Mid Life Crisis or Living the Dream?

By Minigedge

February 13, 2017

This story got featured & frontpaged on February 14, 2017


7 years ago

For as long as I can remember I've had the need to tinker with, break, fix, "improve" anything electrical or mechanical that I could get my hands on. Starting with my moms VCR at age 8 through stereo systems, transistor radios, build it yourself circuit kits, anything RC.  To computers, servers, and networks. 

20 of my 42 years on this earth had been spent working in the IT industry. Starting as an entry level tech and finishing as a manager of a large IT department. When the day finally came (and I knew it was coming for a year or two) that I got burned out and fed up with the endless politics and BS that go along with a management position. I knew it was time to take a long hard look at what it was I was going to do with whatever remaining time I had left on this planet.

I’d always loved pinball and arcade games and growing up in England I’d spend any money I had on it. I did paper routes, worked a Saturday job to support my habit.  When I moved to the US in my early twenties, my then girlfriend now wife of 18 years (that poor women) and I would track down any pinball machine in the wild that we could and play it. That was always our date night.  

We bought one machine. It broke…. it’s pinball. I thought, “Sure I can fix that.” I did and it was fun. So, I bought another, this one was already broken…Fixed that …it was more fun! Slowly I was spending more of my free time buying and fixing arcade games and pinball machines. I loved it. Our garage was filling up, our house was filling up and that storage locker that I thought was way too big, was filling up.

So now here I am, on a career break wondering what to do with myself. Should I go back in to IT, I had some offers, decent offers. Sure, why not. I’ll go do that interview Monday…. I’ll just go to this arcade expo thing in Banning, CA and see what this is all about.

I’d only found out about the expo on the Friday night, so I’d missed that day. No worries I’ll just go Saturday, one day should be enough. Bought two tickets for the next day, told the Mrs what we were going to be doing. “that sounds awesome, but I don’t think we will be there all day.”

Next morning, in the truck no idea what to expect. Pull up to this weird warehouse complex that google maps had trouble finding and in we went. When I walked on to the pinball floor for the first time it briefly occurred to me, at some point I must have crashed the truck on the 10 freeway, died horribly and now - somehow - I’d reached nirvana / heaven whatever you choose to call it. Pinball machines….lots of pinball machines…all kinds of pinball machines, stuff I’d only heard about. I spent the first two hours just walking around, probably with my mouth wide open.  The rest of the day was spent playing, endlessly which was awesome. But what was more awesome was the people. Pin heads. We met, talked to a whole bunch of people that were into what we were into! It was amazing.

Sure enough we went back Sunday. All day, the same thing awesome machines, awesome people, just fun. The same topics kept coming up. We’d love somewhere to play all the time. We just want to play, there are places but we need more places. Driving home that night I said to my wife casually, ”we should open a place, do you think we could open a pinball spot?” Without batting an eyelid she looked at me and said “let’s do it!”

Monday morning came. I forgot about the interview I was meant to be going to until they called me and asked if I would be attending. “No, sorry I’m opening up an arcade.” I said….long silence……. “A what? An arcade?”, “where?”. “No Idea” I replied. “OK, good luck with that.”

Here I was, I did have a few (ten) machines. An idea, some money and very understanding wife. It took me 2 months just to find a spot where we could work on all the machines I was collecting at once. In the meantime I was shuffling between my garage and three storage lockers and fixing everything I could. Buying pins and video games, meeting new people, lurking on pin side, learning everything and anything I could.  Working ungodly hours and loving every minute of it.

I found a spot where we could have our arcade. It was in a crazy location, it was derelict. It was cheap. I roped my lifelong friend into helping me. He flew in from England and we smashed down walls, moved machines, did drywall, painted the walls, fixed machines, fitted AC units, bought machines, ripped up tiles, fixed more machines…argued with each other...broke machines…built a website, dealt with city councils, permits…you name it. My buddy who was used to Northern English weather, where if it gets above 75 degrees it’s considered a heatwave, got heatstroke twice in the SoCal heat. We decided it was best to start work at 2am and finish at 11am at least until we got the AC working. Eventually, we finished. So now we have this arcade, that no one knows about. What do we do? I guess we open it.

On January 21st we opened our doors for the first time, we were due to open at 6pm. I got a call at 5.30pm and someone asked, ”hey are you guys opening tonight? Are there people outside waiting?” I told them yes and I had no idea if people were waiting, because I’d been so busy I’d not even looked outside. When I put the phone down I went outside, there was no one waiting.

Ok, I’ve made a massive mistake. This is stupid, what have I done? It’s 5.40 no one is here. Wait…we don’t open till 6. Ok…breath…breath…it’s ok. Just then I see a car, driving slowly…the window rolls down. “you that arcade place?”….”yeah I’m that arcade place.”, “you open?”. “yes….come on in.”  A guy and his two kids come in. The dad pays and off he goes into our arcade. I tell my front desk guy Bobby…”err hey man I’m just going in the back..I gotta go err get that thing.” I go in my tech room and close the door. I’m not ashamed to admit I burst into tears like a little baby. All the stress of the last few months all the late nights, long hours, and someone had showed up, placed down their money, and was now playing our games.

Over a 6 hour period we had 207 people, stop by and play. One guy arranged his 40th birthday party to be at our arcade the following Tuesday. Since then we have opened twice more to the public. The last time was just this Saturday (11th February.) Just after 10pm John Weeks from the Pinball Museum in Banning showed up. John of course runs the expo I had been to just the year before. So to me this was a big deal…He said over and over again…”this place is amazing.” To me I had come full circle, I couldn’t imagine that my place with its 26 pinball machines and 40 arcade machines would impress a guy whose collection to me is the most amazing thing in the world. But he seemed to like it.

It’s been an adventure, it’s been a long process…like reading this long ass post….but here I am. I know I’ll always do something pinball related. I know I’ll do my best to make Retrovolt the best spot it can be. I cannot thank enough the people I have met along the way and I cannot thank enough the people here on pinside who have posted tech questions and answers that I have read endlessly. Your advice, and your knowledge – although I never added to the conversation up to now, has been invaluable. So is this a mid life crisis or am I living the dream? I can tell you whole heartedly that it started off as a crisis and has turned into a dream.

If you are ever in the Redlands / Mentone area stop by and check us out. We plan to be open every weekend starting in April. Until then we are open every other weekend. Check our site for details.

For those that are interested there is a 1 min montage I put together which shows some pics of us at the begining and where we are at now. You can find that by clicking here 

Story photos

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Comments

7 years ago

What a great story! Best of luck with the rest of your time on the planet.

7 years ago

That was a great story. Thank you for sharing and good luck with your endeavor.

7 years ago

Awesome story. I too am in IT and at an early age loved taking things apart just to see how they work. Best wishes.

7 years ago

Best of luck and thank you for sharing! I hope my forthcoming midlife crisis is that awesome!

7 years ago

Congrats. Awesome story!

7 years ago

So cool...

7 years ago

Awesome! Hope I can make the trip next time I visit my brother in San Diego!

7 years ago

Loved reading this!!!!!! Thank you for taking the time to share. Have fun!

7 years ago

Inspirational way to live. Make the most of life & be happy. Be courageous and brave enough to reach out & capture your dream - I enjoyed reading your testimony. Thank you for sharing it with all of us game lovers. Keep on living the dream.

7 years ago

I feel so lucky to have met such a great couple. I love the chance you taken to build your dream. I've been to the last two event and will make as many as possible in the future.

7 years ago

Great work! Glad you got out of a job you're unhappy with and started living you (and we all) love! Escaping the weather here in the UK? I'm jealous! Best of luck with it!

7 years ago

Thanks everyone for the kind comments. Hope to see you all out there one day :)

Jonh, if I knew how to quote properly on this forum I would. But you made me laugh with this "I hope my forthcoming midlife crisis is that awesome!"

It can be man :)

7 years ago

Bad ass. Love it. Life is only worth living doing what makes you happy. Congratulations on making your dreams a reality.

7 years ago

This is amazing! Great you followed your dream sir. Congrats!

7 years ago

THAT WAS AWESOME! thanks for sharing.
I too am in the IT field (30 years) I refuse to be a manager and my boss just doesn't understand why I just want to fix stuff.

7 years ago

Awesome story. I'm also in IT and thanks for sharing.

- One of the volunteer techs at MoP.

7 years ago

I'm a 23 year IT veteran and I can really relate to your story. I know it's a lot of blood, sweat and tears opening and operating an arcade, kudos to you for taking chances and pursuing your passion. I wish you luck with your endeavor and if I'm ever out your way I'll be sure and stop by.

7 years ago

First story I have read on the site, awesome! I wonder how many I will have to read to find one to top this. Good luck with the arcade, if it is open during expo I will check it out!

7 years ago

Sounds great. Congrats on following your Dream. Good luck in your endeavor.

7 years ago

Great reading I love stories like this. Good luck with your new business.

7 years ago

What an awesome story and it has been great having the chance to meet you. Your dream is my dream and I'm glad that you made it a reality. It has been so cool to see the progress and be there for opening night. Everyone should make time to come play your place is just amazing the games are top notch and so is the atmosphere. Congratulations again,and looking forward to talking and playing pinball for many years ahead.

7 years ago

Hey Buzz! Thanks for being there opening night and thanks for stopping by the times you did before we even opened! Your enthusiasm for the place while were still getting it together was infectious. Always good to see you and have a chat about pinball.

7 years ago

Awesome and inspiring story!
I have actually been to many vintage arcades throughout Orange County and LA. Retrovolt is by far my favorite. This arcade is perfect for the pinball lover like myself. I have been a few times and was able to introduce classic pinball to my young daughter. She is now hooked. Retrovolt is the perfect place to go with your bros, bring a date or bring the family. All the games are in tip top shape. If a malfunction does occur, friendly staff is there to fix it on the spot. As a kid growing up in arcades, they even have many games I have never seen before. They even play great 80's alt music. Cant say enough about this hidden gem. Cant wait for the next session!

7 years ago

Living the dream. Hats off to you.

I wish I had a venue like yours in my part of the world. Well done.

7 years ago

Just got back from Retrovolt, and have to say it was awesome! I met the owner and his lovely family and we talked for a few minutes about pinball stuff. I hope for nothing but the best for this nice family. I can't wait to go back and put a few more hours on some of his machines that I didn't get to play yet. It's really hart warming to know that this nice family has a lot of good times ahead of them and that hard work still does pay off. I hope some day that I too can seek out my dream the way this man did.

7 years ago

Thanks again for the positive response on this. Special thanks to the pin sideas who took time to come visit our place. Was great meeting you all

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