Retirement isn’t for everyone.

Many spend their whole lives pining for the days of sitting around doing nothing. When Darrel Bahner reached that point, he got bored.

So what did he do? Go to work at a grocery store? Volunteer for a nonprofit? No, he opened his own door construction installation, HomeStory. The 32-year veteran of west coast ports had always enjoyed home remodels. Bahner said he has remodeled 10 homes in his life as a hobby. He learned how difficult, and valuable nice doors could be, and it felt like a natural fit.

“You don’t have the mess and hassle of tearing the old jams out and casings off and doing the trim,” Bahner said.

His business gives remodelers a chance to delegate this time consuming duty at an affordable price. The store charges $195 for installation of a new door.

It’s been a little more than a month now, and Bahner said he is still trying to get his name out there. At the corner of 120th Avenue Northeast, and Northeast 24th Street, just across the street from home improvement giant Lowe’s, Bahner’s newly-minted franchise is just the opposite. At this point, the store only has four employees, all younger individuals Bahner is mentoring.

Bahner has always been interested in teaching his skills. Each of his four children have participated in his remodels.

This family emphasis in Bahner’s work goes way back. After studying animal sciences at the University of Nebraska he came to Alaska in the 1970s while the Trans Alaska Pipeline was built. He was lured by the high wages his two brothers earned in construction there. His eldest brother, now 82 years old built, lived in and sold 11 different homes in his life.

“I always appreciated what he could do, and I thought if he could do it, I could do it,” Bahner said.

While Bahner plans to pour everything he’s got into the store, it’s only a short-term plan. He likes to do things in five-year stints. His wife will retire soon, and he doesn’t plan to own the store for longer than five years. He hopes to build the business for someone, maybe one of his kids, or a current coworker to inherit down the road. This time, he really will enjoy his retirement.

“I want to have a small farm some day and raise cows and provide some animal experiences for my grandkids,” he said.