{"id":255210,"date":"2026-04-07T05:21:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T05:21:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/255210\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T05:21:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T05:21:12","slug":"ken-heiman-wont-you-be-my-neighbor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/255210\/","title":{"rendered":"Ken Heiman, Won\u2019t You Be My Neighbor"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ken Heiman self-published the still-relevant \u201cBristle While You Work<\/a>,\u201d calling it \u201ca workplace survival guide packed with practical advice and amusing antidotes,\u201d in 2007. Nearly two decades later, he is considering a companion book.<\/p>\n

In January, his job in the corporate world was unexpectedly eliminated. He only half jokes that now he can write a book about retirement. He is old enough to have considered retirement. Just not yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t envision being retired so early, but I was the victim of \u2018workplace reduction,\u2019\u201d said Heiman at a coffee klatch with his retired friend and Santa Clara neighbor Michael Fallon<\/a> on a February morning.<\/p>\n

SPONSORED<\/p>\n

\"BrainShare\"BrainShare<\/a><\/p>\n

Tea, a chocolate croissant and conversation at Panera Bread in Santa Clara Town Center are a solace as Heiman turns job loss into opportunity.<\/p>\n

\u201cI plan to keep busy,\u201d said Heiman, who was born in San Francisco, grew up in San Mateo in an Eichler<\/a> house, and has lived for the last 31 years in Santa Clara\u2019s only Eichler cluster housing development<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"\"\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Eichler neighbors such as Fallon appreciate Heiman for fixing whatever little community things need fixing, like changing an outdoor light bulb. Heiman chitchats with other dog owners when he walks Mon Ami, a Jack Russel Cattle Dog mix whose name (\u201cMy Friend\u201d in English) defines his relationship with Heiman.<\/p>\n

Heiman has not quite decided whether to pursue new full-time work or to semi-retire, which<\/p>\n

would give him more time to write.<\/p>\n

He started out his work life as a journalist, becoming editor of \u201cTahoe World.\u201d In the 1990s, he even wrote a couple stories for \u201cThe Santa Clara Weekly.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n

He wrote a full-length play titled \u201cBetter the Devil You Know\u201d about Former President Richard Nixon (as yet unproduced) and two ten-minute plays. He is a third of the way into writing a musical comedy.<\/p>\n

\u201cWriting a play is one thing,\u201d said Heiman. \u201cThe challenge is getting produced.\u201d<\/p>\n

Off the top of his head, he rattled off advice to include in a book on how to deal with retirement. Basics such as don\u2019t be bitter, move forward, have a plan of action, do what makes you happy and productive. Importantly, do what connects you to the outside world\u2014\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00adspend more time with family and friends. Yes, enjoy more coffee klatches<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m hardly an expert,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s just been a couple weeks, but I\u2019ve thought about retirement before. I\u2019m getting into that stage of life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heiman recalled an earlier stage of his life when he rollerbladed down the crookedest street in the world\u2014San Francisco\u2019s Lombard Street<\/a>. For today\u2019s stage of life, however, he bought a new bicycle.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing is off the table in retirement,\u201d he said. \u201cThe trick is to keep busy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Won\u2019t You Be My Neighbor\u00a0is a\u00a0column where we casually interview people<\/a>\u00a0we meet in Silicon Valley. The Won\u2019t You Be My Neighbor column hopes to highlight what makes Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and the rest of the South Bay special \u2014 the people who live, work and play here.<\/p>\n

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