ABOUT KEVIN
A Life in Progress
I’m Kevin, an American retiree living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After more than forty years in the working world, I’ve reached a stage of life where I have more freedom to choose what I do, what I learn, and what deserves my attention.
It turns out retirement isn’t necessarily about slowing down. Sometimes it’s about finally having the time to follow your own interests.
For me, that has meant living in a different country, learning a new culture, reading more, writing regularly, and continuing to explore the world with the curiosity that has served me throughout my life.
From the Working World to Rio
My career didn’t begin in a boardroom. It began on a loading dock.
Over the years, I worked my way through engineering, technology, and finance, including time at Digital Equipment Corporation, Fidelity, and JPMorgan Chase. I witnessed enormous changes in technology, the rise and fall of companies, corporate reorganizations, and the many ways people adapt when the world around them changes.
A long career teaches you plenty about people, leadership, work, and the gap between how organizations say things work and how they actually work.
It also gives you a healthy appreciation for the occasional absurdity of corporate life.
After retiring, I found myself looking for a different rhythm. That journey brought me to Rio de Janeiro, where daily life offers a different perspective on time, culture, priorities, and the assumptions we carry with us.
I’m still learning the language, figuring out the culture, and discovering that living somewhere is very different from visiting it.
Why I Write
BeingKevin is a place to collect my thoughts, share what I discover, and make sense of the things that interest me.
Sometimes I write about living in Brazil as an American. Sometimes I take a closer look at a book, a historical event, technology, or an idea that deserves more attention.
And sometimes something is so ridiculous that the only reasonable response is to write about it and have a laugh.
My writing isn’t intended to be an expert’s guide to everything. It’s one person’s perspective, shaped by a long working life, retirement, travel, reading, observation, and a willingness to question things that other people may take for granted.
I try to keep it honest, conversational, and occasionally sarcastic. I don’t promise to have all the answers, but I will usually have an opinion.
What You’ll Find on BeingKevin
Life in Brazil: Everyday experiences, cultural differences, and observations from my life in Rio.
Books & History: Reading, historical events, biographies, and the ideas that help us understand the world.
Satire, Humor & Gripes: A look at the absurdities of modern life, from technology and bureaucracy to the things that make you shake your head.
Work, Retirement & Reflections: Lessons from a long career, the transition into retirement, and thoughts on how we spend our time and what we learn along the way.
You’ll also find regular writing prompts, Coffee with Kevin, and Weekend Watch & Read, my recurring look at what people are watching and reading.
The subjects may vary, but the approach remains much the same: curiosity, personal perspective, and a little humor along the way.
A New Chapter, Not an Ending
I don’t see retirement as the end of anything. It’s an opportunity to decide what comes next.
This blog gives me a reason to keep learning, a place to share my experiences, and a way to connect with people who might see something familiar, useful, or amusing in what I write.
If something here makes you think, teaches you something, or makes you laugh, then I’m glad you stopped by.
Take a look around, read something that interests you, and feel free to leave a comment. I enjoy hearing other perspectives, even when they differ from mine.
Welcome to BeingKevin.
Kevin
An American living the Brazilian way.