At what point do we call it a day? Are destined to simply wait until someone puts a bullet is us? Or do we bow out, gracefully, satisfied and under our own circumstances? This life, this world, traditionally has only one end. One resolution which in the majority of cases, abruptly ends your efforts. Like a car crash. 

So if we were to bow out, when should it be and what should drive it?

Following some sort of achievement? Do you give all you have to give and then walk away? Or do you release control to someone else?

Achievement in this life can be measured in many different ways. Age, rank, size, power. Personally, I would be gratified with contribution made to the world, having some sort of impact is important to me. We all die twice. The second time is when people stop talking about you. Honestly, in this rapidly changing world, within the immense possibilities of the universe, being forgotten terrifies me.

Or maybe we burn ourselves out, giving it your all and then accepting everything here on out is coasting. Another scary thought, as so much is measured on expectation. Once you stop delivering on time, effort, involvement, do your endeavours become legend, or are you just washed up?

And then there's stepping aside. Keeping things fresh and interesting. Showing the guys underneath you that, for all the talk of development and supporting their goals, you yourself are willing to give it all up someone else can fulfill an ambition. Maybe you want everything you've created to continue with the same momentum that you can no longer maintain. Maybe you just want to pass on the torch and die quietly, on a farm with a whiskey. 

So, do you have a point where you'll call it quits? Or are we all just waiting to get shot.

"Speaking as someone who stepped aside to let others rise up... I think there is much to be said for someone who recognizes that maybe they are not giving at the level they could before or upholding the standard they expect of themselves."

"And it's hard, if in your heart of hearts you want to be doing more but you find again and again you fall short."  Bella looked down at the ground, she hated that JackMezzo was bringing this up because she had come to love the old man and feel such loyalty to him, but also because she still held a lot of heaviness in her own heart about walking away from the Tower.

"In the end, however, it can be for the best.  New ideas come forward and blaze new trails, untested and untried leaders get their shot... or the descendants of old tyrants return and the challenge falls again to noble hands to try to rise against them.  Even in the last situation where we would all agree we fear such people returning... there's something to be said for how much it brings out the very best in the lives of people on these streets.  How it challenges those of better conscience to come together and unite again no matter what past issues once divided them.  It can be the spark that ignites the creativity and excitement in those who have grown weary of their existence and have walked on to greener pastures."

"I think the decision to retire to the old country is a valid one, but only the individual knows if that's right for them.  I can't advise anyone on when it's the right time, all I can say is this:  if you have doubts... don't.  You'll know when it's time.  Before that time comes, if someone can not face their decline in drive or productivity I would advise simply stepping into the background.  Retirement is not the only option after all.  Focus on what lit your fires to begin with and envelope yourself in that - for many it's just the thing to help them find their drive again in this life or the next."

"On a personal note, as I'm not sure if this is merely an abstract discussion or not, I hope you know there isn't a damn person in this world who can deny your contributions Godfather Mezzo.  Even your enemies, unless they were to outright lie.  I suspect you will be remembered for generations yet to come when your day finally comes... which I pray is a long ways off yet."  

*Zeitgeist, a fresh-faced Wise Guy, moves towards to the front of the pack to listen in on Godfather JackMezzo's speech* 

I know I am still a young face in the crowd, but my Great Grandfather use to share his thoughts on something similar with me when I was younger and it was a long time ago but I do remember some of his thoughts and as I move through this thing of ours I understand more and more of what he was saying. As Godfather JackMezzo pointed out we spend a lot of our lives waiting for a bullet, for those of us fortunate enough to reach an older age it really is something to be grateful for; with all the dangers of our streets, this is the exception rather than the rule.

This thing of ours isn't just something you can get up and walk away from, our families, our friends, and our rivals all have hopes and expectations for you. At the point you usually find yourself when you are considering retirement, you are typically in a position of power and responsibility and many peoples lives and futures rest in your hands. 

The simplest truth is that no one can decide for you when the right time is, or what the right reason is. You need to identify what your role is, whether it's still important to you to fulfil that role. We all want to leave a legacy, but what that legacy is, and how much it matters is very much up to us to dictate. Some of my least famous ancestors made the biggest impact on members of the community and it wasn't a measure of their killing prowess, title or renown; it was simply that it was significant to them and the people around him.

*Zeitgeist takes a moment to clear his throat*

It's up to each of us to carve out our future for ourselves and most importantly to identify, who and what drives you and work towards that.

*Zeitgeist pops his hat back on and disappears into the foggy New York street*

Listening to Isabella-Luciano talk about whether you have doubts, Louis wondered whether there was another caveat to add.

I would suggest to not only resist if you have doubts but to perhaps talk to someone before finally deciding and never make that decision to retire when emotional.  You're a long time gone from this world and even the worst days can be better than the tedium of living life within the rules.

Find someone you trust and have a full and frank chat about why this is right.  There are always other options particularly if you find yourself struggling to meet the expectations you may have set yourself earlier in your life.  Time catches up with everyone and the energy of a pup will never last a lifetime.  Sometimes it’s just looking around and finding the next small target to aim for.

Louis walked away, he had errands to be getting on with.

Tears were welling up in Tammy's eyes as she heard LouisMezzo speak out in public for the first time after his father waved a final goodbye to this world of crime. That painful moment that left not only Tammy, but also some other enthousiast members of Artie_Bucco's family behind, saddened, gutted, homeless.

I would say, if I may, Mister JackMezzo, that retirement most often is driven by emotion.
Despite me feeling retirement is an honourable way to get out of this thing of ours, it often leaves behind a number of people that feel deprived of hope, making their ambitions feel like illusions, especially if it is a high-placed member of our world.
Tammy paused for a moment, hoping LouisMezzo had not heard about how shocked she had been about his father's retirement.

Personally, if I would want to retire, I would talk to a close friend. And if I could convince them of shooting me, I would at least have someone that would understand my decision. Regardless of them feeling the same. Somewhere being shot would feel less hasty. Also, being dead, I couldn't regret anything anymore.

The other option to die would be by taking out someone you do not like. But there the side-effect could be that other people could be mixed up in whatever would happen next as well, making that a no-go option for me.

She started to talk faster and more loudly
Stepping aside.. I don't see that as an option. At least, not for a leader. When you take charge, you take charge.
If you take charge of a crew or a city; you do not step down, in my opinion.
If you would get bored, put more effort in.
If you lack time, get people to work for you.
If you can't take it, have yourself removed.

Tammy felt like she got carried away a bit, probably she felt a bit too passionate due to recent events. She lowered her voice as she looked around, stepping back as she said

Thank you for allowing me to speak, Mister JackMezzo

A great topic, JackMezzo.

As for me, I think it depends on the individual. Some people would see retiring as surrendering. Others see it as gracefully bowing out. 

When should it be and what should drive it?

I can only answer this question for myself, of course. Everyone has their own ways of measuring a life. But I'll bite.

Achievement in this life can be measured in many different ways. Age, rank, size, power. Personally, I would be gratified with contribution made to the world, having some sort of impact is important to me. We all die twice. The second time is when people stop talking about you. Honestly, in this rapidly changing world, within the immense possibilities of the universe, being forgotten terrifies me.

At this point in my life, I am less interested in the concept of vaguely contributing to our society. I think it's beneficial to do so, of course, but I will not be sad if "people" forget about me in general. Rather, I base my own value on the impact I have on people closest to me. I fully expect that there are people who currently have no idea who I am or what I care about... but that doesn't bother me. I've made my peace with being forgotten by the masses, because I know that I will always be remembered by the people and the bloodlines of those closest to me. I'll still try to contribute to larger society to influence that unknown goomba... but that's just the icing on the cake.

Or maybe we burn ourselves out, giving it your all and then accepting everything here on out is coasting. Another scary thought, as so much is measured on expectation. Once you stop delivering on time, effort, involvement, do your endeavours become legend, or are you just washed up?

I think burn out is a very real risk. In days of yore, sometimes it felt like you only lived a month or two before someone fitted you for cement shoes. Now, we often have long stretches of peace and people who live for much, much longer than they used to. In some ways, this is positive, as it gives us more time to build a life... but I also think that we've seen more instances of people living so long that they lose their passion before they lose their life.

I do wonder, in this scenario, what would happen if people would be more patient. In our world, I do think that it's possible for people to step back and recharge for a bit, before a "once more into the breach" return to their previous state. But I also do think that sometimes we're just done. And if someone wants to go live another life sitting on a beach sipping a drink from a little umbrella, who am I to judge?

And then there's stepping aside. Keeping things fresh and interesting. Showing the guys underneath you that, for all the talk of development and supporting their goals, you yourself are willing to give it all up someone else can fulfill an ambition. Maybe you want everything you've created to continue with the same momentum that you can no longer maintain. Maybe you just want to pass on the torch and die quietly, on a farm with a whiskey. 

Personally, I would never want to climb to a greater position over the bodies of my friends. I respect the idea, of course... especially the whisky part.

When would I walk away?

When it's just not fun anymore. When I wake up to this world feeling dread about all the crap I have to do and not excitement. When the lure or the demands of another life become more insistent or more demanding. 

But if I did feel that... I think I'd want to wait, to be sure. Jumping off a cliff and calling it quits does have a peaceful finality, but I recently (as you know) had a bit of a rough stretch where I found many other demands on my time. In the depths of those moments, I considered just walking away. But I held off, and now I find myself back to "normal", so to speak.

Ultimately, I think it's a decision that each individual must make for himself or herself. Other people can share their opinions, but I trust each individual to know what is truly best for them and act accordingly.

Ronin stood towards the back of the crowd, listening to Godfather Mezzo speaking. He'd never spoken with him, hell, had never even met the man, but Ronin had great admiration for him. He was what Ronin saw as the epitome of a Godfather in this thing of ours. Ronin stood by as several others spoke their opinions. Thoughts whirled and formed and crumbled and dissolved in his brain. At long last, he felt ready to speak.

"Godfather Mezzo, what an interesting topic you have brought up tonight. It may be weighing heavily on your mind, having led for so long. I cannot say as to what you should do, if you were indeed contemplating riding off into the sunset. A man such as yourself needs no such advice from a man like me. However, I would like to share my thoughts on it, if you'd be pleased to hear me."

When the godfather made no inclination that he should stop, Ronin continued.

"In my opinion, retirement, under the proper circumstances, is the ultimate goal of our thing. If done properly, it means you are undefeated. You leave your city or district to your hand-picked successor and spend your golden years with your wife and children. If I were to ever be so lucky to be in such a situation, I would want to make sure a few things were in order first.

First and foremost, the city or district would have to be functional without me. We've seen how quickly a city or district can go to shit if it loses its rock. Would my successor be able to keep the people motivated? Would they be able to organize a defense should an attack come? Are they in good enough standing with the other godfathers and leadership across the city? Would business still boom without my example? Would the ones who came after me represent all I stood for?

Next I would think of myself, and my legacy. As you said, 'We all die twice. The second time is when people stop talking about you.' This is quite a profound statement, and it has spurned a completely different string of thought for me. How would people remember me? We are but shadows and dust, once we are gone we are only what people remember. Have I done everything in my power to be remembered as someone who did things the right way? A man of respect and honor, not just power?

As I said, the circumstances must be perfect. We've seen godfathers retire mid-war, leaving their city or district to fend for themselves and die. We've seen godfathers abruptly commit suicide without any clues as to their demons, leaving their people in shambles and confusion. We have seen few do it the right way. 

An ancestor's journal speaks of one ToyArmadillo who retired the right way. He was beloved leader and friend to many. After a long life of leading what might possibly have been the greatest collection of mafiosi ever assembled, he rode off into the sunset, leaving our thing in the hands of a trusted friend and running mate. He had done everything he wanted to do, and everything he had to do. His final act was killing the people he grew up with in Chicago because it was the best thing for his people after he was gone. He could not bare to continue after that act, and he moved on from this life. He left behind a massive city with bucketloads of talent. Some would say he did it right. 

Then again, from this era also spawned one of the most hated groups of our thing's history. Perhaps he didn't get everything right."

Ronin grimaced, thinking of some other things he had read in this ancestor's journal. He needn't elaborate on that though.

"The ultimate goal. I thank you for your time, sir."

An ancestor's journal speaks of one ToyArmadillo who retired the right way...  His final act was killing the people he grew up with in Chicago. because it was the best thing for his people after he was gone. He could not bare to continue after that act, and he moved on from this life. He left behind a massive city with bucketloads of talent. Some would say he did it right. 

This is incorrect;
The City of Chicago, which at that time was lead by JakeLuciano as its acting godfather and shot caller was intact after ToyArmadillo's retirement.
Looking up the old journals and the new papers from respective cities, ToyArmadillo, who was authed by JakeLuciano and sent to re-populate NY, retired on February 19th, at 20:02. Godfather JakeLuciano retired on March 10th 08:18.
 

Indeed, sulla, I have spoken a falsehood. What I meant to say was his friends from Detroit, not Chicago. My sincerest applogies.

As I've just witnessed now a Godfather Chairman stepping down, it is then clear to see that there seems to always be the right time for retirement. Being an avid listener here in the streets I learned about Video's reason and personally I think he justified it well. Maybe there are other reasons as well but I know nothing so I should probably shut my mouth. Alessandra shook her head shyly before speaking again. Forgive me for rehashing a little but as Video expressed in his farewell speech, the hours he put into this life we live may not have been much at face value but the time he did put in probably meant alot.

I personally think Video bowed out at a good time. I mean, Seattle is well populated with many leaders now and I think the growth there is quite tremendous. What I feel like he was going for is this here:

And then there's stepping aside. Keeping things fresh and interesting. Showing the guys underneath you that, for all the talk of development and supporting their goals, you yourself are willing to give it all up someone else can fulfill an ambition. Maybe you want everything you've created to continue with the same momentum that you can no longer maintain. Maybe you just want to pass on the torch and die quietly, on a farm with a whiskey. 

He was and is a very respected and respectful Godfather Chairman - and I can't take that away from him. 

Was really surprised when seeing it since I always had good efforts with Video, a great GF that for sure have something better things in real life at the moment but will be missed by many after doing a increadible job for long in Seattle.

I salute Videos great job and assure that Video only will be remembered as a great Godfather and nothing more.

For sure nothing grows forever and people have sometimes not to much time to play and give it a rest, sad for many but thats how whe world spins around.