Well, once I did my last gig on 31 Jan 16, retired, and sold all of my equipment, I turned the DJ switch off. After 23 years of lugging equipment, it took a toll on me mentally, physically, and physiologically. There were only a few brief moments where I considered coming out of retirement, buying all new equipment, and starting all over...but I know physically I just can't do it anymore.
Since I retired, I've had a Nissen Fundoplication for a severe sliding hiatial hernia. Surgery on my left and right foot for Mortons Neuroma and hammer toes, which brought to a total of eight surgeries on my feet since 1987. Total reconstructive surgery on my nose where a silicone implant was inserted because a severe staph infection from a previous rhinoseptoplasty completely devoured cartilage in my nose. Also a minor revision to remove bone fragments that worked its way to the outer portion of my nose near my eyes. Cervical Spine surgery to fuse C4-C5 together after the disc completely collapsed, causing severe pain, tingling, and numbness in both arms. Carpal Tunnel Release in my right hand which was caused by the nerves in my neck being pinched together. And I just had my right shoulder repaired for a completely torn rotator cuff tear and also a bicep muscle tear. The orthopedic surgeon began with doing the surgery orthoscopically, but when he inserted the camera, he discovered way more damage than the MRI showed, so he had to do an open repair, so I have a 4" incision on top of my right shoulder joint, another 4" incision in my upper arm near the bicep, plus two smaller incisions of 1" in the front and back of the shoulder. The tear in my shoulder and bicep was so bad, that I needed four anchor screws inserted into my upper arm to use as anchors for sewing the tendons down. Recovery is extremely painful. I had the surgery on 29 May 18. I'm in an immobilizer sling for four more weeks. I go to PT three times a week. I can only use my left arm and use my right hand and forearm to the elbow sparingly. No amount of Norco worked, so now I'm on 10/325 Percocet and Gabapentin. The Gabapentin is for the sharp, shooting pains radiating from the back of my cervical spine, down both arms, and into my hands.
I'll be the first to admit that I've had dreams where I would be going to set up for a wedding, and something would happen along the way, plus some other dreams.
Mentally, I'm not as stressed out as I used to be and don't experience "burn out" anymore. Physiologically, I'm eating healthy, home cooked meals, and not any fast food in the wee hours of the morning. I lost nearly 30 lbs by eating less fatty and salty foods. The result also shows that my cholesterol has dropped to 160 from 330, my BP is normal, and I've been able to maintain my Type II Diabetes and keep my levels between 102-110.
It's completely over for me as a Mobile DJ.