I joined Freemasonry because my late first wife requested that I retire at the age of 44 in order to reduce her income tax. It was not worth arguing, so I stayed at home and we lived off of a "company dividend" she received being a Director of the family business. But at 44, what does one do all day? All of my friends were still working, so there were no golf or fishing buddies to be with. Then, a husband of my wife's friend approached me about joining Masonry and between them, I realized they had it all planned out.

Lodges in England meet only about four to five times a year, and they only initiate one candidate per meeting. So, I was initiated on the 3rd December 1994, passed on the 13th May 1995 and raised on the 9th September 1995. 

It takes from 6 to 9 years to get to the Master's Chair, and I expected that you go from one Officer's position to the next, in order. I enjoyed it all so much that I joined Royal Arch and Rose Croix and reached positions of SW in my Mother Lodge, Second Asst. Sojourner in Arch and Raphael in Rose Croix before marrying an American and moving to New Jersey. I would had been a W.Bro if I stayed in the UK, but I have no regrets because I enjoy floor work here, as well as struggling to learn long passages of text. I did not want to be a parrot master, with others having to correct me all along just to get a Candidate through.

Having toured much of this world I can say that I am a "Traveling Man", complete with a speculative trade, to the point where I feel I am a "just, upright and free man, of mature age, sound judgment, and strict morals".

My advice to all new Brethren is to visit as many Lodges you can, not just in your own state - but the world. There are so many different rituals with many summaries that you'll find match the Ritual with which you were made a MM. Freemasonry has enabled me to travel and find friendship where ever I go - Livingston Lodge #11 proves that.