Refereeing is not for everyone. But it's perfect for me. My role as a flyhalf required me to know the rules and how to use them to the best of my team's advantage. That differs from other positions, like flankers and scrumhalves, who's roles require them to know the rules and when to break them.
So when I made the shift from player to ref, it didn't seem that big a shift - except that I wasn't as sore the next day. There's still a lot of decision making being done.
I just recently completed my first full season as a ref and was promoted to an L2 level - the prestigious "competent referee" level. I'll be taking my boots and whistle with me around the world and hope to get a game or two whenever I can.