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A fringe benefit of work: people
By RICK GERSHMAN LUTZ -- For years, Mark Stamatakis owned and operated pool-supply stores where he helped people solve the mysteries of algae growth and pH levels. But long before Stamatakis investigated water samples, he investigated crimes as a homicide detective for the Tampa Police Department. The Tarpon Springs native retired from the force in 1981, looking for relief from stress-related headaches. He took a second mortgage on his Carrollwood home and purchased a Pinch-A-Penny franchise store in Temple Terrace, then a second in Tampa Palms. When North of Tampa profiled Stamatakis in January, he had sold the Temple Terrace store and was considering retirement. In March, he sold the Tampa Palms store, which was later moved to the Oak Ramble plaza (where it is doing well.) Stamatakis decided to tour the United States in his 35-foot Georgie Boy motor home with his wife of 32 years, Darlene, and his sister-in-law, Donna Stamatakis. "It was a lifelong dream to go around the country," Mark Stamatakis said. "We had a terrific time. We were going nowhere in particular. We saw anything we liked, if we stopped somewhere, we stayed one or two days. We probably saw around 25 states." The family returned in mid October. Stamatakis, now 60, lives on 2 1/2 acres in Lutz, just north of the county line. "Honestly, retired life is not what I thought it would be," he said. "I'm bored to death. I'm climbing the walls. I've got some dental work I need to get done, but then I'm going to find a job." He could do a lot of things, but he isn't looking for stress. "I'm semiretired," he said. "I want the no-brainer." What he misses most is dealing with people. "I always thought I hated it; that's the truth," he said. "And you do always get some bad ones. But overall, I've met some swell people over the years, and I guess I enjoy rapping with them."
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From the Times |
