Life After Retirement: Charting a New Course

By Scott Nickell - fotogypsy

For 23 years, the U.S. Navy was my world. From my early days as an Operations Specialist to my final tour as a Lieutenant Commander, my career was defined by challenges, adventure, and an unrelenting drive to adapt, lead, and learn. But as every sailor knows, the sea is never still. On May 1, 2003, I retired from active duty—only to embark on another two decades of service as a Department of the Navy civil servant, rising from Training Specialist to Branch Manager before finally retiring in May 2023.

For 43 years, I was all in—building, networking, solving problems, and developing people. Then, just like that, I closed the book on my military and civil service careers.

And that’s when the real adventures began.

A Summer That Changed Everything

If I had to trace it all back to one moment—one turning point—how I got to - "right here, right now" - it would be the summer of 2001.

I was at a crossroads, navigating personal change, when I made an impulse decision that would alter my path forever: I bought a ticket to Red Rocks Amphitheater for Blues Traveler’s Fourth of July show, packed my cameras, a cooler and camping gear, my dog, Levi, and headed for the mountains.

I’d first heardBlues Traveler years before in the clubs of New York City while stationed on USS NORMANDY. But standing under the open Colorado sky, surrounded by towering Red Rocks, the energy of that performance hit me like a lightning bolt! It was more than music—it was a moment of clarity, I knew I'd be back!

Later that summer, another encounter reshaped my future. I attended Nick Del Calzo’s photography workshop on Whidbey Island—and in Nick, I found not just a mentor, but a new mission. His ability to tell a story through a single portrait was amazing. That initial meeting led to my involvement in Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty, where I had the privilege of assisting Nick completing 60 Recipient portraits.

From that moment on, my life would always be about storytelling—whether it be training development for the USN, or through the lens of a camera, a documentary, or a screenplay. Story is the essence of human existence.

A Life of Storytelling

After finally retiring from civil service in 2023, I doubled down on the passions that had been on the back-burner for years:

?? Photography – What started with my first camera aboard USS KINKAID has taken me around the world, from historic battlefields to concert stages. In 2023, I spent six weeks with All Access credentials covering the BlueMonsters Tour with Blues Traveler and Big Head Todd & the Monsters—a full-circle moment 22 years after that first Red Rocks show.

?? Filmmaking & Documentaries – Currently in development: "Lucky Bastard" a documentary life's chances and choices, and "BASEBALL:ALL ACCESS?", a documentary series exploring accessibility in Major League Baseball stadiums through the eyes of a disabled journalist.

?? Screenwriting & Creative Projects – Stories are my currency, and my projects—like "Midnight Mercy" and "Eterna Sicilia"—blend my life's experiences into fictionalized stories. The best stories always have a hint of truth...

Retirement Isn’t the Finish Line

Retirement didn’t mean slowing down—it meant finally having the freedom to chase the things that "light my fire" and the time to figure out what that is.

A life blessed with travel, I’ve experienced the cultures of over 60 countries, walked in the footsteps of history, both continue to shape how I see the world. I’ve met incredible people, stood on legendary stages, and captured stories that deserve to be told.

And this is just the beginning.

This is the first in my Life After Retirement series—where I’ll share insights on transitioning from military and civil service to a second (or third) career, the unexpected lessons along the way, and why reinvention never stops.

If we’ve crossed paths before—whether in uniform, behind the camera, or at a concert—I’d love to reconnect. And if you’re navigating your own post-retirement chapter, let’s swap stories. We're in this together!

Question - What’s been your biggest surprise in life after retirement? Please let me know in the comments below.

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