be an aircraft mechanic. After 4 years back to college as an aerospace engineer student. Graduated and then started the job jumping for 6 years because the jobs were boring. At age 35 I became a firefighter - paramedic (did PM classes at night - the fire department trained me to be a FF). About 4 years in to this career I saw a lot of people get injured, mainly with back injuries from repetitive, awkward positions so I decided to get a Master&#x27;s in Computer Science online from DePaul University. It took me 5 years to complete. I started working part-time remote as a programmer.<p>When Covid hit I decided that it was time to go and I found a full-time, remote programming job making good money. I thoroughly enjoy it. I still think FF-PM is the best job ever but with serious chronic health issues I couldn&#x27;t risk getting sick. Also a constant sleep schedule is AWESOME!<p>I spent 14 years as FF-PM. I am now 50 yo. I don&#x27;t ever plan on retiring because I enjoy working and don&#x27;t really have any hobbies beyond reading and programming. I do worry about being able to get a job when I&#x27;m older, but I&#x27;ll find something to do.

My father turned 80 recently and he still works five days a week. That wouldn’t be ideal for everyone, but he enjoys his job and he’s remained sharp and capable.<p>That milestone really highlighted for me Silicon Valley’s weird relationship with age. It’s absurd to imagine 80 year old engineers working here. We’ll vote for a 78 year old to run the country, but won’t trust them to write code. Heck, it’s a bit shocking to see someone over 50 in my office. As someone who got into software engineering late in life, that’s worrying, and I suppose it’s time to start preparing for my third act.

The software industry messed me up big time. Often, I wish I had chosen a simpler career. It must feel amazing to spend most of your time thinking only about real, simple tangible things.<p>I imagine that having a simple practical mind as an adult must feel like childhood but I will never know.

&gt;John maneuvers easily around a slippery deck, his only helper his son Sam, 72, who often comes along as his dad’s sternman.<p>It&#x27;s a funny sentence, when you hear about a son helping his father out in his fishing business I don&#x27;t think you often imagine someone who is already 70 himself.

Lot of commenters saying software has fucked them up. I wonder if it&#x27;s the extended period inside that the pandemic has necessitated, that&#x27;s triggering this angst. I am also feeling the same way, but I can&#x27;t help but feel that to some degree, the months of isolation (not just from friends and framily, from the outdoors even) have a big part to play.<p>The occupations where you are out and about carry a big risk: physical injury can put you out of work <i>and</i> cause debilitating pain for the rest of your life. Granted that it happens less will continue to trend down with improving oversight and safety standards, but it is still a risk. Perhaps we do not realise this or think clearly about it when we yearn for working with our hands&#x2F;work outdoors?

&gt;He doesn’t get mad. Or if he does, he keeps it to himself.<p>There is something to that.

Pretty good. Better than &quot;Life lessons from a 97-year-old Spiderman&quot;

I thought he was going to be mutated like a lobster...

Given the title, I was expecting advice from a human-arthropod hybrid who obtained longevity from genetic experimentation.<p>Unfortunately, not yet!