Why I Like Driving for Lyft and Uber
by John Lawrence, July 19, 2019
I'm still a functioning member of the economy at 78. I'm replenishing instead of depleting my savings account. That's basically it in a nutshell. As long as my eyes hold out, my back holds out and my brain holds out, I'll be able to keep doing it. But one accident, one bad situation with a rider, one sickness and my driving days will be over. At that point I'll be in the situation where I have to live off my fixed income and my fixed savings which will gradually diminish as years go by. I just hope they don't run out before my time on earth does.
Retirement is being redefined at least by me. I don't play golf. I have no desire to go on cruises. I traveled when I was in my fifties going to Europe five times for extended stays. I have no desire to travel any more. I pretty much like sticking to the same routine every day. I just hope I can get up tomorrow and do what I did today. Uber and Lyft driving don't interfere with my retirement lifestyle. Typically, I write for a couple hours in the morning when I first get up. Then I drive for 3 hours. Around noon I take a 4 hour break. I swim laps in the outside pool at the YMCA in Rancho San Diego where it is usually sunny and warm even if it's colder and cloudy in downtown San Diego. The air is fresh since it blows off of Mount Miguel. The drawback is that it is freezing when you get out of the pool, but I remind myself that this is the price you pay for fresh air.
Then I have my lunch and take a siesta. I live a Mediterranean lifestyle. Around 4 o'clock I go back on the road for 3 hours or so. I do this 5 days a week. My weekend is Monday and Tuesday during which I don't drive. I like to go to jazz concerts or have lunch with friends occasionally. I like to go to a movie or out to dinner with my sweetheart, Francesca, who took me to a nice restaurant last night for my birthday. It was right on the water with a beautiful view of downtown San Diego with the setting sun reflected therefrom. As the sun set the city lights came on.
All and all I'm grateful for my life. I say a little prayer every morning before I start driving to keep me and my vehicle safe and a prayer of gratitude when I come home. I don't know if anybody is listening but it feels good anyway. I go over a check list in my mind of things and situations I need to be concerned with and have to look out for when I start each day. Any time you're out on the freeways and streets there is always some risk. I try to minimize that by driving cautiously and defensively. I've learned some strategy about where to position myself to make the most money. The money has been very consistent depending on the time I put in. Certainly being a Lyft and Uber driver is a serendipitous thing that I never expected to come my way and work out so well. The best thing is that I'm never late for work.
