Post mission in morphed into a side hustle with the state umpire association. The it led to high school and college ball. I then stepped back to the rec leagues and was on the board of the state association. I retired from it about fifteen years ago.

I made good side money doing it. On the recreation side you were mostly paid in cash on the field. Once you get into high school ball and up you have to deal with the tax stuff. Umpiring saved my bacon a couple of times when I got laid off. Unfortunately, the higher you go the more politics there are. I hated dealing with that stuff.

It can be fun but you can take a lot of heat which will dampen it a bit. The best way to avoid controversy is to know the rulebook and its interpretations like the back of your hand. Still, there will be dopey coaches and fans who will argue even if they are wrong. You have to know when and how to controll these peopel and, if necessary, give them the hook.

The most fun I ever had was being the umpire in chief at the western regionals for Babe Ruth League.