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There is something of a tradition when family is at our place on Cape Cod and it puzzles me. Actually it is picture puzzles.
A card table is set up and the puzzle pieces laid out. The puzzle is assembled on the three foot square coffee table. The puzzles are 1,000 pieces or more and are photographs of houses, woods, streams with many of the pieces looking very much alike. I guess that why it’s a puzzle.
Connie, our daughter and two granddaughters spend hours – days – on this task, especially Connie who, once she starts, just keeps going. Her patience with this task seems endless. She also has the determination to read at least two books a week.
I’ve given it a try once or twice, picked up a piece now and then. On occasion I had success finding where the piece fit. But I quickly realized I had no patience for this level of detail and as I see it, contrary to an enjoyable pastime, it’s a recipe for frustration and stress.
Eventually they complete the puzzle and we take a picture of the result. As far as I know, no puzzle has been assembled more than once. One year there was a piece missing – the task was futile. The best laid plans.
I called the puzzle company and asked if they could send the missing piece. They were very apologetic, but couldn’t send one piece, they sent a new puzzle though. Come to think of it, asking for one piece was an unreasonable request. Back to the coffee table.
Some evenings we all play BINGO for prizes I provide. That too is a bit frustrating. I look at the BINGO card and it reminds me of a spreadsheet.
It should not come as a surprise to regular HD readers, my patience for dealing with detail is limited. Those of us so afflicted must focus on the big picture and long-term financial goals and a bit of luck while recognizing we may not be optimizing all possible opportunities – that is making mistakes.
In the end though what matters is that all the pieces come together to form a satisfying picture of one’s life. I may have a few pieces missing and an extra share of good fortune, but as Frank sang, “I did it my way.”
As you muddle though all the financial complexities and retirement planning decisions, know there is hope even for ye with little tolerance for detail. Keep your eye on the prize.
This is not a recommended strategy though – especially if you are a puzzle person🤑
I liked this post. We like to do puzzles. Chris
Doing jigsaw puzzles is a big deal at my CCRC, and some men do join in. One of the local charity shops gets an impressive number of donated puzzles. We put them together to find out whether all the pieces are there and send them back. I usually do a couple of 1,000 piece puzzles a week, in the evening, while listening to TV, podcasts or Great Courses. I also join one of the group puzzle sessions once a week. However, beginners start with 150 and then 300 piece puzzles. They improve with practice….
I’m impressed that you do so many 1,000 piece puzzles. I enjoy them too, but much more sporadically.
I did a lot growing up, and then sporadically as an adult, but there is an apparently never-ending supply here. And it does support the charity shop. It might be a little addictive….
Maybe it’s a lady thing. My mom liked puzzles and so did some of my sisters. Men–well, we need to be out hunting and gathering. Maybe around the campfire outside the cave, after a long day hunting, one could find time for a puzzle. There were times in my life, and I still fight the urge today, to keep certain details in perspective. For instance, why is it so hard for me to decide between the $25 ribeye or the $36 filet mignon (I eat at inexpensive steak houses)? The leap of eleven dollars for a cut of meat I would prefer is completely insignificant when compared to the thousands of dollars sloshing around every day, up or down, in my financial accounts. What difference does it make? Absolutely, nothing. That extra $11 means absolutely nothing to the rest of my life, yet there I am wondering if I should go for it and having to overcome the resistance of so many years of delayed gratification. Although “puzzled”, I’m working on it.
I’m even worse at the grocery meat counter. If the cut seems “too expensive” — which may be a $2/lb. difference — I don’t buy it. Then I come home and find my SEP-IRA went up a grand today. How silly is that?
That too is a bit frustrating. I look at the BINGO card and it reminds me of a spreadsheet.
My first audible laugh of the day! The entire article is a good analogy about peoples differences.
Nice article. I’m pleased your retirement strategy doesn’t depend on tiny, strange shaped cardboard photos 😂
Me too.
Mark, you’ve conjured up a mental image of Quinn at a card table with puzzle pieces that say things like vacation checking, tax checking, dividend income, pension, 100% income replacement…….
And, when it’s all put together, it’s a mighty pretty picture. 😉
tôche! 👏
Oh that’s funny, Suzie is looking at me wondering why I’m laughing quietly in the corner 🤣
Barkeep, can we get another round of Guinness over here🍻?
I favor a Black and Tan
Good idea 💡