Meet the founders
Rob & Shalinka.
Professional porch sitters.
Two people who spent decades showing up, working hard and taking care of everybody else — and then one day realized it was finally time to start doin old people sh*t. On purpose.
“We want the world to know that there are rewards for our hard work. And tons of life to be lived and expressed.”
Rob & Shalinka at the Legacy Conference, Nashville, TN
How it started · March 2024
It all started on a porch swing.
Rob and Shalinka have a place on Watts Bar Lake in Tennessee. One day they sat out on the porch swing… and kept sitting. For over three hours. For a guy who has never been able to sit still, that's basically a world record.
“Babe, we've been out here for hours. I feel like we are doin old people shit.”
They giggled. Then Rob said, “That's actually kind of great.” He said it a couple more times, just to be sure. By the end of the day he had the website, the shirt and the logo made. (Turns out porch swings are very productive.)
There are a million cool shirts and brands out there, but nothing fun, playful and real for the folks who've put in the work. So they made one.
When the kids asked, “What really is doin old people sh*t?”
“We've worked our tail feathers off our whole life. It's simple: it's doin whatever the hell we want.”
— Rob
The two behind the shirt.
Founder & CEO
Rob
Physician Assistant and retired Army flight surgeon with 23 years of service. Owns a medical consulting business and still works 3–4 shifts a month in critical access emergency departments. Sitting still? Still working on it.
Happiest on the lake, traveling, and with their blended family — 7 kids, plenty of extended kiddos and a whole lot of grand babies. And we can't forget ole Pap (Shalinka's daddy) and the OFC (Old Folks Crew): the original DOPS OGs.
Co-founder & Chief Porch Sitter
Shalinka
Retired - worked as a manager of a union hall for operating engineers in Knoxville and a master's-level educator. She has managed tough crowds. Rob being one of them.
Loves time with this ole boy, the kiddos and the grandkids. Thrifts, decorates, crochets and is learning to sew. Loves the lake, a good book, fashion, and never stops learning something new.
All joking aside: they worked their tails off their whole lives. They raised, launched and still nurture and support their kids every step of the way. DOPS is for everybody who did the same — and is ready to live, laugh and express themselves out loud. There's no age limit. It's a state of mind.
YOU EARNED IT!!!
Out there doin it.
Living proof that porch was just the beginning.
Your turn, Lifer.
Grab the gear, then show us how you're doin old people sh*t. We might just feature you.