Embracing Life as an Uber Driver — 30 Years After I Joined the Air Force
What does Hiroshima have to do with me being an Uber driver?
Not much.
It’s a bizarre question and intro hook, but August 6th, 1945, is the day the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. And August 6th is also the day I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. August 6th, 1995. Exactly 30 years ago. And this year, on that anniversary, I found myself not in a uniform but behind the wheel of my Tesla, picking up passengers in upstate New York as a full-time Uber driver.
I Could Be Retired Right Now…
If I had stayed in the military, I’d be retiring this year with 75% of my base pay for life. As a lieutenant colonel (or possibly colonel), I’d be collecting like $9,000–$10,000 per month. And that’s before benefits. That’s steady. Safe. Deserved.
But that’s not what happened. Is it? No.
Instead, at the 12-year mark, I took an early separation deal. The Air Force gave me a six-figure sum to move on and get out. I had just finished grad school at Syracuse and believed I was heading toward a high-paying civilian career. But like many veterans transitioning out, I hit roadblocks: bad decisions, a recession, bad investments, and low-paying jobs. Over time, I had lost all the money and, honestly, lost my way for a while.
Eventually, I found myself here. Not in a corner office, not wearing a uniform, just an Uber driver, out in the world, making ends meet.
And you know what? I love it.
Uber Driving Is the Hardest Job I’ve Ever Loved
Let me be straight: being an Uber driver is the most challenging job I’ve ever done, at least financially. I work 50, sometimes 70 hours a week. And while I can gross $7,000–$9,000 a month, that’s before expenses such as insurance, car payments, depreciation, and all other costs.
On average, this year, I’m lucky to clear $20 an hour.
Still, I love the work. I love being in my car, listening to podcasts, meeting strangers, and having conversations I’d never get anywhere else. I love that money comes in instantly and that every ride could become a story, a YouTube video, or a podcast episode.
But there are days when I wonder: what if?
What If I Had Stayed in the Military?
If I’d stayed in, I would’ve moved every few years, maybe to Tampa, perhaps the Pentagon, maybe Minot, North Dakota. I’d be giving PowerPoint presentations, reviewing budgets, and doing performance reviews. I’d be stable, yes. But I’d have missed everything that makes my current life so rich.
I live in the quiet village of Cazenovia, just outside Syracuse. All three of my kids were raised here. My youngest was born here. My daughter ended up at Syracuse University and now lives right down the street with her daughter, my granddaughter. My middle son became a standout Division 1 soccer player because of the opportunities he had right here in our hometown.
None of that would’ve happened if I’d stayed in the Air Force.
I Don’t Regret Being an Uber Driver
I used to think about lost opportunities. I guess I still do. The Apple stock I didn’t buy. The big job I didn’t take. The pension I walked away from. But now, I’ve stopped living in the world of “what if.” I’m living in this world—and it’s beautiful.
Sure, I have to deal with flat tires, smelly passengers, and figuring out whether that next ping is worth the miles. But I also get to live a creative life. I write. I podcast. I make videos. I connect with other Uber drivers. I get to be a present dad and grandpa. I’ve found a sense of belonging I never had when I was moving every two years.
That’s worth something.
I’m Levi Spires. I’m an Uber driver.
And even though I walked away from a pension, I walked into a life that’s real, creative, and full of connection.
I'm cheering for you.
