Introducing: Ron Craig

As a kid we always looked forward to trips to Wasaga Beach with great anticipation, with the familiar refrains from the back seat on the drive from Barrie. “Are we there yet?” and “Ooh, I can see the water.”

Ironically, the half hour drive from Barrie seemed so long when we were kids, and only in retrospect did I realize how short a journey it was.

Little did I know, almost 60 years later, we would be living a short few blocks from that same beach, where I also worked as a teenager, a “carnie” at Playland Park, where I operated a Ferris wheel and merry–go–round, among other things.

That was one fun summer, with my buddy Dave and I living the carnival life for the glorious summer of ’68 (almost a song, but a guy named Brian had a better one).

Fast forward to 2014, and the daily grind of our jobs at the school board.

Mine was gettng more difficult by the week, as more and more responsibilities were being dumped on us, with job amalgamations and no pay raises.

So, the conversations at home centred around retirement, and getting off the hamster wheel. Long story short, a colleague at the school board lived in Wasaga Beach and I was getting antsy, so he offered a suggestion to look at homes in Wasaga. That brought us to look at Wasaga Meadows.

Well, the rest is history, as we dropped the hammer in May of 2015, sold our house in Barrie and retired to the lovely community of Wasaga Meadows in July 2015.

Little did I know that we would become entwined in the social aspect of such a community and met many new friends, as well as get involved in the Home-owner’s Association in communications, began writing a quarterly newsletter, and maintaining a Facebook group.

This was also a golden opportunity to bring a dream of mine to fruition, to put my keen interest in all things tech and specifically all things Apple, to use. I help others learn about their iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and other tech things like helping you sell your unwanted goods online, getting your printer to work, or setting your new smart TV up.

This reputation as “the tech guy” and the nickname ”Captain iPad” (given to me by my former superintendent at the school board) served me well as I built up a customer base, with in–home visits or designing sales ads, and was invited to present a 7–part beginners course on iPads and iPhones at Bayshore Seniors Center. This became a nice little “side hustle” and got me out of the house and making a little extra spending money. Many of the participants of the course remained as customers and good friendships developed.

My future contributions to this column will be centred around that, with tips on how to use your tech (primarily Apple, but other tech as well such as Smart Homes and more), things to watch for, and advice on how to stay safe in the digital world.

I look forward to sharing my interests with you.

Visit: Captain iPad