Friends, thank you for so warmly receiving my article. I loved my work. I was an on-call chaplain at local hospitals, the “speed dial” for funeral directors needing an officiant, a local chaplain for police and/or firefighters, and among the clergy willing to bless LGBTQ relationships and do other such ministry from the 1980’s onward, as well as a parish priest. But I must add that I was terrible at any paperwork, a poor administrator, and awkward in leading meetings. I relied on capable office staff and very able volunteers to make things flow while I did what I did. Needless to say that congregations who called me were generous people indeed, because I could be a trial to any system. Whatever your faith or outlook, I urge you to pray for or hold in regard the people whom you look to for guidance and support. Lastly, because my family lived on church grounds, I could put dinner on the table nightly, M-F, for my wife and children—and sometimes get to eat it with them.
Thanks for your kind words. We were certainly focused on saving, but we were helped by having excellent health care benefits; good timing for investing (the catastrophes happened early); and, frankly, we had all of the hidden benefits of our class and race. Yes, we faced tough stuff, but we had just about the best odds to succeed.
Bill, I emphatically implore you to stay in the Social Security/ Medicare system. I will be writing more on this. I would encourage you to make contact with Dick Quinn who is a regular contributor on this site, because he has important experience in this area. I know Dave Ramsey (who I think has good stuff to say) and others argue against being in the system, but I firmly believe they’re wrong because their alternative assumes all will go well with your alternate self-providing plan that unfolds over decades—but what if not? You and your family and your dependents are in the soup. I am neither an expert nor a professional about this stuff, but I did make a considered judgment 40+ years ago, and I was right. More later.
Comments
Friends, thank you for so warmly receiving my article. I loved my work. I was an on-call chaplain at local hospitals, the “speed dial” for funeral directors needing an officiant, a local chaplain for police and/or firefighters, and among the clergy willing to bless LGBTQ relationships and do other such ministry from the 1980’s onward, as well as a parish priest. But I must add that I was terrible at any paperwork, a poor administrator, and awkward in leading meetings. I relied on capable office staff and very able volunteers to make things flow while I did what I did. Needless to say that congregations who called me were generous people indeed, because I could be a trial to any system. Whatever your faith or outlook, I urge you to pray for or hold in regard the people whom you look to for guidance and support. Lastly, because my family lived on church grounds, I could put dinner on the table nightly, M-F, for my wife and children—and sometimes get to eat it with them.
Post: Forever Calling
Link to comment from October 28, 2023
We are grateful every day for being able to achieve our goal.
Post: Starting Late
Link to comment from October 2, 2023
Thanks for your kind words. We were certainly focused on saving, but we were helped by having excellent health care benefits; good timing for investing (the catastrophes happened early); and, frankly, we had all of the hidden benefits of our class and race. Yes, we faced tough stuff, but we had just about the best odds to succeed.
Post: Starting Late
Link to comment from October 2, 2023
Thanks, Yes we were focused on saving, but we also were lucky and we had great health care when it was needed.
Post: Starting Late
Link to comment from October 2, 2023
Glad things worked out for you. As I said, we know we were lucky and we did some stuff well enough.
Post: Starting Late
Link to comment from October 2, 2023
Bill, I emphatically implore you to stay in the Social Security/ Medicare system. I will be writing more on this. I would encourage you to make contact with Dick Quinn who is a regular contributor on this site, because he has important experience in this area. I know Dave Ramsey (who I think has good stuff to say) and others argue against being in the system, but I firmly believe they’re wrong because their alternative assumes all will go well with your alternate self-providing plan that unfolds over decades—but what if not? You and your family and your dependents are in the soup. I am neither an expert nor a professional about this stuff, but I did make a considered judgment 40+ years ago, and I was right. More later.
Post: Starting Late
Link to comment from October 2, 2023