HawaiiYou wrote:
Well it's a long story.
I was a regular guy for many years like many of you. Took over the family business in my 20s and did quite well. Then I met my now ex wife and I was taken for a 20 some year old ride.
I won't mention the business name as some of the old timers here would be very familiar with it. I turned it around and made it very successful which landed the business in a few issues of Crains. You can say I was somewhat the golden boy at that time in this field and if you were involved in this particular business field, you would know who I was. Not a big celeb or anything like that, but some notoriety. But also unbeknownst to me at the time, a big target on my back.
My now ex wife was from San Francisco and part of the socialite scene. Her family was very prestigious and did the whole opera , tuxedo dinner thing. Me? I'm the kind of guy who's happy to eat a hot dog for dinner. So when I met her, I was dumbfounded. Like wow, what does this girl want to do with a guy like me? I guess it was an ego boost too. Getting this hot woman interested in a regular mope like me. You ever read those fairy tales where the witch puts a spell on the prince? That's exactly how I would describe it. LIttle did I know then it was all a setup.
So she convinced me to expand the company and move out to the bay area with her. It made no business sense but I was under her spell. Lived in the bay area for 20+ years , raised kids, etc.. etc... but during this time, she was adamant to change me to conform her her higher lifestyle. No more interest in sports, no more hobbies, no more eating regular food. I just kept going along. At the end, my life was all controlled by her - but at the time i did not comprehend it. Her family slowly took over the company and I was pretty much left with nothing. They sold it some years later but I did not see one dime. And again, no clue from me what was going on. I was still under her spell.
Then one day one one of her socialite friends wife's busted him for cheating on her. The wife hired a PI to tail the guy around. Guess who he was fucking with, ya my now ex wife. Not just that, she was banging like 2 other guys in the span of 10/11 years I learned. I confronted her and she admitted everything and more and then laughed in my face like what I was going to do about it? She was right. by then she sucked any 'man' I had out of me. I was completely defeated and emotionally and financially dependent on her and her fmaily. FUCKING FINALLY then I woke up and realized I was played for a fool.
During our time together we had bought a property in Hawaii. Nothing too fancy but good enough to vacation with the kids when they were off school. During the divorce proceedings, she got everything but the property in Hawaii. So that's how I ended up here. But at that time i was pretty much done with people. My kids were grown and going to college and I really didn't want to stay in the bay area. I pretty much began my life as a hermit right then. I would not talk to anyone and not even say a word some days. I had no need for any friends or companionship. And to my surprise, i LOVED IT! I stayed like this maybe for 4-5 years. Only people who knew I was alive were my kids who I talked to from time to time. They were concerned about me , they could not understand why I wouldn't want to socialize with anyone. but it was prefect. Some years later, I was running short on $$ so I sold the property and moved into a small shanty 1 bd apt on the big island. It was perfect for what I needed and the money from the sale would support me for a few more years. I needed to find something to do so I worked as a taxi driver for many years and eventually saved enough to buy a used limo and started my own limo business.
Usually during my limo business I was pretty quiet and did not bother talking to the customers unless they wanted to talk. But even if they started to talk, they would sense my demeanor as someone not really wanting to conversation. If they had questions about sites and attractions on the island I would talk, but that would be it, just business. Then something happened.
I picked up this old timer and my limo broke down. Radiator blew out and I was hosed. But this old man was very cool about it. I got him a ride but he insisted i come along to his hotel. I was like fine, at least this guy didnt want to kill me for screwing up his ride. We chatted and he asked me where I was from. I told him Chicago. He's like no shit, I'm from chicago too! what part! and so it went on. It was probably the first person I had an adult conversation with in like 17-18 years. I couldn't believe I was talking so much. He took me out of my shell just shooting the breeze. We talked about the Cubs, hawks, bears, sox, bulls, all the old players, all the old bars and restaurants, etc...
So then I started to connect to the internet slowly and the outside world. I found the old score670 forums and it was great. It was just guys talking about sports. and shitting and cracking jokes along the way. sort of like what we use to back in the neighborhood. It was very therapeutic at the time. So i started to post on these old forums then.
Then I took some years off these forums just checking in from time to time. Then when the Cubs made their run last year I was sort of addicted as this was the only outlet to talk Cubs for me. Then I continued on since then as this is the only place I converse with anyone about anything.
I still live a sedentary life and am very happy with it. I have ZERO FRIENDS and I am fine with that. I help out with some tourism jobs here and there but nothing where you have to really converse with people. I go back to the bay area about half the year to spend time with my kids but other than that, I'm pretty much happy with my life as a hermit. I find peace in it. And the only social experience I have is on this forum.
Whew.......that was one long write up.
So there you have it.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away." Frank Coztansa wrote:
I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.