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Here I sit on my deck, the blue sky is cloudless. It is 74 degrees, no wind and quiet except for the birds making their views known. My view of anything beyond 50 feet is blocked by thickly leaved trees.
Between writing, I read commentary about tariffs, trade, economies on Project-Syndicate, a daily updated compilation of articles from scores of international writers. I’m also reading about the Salem witch trials and Ben Franklin’s rise to fame and testimony before Parliament about taxing the colonies – where have I heard about taxes before?
It’s a day to do nothing except what I want. It’s a day to be retired and enjoy. The doctor visits are over – for this week at least. My new eye doctor said I was a delight- perhaps a shock to some HD readers. He said most of his patients my age were grumpy, complaining and slouching in the chair. I delight in not acting or being perceived to be my age.
Yesterday I drove four hours roundtrip to my brother in laws 80th birthday party. During lunch several locals were talking and complaining about their property taxes. $3,200 was outrageous for 3.5 acres of property I was told. The fellow nearly choked on his crab cake when I told him we paid $13,500 on our condo with zero land.
Talk about projects in retirement. My brother in law has a fully equipped garage/shop on his property where he builds cars and their motors and everything else related. I couldn’t even handle Lincoln Logs and this guy takes old cars apart and puts them back together just like new.
I’m trying to finish reading a book and he has a “new” 1963 Pontiac Grand Prix he built, races and shows. I feel inadequate. He has a government pension, a very modest 457b balance, but doesn’t care and lives as he enjoys.
Retirement as you like it seems possible, at least if you live in rural Pennsylvania surrounded by corn fields with the nearest supermarket 10 miles away. That does sound appealing- some days.
Every persons retirement is your unique.I have found something I didn’t expect though.
When I retired at the end of the year I expected to take a few months off and then resume my seasonal part time working for our Parks Department that I’ve done for the last six summers.
What I didn’t expect was how quickly my mindset would get used to my retired schedule. After “working” for only two weeks (three days per week) I called my boss and explained that I’m taking another month hiatus to reconsider my future plans.
My retirement is after fifty years of working being able to do what I want, when I want.
So now it’s time to leave, drive for two hours, to watch our granddaughter high school softball… Because we can
Exactly how I feel. Free at last‼️
RQ:
I am entering my 16th month of retirement and I can identify with your thoughts. I am still it that period where retirement is like a long vacation. I haven’t yet started my search for a “purpose” yet, but I am checking out a few volunteering opportunities.
BTW…I feel like I know you a lot better, after reading your contribution to Jonathan’s book, “My Money Journey…” Your story was one of the ones I enjoyed most.
Thank you. Your retirement purpose will find you, relax and enjoy.
Dick, my wife and I had dinner Friday evening with two other couples. Our host is in his early 70s. He was once a contractor who built high-end neighborhoods. When I met him 10 years ago, he was tapering-off into custom homes, although his last pre-retirement project was an 18-month job to build a new residence facility at an assisted living complex. He says he’s now “retired”, but his fun hobby designing new homes has turned into a second business. He says he having a blast, trying to keep his work week under 20 hours.
The other husband is a year younger than me, a road engineer who retired from the state, then worked for a company providing over-site for large road construction jobs. He fully retired last month, the day he turned 62. He’s spending his time tending his cows and making plans for leisure camping.
I’m moving toward retirement, but expect to try it part-time for as long as that situation is appealing.
I think we all have our own idea of what use of our time makes us happy. I believe you have found your way, and I hope you keep writing about it. And I hope the younger folks make the right choices and avoid troubles so they can live retirement as they choose.
I like to think what we have is our ideal retirement. I’m not sure what else we could expect. I hope you find yours as well.
On Mother’s Day, G is 2,500 miles distant with her mother. No work or other personal conflicts to get in the way.
People make do. Thinking back to my days selling beer in one of Toledo’s poorest neighborhoods, I came to know many great people. They had the minimum of resources, but still managed to be happy, good folk, and generous with whatever they did have. I think retirees are like that too.
Of course there were some bad players in the hood as well, but unlike bad people from more affluent stations in life, you can easily spot the bad ones in the poorer quarters.
Had a great dinner at Schmuckers entirely too much to eat, but yum
Great homemade pies too.
“It’s a day to do nothing except what I want. It’s a day to be retired and enjoy.” – spot on words.
For me it is family, fly fishing, and beautiful summer weather. (I might be a bit miserable without these)
Happy Mother’s Day, it’s not the 10 mile as much as what you find when you’re there. I really miss the old days when I shopped at different stores for produce, meats, bakery and the rest. You develop a relationship changes everything.
I hope you’re reading Walter Isaacson’s autobiography of Ben Franklin.
The subject was amazing. Maybe America’s first (different type) of Leonardo da Vinci with his many geniuses (scientific, international relations, and political skills-was the only person involved with the writing of the Declaration of Independence, negotiating the Treaty of Paris, and the writing of the US Constitution.
Walter Isaacson is an excellent biographer. If you haven’t read his biography of Steve Jobs I highly recommend it. I couldn’t put it down.
I throughly enjoyed his book on Steve Jobs.
Last year I read his biography on Elon Musk! Fascinating!
Read that several years ago. This is actually a book about the Salem Witch Trials, but leads to religious issues after and then into Franklins role.
RQ:
Have you read Bill O’Reilly’s book in the Salem Witch trials? It is a great read.