After 33 years on Late Night television, you may be wondering what David Letterman is up to in retirement. It was a somber goodbye over a year ago when he announced his decision to move on from television, and many – including himself – wondered if the next stage of his life would be bleak and unfulfilling. But David looks great, sporting a new beard that he says he’s been looking forward to growing out for decades.

Expressing his true sense of style hasn’t been the only perk of his retirement. He is the owner of a professional race team, spends ample time with family and friends, and has made peace with passing on the Late Night torch to new hosts like Stephen Colbert. As he puts it, “I feel now like retirement is not the ending of something. I feel now like something is coming for me, I’m working my way toward something for the rest of my life, and I’m excited and optimistic.”