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Recently Connie and I got together with friends, two other couples who live in our 55+ community.
We are all among the most fortunate retirees. It costs a minimum of $26,000 a year just in taxes and HOA fees to live where we do.
One of us has a pension, one fellow ran his own businesses, went bankrupt once, but started another business many years ago sold it last year. The other man worked for a large company but saved diligently to enable them to move into our community.
All of us have two homes, one has three. We play golf twice a week and drive nice foreign cars. We have grandchildren to enjoy and the money to spend on them.
As we were talking about our good fortune, one of the women said she was embarrassed to say they planned for retirement so they didn’t need Social Security to live on.
We agreed we pretty much live in a bubble, but appreciate what we have. Sounds pretty good – perhaps what many people strive for in life and retirement. We couldn’t have done better if we used spreadsheets. 😁 However, I acknowledge that one friend explained how he tracks their spending-the couple that doesn’t need their Social Security.
But as Paul Harvey always noted “now for the rest of the story.”
The three couples, one in their 70s two in their 80s, have something else in common. They are all battling cancer. One person just had life-changing surgery that will end his golfing. Two of the ladies are under active treatment, the third in remission.
All the nice things, stuff we have accumulated, the lifestyle, all the planning, have faded in significance. None of us are going to Florida this winter as usual, rather we will be at weekly infusion center and doctors visits. Even with good Medicare coverage ancillary costs are rising, but because we are so fortunate, we can handle it.
Don’t misunderstand me. We remain grateful for every tangible thing we are privileged to have and especially the really important things in life, our families who are all close by.
But there is a lesson here too. No matter how diligent we may be, how careful and considered our planning, life includes something’s you just can’t control…but you can try to accept and manage during the rest of the journey.
I couldn’t agree more. Versus the alternative of having to work, budgeting closely….I’m glad it turned out good through 50 years of savings and investing.
I think this is a good place to share my comment about a bucket list. Ok, there are plenty of places that would be great to visit but I have zero regret if my life is over without crossing places off the list.
What is important is that with all that we have literally been blessed with to have an up to date estate plan and remember to leave funds to those who will benefit and that does especially include grandkids. Since I am a planner with a calculator in hand, I do have some idea what future costs might be that our families will face. Leaving inheritance will be something that will make their lives far better. Sure they may not spend as we do, but at least there will be a benefit. And for those that say, that is a lot of money.are you sure you want to do that? Imagine what a home will cost grandkids in 30 years or the cost of education. I’m glad to assist to make their lives better and we have used our funds for everything we ever cared to buy etc. You never saw a Uhaul behind a hearse. We can’t take our money with us.
Your last sentence is so critical. “Accept and manage” is the key, because even if you “beat” cancer, it leaves little gifties behind. My treatment gave me type 1 diabetes and neuropathy. My surgeries left scarred me inside and out. Yet all that serves as a constant reminder of how extraordinarily fortunate I am to have survived. So I accept, and I manage, and life is pretty great. Not exactly what I planned and hoped for, but pretty great nonetheless.
It’s much harder to do that with a loved one. I feel for you, Dick, and how you must feel about what Connie is going through. My wife is considerably more scarred by my fight than I am — it’s just that nobody can see it.
Very insightful comment. Thanks