81-Year-Old REI Silverback Masters Biking and Paid Busywork
Meet Mike Plummer, the 81-year-old who stormed out of corporate at 55 with a buyout and decided retail at REI in Jacksonville, Florida, was his new summit to conquer. Since 2012, Mike morphed from former assistant VP of credit card training to a part-time REI silverback hero earning $18/hr (up from a laughable $9-$10). He clocks 24 hours weekly until age 79, then wisely cuts back to two days, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., because even silverbacks need siestas. Mike's wife, 74, is still grinding too, because apparently, quitting is too mainstream. Bonus: Mike snagged the Anderson Award (REIās MVP), mentors rookie hipsters, and once moonlighted as a cruise check-in agent and golf ranger. His mom even ghosted boredom by working at McDonald's in her late 70s. Mikeās mission? Stay social, keep moving, dodge loneliness, and avoid becoming a retiree clichĆ©. Retirement is apparently for people who donāt know Mike.
Share the Story
When your retirement plan looks like part-time biking gear merchandiser duties and mentoring millennials, you know youāre winning at adulting... or just fear loneliness more than overtime. Silverbacks forever.
Why retire with millions when you can impress 20-somethings by restocking kayak paddles at 81? Mike Plummer is proof that not all silverbacks roarāsome organize.
Mike took a buyout, got three master's degrees, and now his biggest hustle is REIās bike section. Corporate escape? More like slow bike brake.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 10/13/2025 | Author: Agnes Applegate,Noah Sheidlower
More Articles in Business
Salesforce AI Flops, Google Car-Dwellers & Senior Homebuyers Take Over
KPMGās 450K Sq.Ft NYC HQ: Employee Feedback or Round Table Cult?
Rivian CEOās $4.6B Stock Option: Billionaire or Billion Procrastinator?
DoorDash Execs Fail at Delivery, Beta-Test Their Own Chaos
Parenting & Two Jobs: Health Writer Floors Architectural Chaos!
