Retirement has left Mission resident Morgan Stone with a lot of time on his hands.
The 71-year-old retired four years ago after a long career featuring a wide assortment of jobs.
Previous gigs included installing gas and wood fireplaces, driving taxis, working the sales counter at an industrial supply store, catching chickens, and farm work. He also worked in construction, sawmills, care homes, as a guard in prison, cafes, and more.
“I never intended to be at a job for the gold watch. I have a very low tolerance for boredom so if I get bored, I'm on to something else,” Stone said.
The range of jobs has provided Stone with the ability to deal with people. He says he can be comfortable in situations that others may not and won’t forget the experiences he’s gleaned from all the jobs.
“Some of it was rewarding and some of it was just tolerable until I finally had enough and just moved on,” Stone said.
He now battles the boredom by offering his time to various community organizations. He volunteers for the Mission Crime Prevention Office (CPO), food centre, hospice and previously the Boswyck Seniors Centre.
Stone says volunteering at the hospice ward has been the most rewarding of the volunteer experiences. It reminds him most of working as an orderly in a Prince Edward Island care home.
Meanwhile, he has been volunteering with the CPO for more than a year now.
“It seemed like an important part of the community in supporting the local businesses and the residents … just keeping [RCMP] informed of what's happening that they don't hear about,” Stone said.
Stone says it’s important for anyone who can offer their time to local community organizations to do so.
“It's not only beneficial to the community. Idle time is not beneficial to people themselves,” he said.
Stone first lived in Mission in the ‘90s before moving back in 2011. He’s now lived in Welton Towers for over a decade.
He spends his spare time walking, shopping for his kitchen, and cooking. He also likes to keep organized.
“Everything in my life is organized. Everything. That's the way it is. I do all my own cooking, I eat healthy - no alcohol,” he said.
However, Stone was recently diagnosed with coronary artery disease and has been working to make sure he’s prepared if things take a turn for the worse. The news hasn’t changed his outlook.
“It's just the way it is. You live until you die … I've had a long life. Some of it is regrettable, but a lot of it was adventurous, fun, good times,” he said.