Update and Reflections
Update and Reflections
An update for friends here on ER, and a big "Hi!" to those who may be reading this thread for the first time.
It's a "cut to the chase" for those who don't want to go thru the agony of reading the many wordy posts, but might like to know what life might be like for someone who is likely "oldernu".
So here goes, in a dot-dash form. A recap and a look ahead.
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-DW Jeanie and I are now in our 82nd year, and soon to celebrate 60 years of a very happy marriage.
-Figured out that we now have shared 30 years in the w*rkforce, and almost 30 years in retirement, since 1989.
-Four sons, one who will be 60 this year...yikes!.
-No earned income since 1989...25 years in management w/Sears and Montgomery Ward, and 5 years in my own business. (retired after a cancer scare)
-Retired with a total net worth of much less than what you'd believe, and without significant investment, have more than that today. Definitely not rich, but can't think of anything we missed, and feel confident for the future. New age target... 92
-Health... minor stuff, but both limited to 1/2 year Dr.visits. Have come to grips with onset of dementia, and learning to deal with it without anxiety.
-Still living in our Liberty Village CCRC, in a regular 1500 s.f. home... anticipating future transfer to one-pay-for-all living expenses in the LV apartments.. hopefully not for another 6 or 7 years, but have no fear for the long term.
-Still live frugally but do whatever we want and spend freely... (not so in early years). Between SS of about 25K and another 15K from IBonds interest, we're still better off than when we retired in real $'s.
-Lifestyle
...Not much travel, just because we don't care to. Our 96 SLS Cadillac and 1998 Lincoln Town Car now have 86K and 114K miles, and still look as good as the day they were in the showroom. Imagine..total less than 6,000 miles per year. One oil change/yr.
...Very involved (both of us) in our CCRC activities... Jeanie plays bridge and hand/foot... I lead two discussion groups each week for Trivia and Memories, as well as holding computer classes and visiting patients in the memory care and nursing home sections of our village.
...Not as much physical fitness as we should, but weekly Tai Chi, neighborhood and mall walking and when the spirit moves, a half hour on our exercise bike.
-Good Things
... Just sold our Lake Griffin Harbor Florida home on May 1st... Loved our 25 years of 6 and six snowbirding, but too much troubole to do that any more. Nice thing... sold to a long time neighbor there, and have an open invite to go back anytime.
... Still have our Woodhaven Lakes Parkmodel place on Bass Lake. Total cost for dues, taxes, insurance and utilities less than $3K/yr. Will keep forever, till our kids take it over. Still working on wood seawall upgrade... (Local joke). Jeanie only goes there to make sure I stay out of trouble... She's given up on camping.
... We're totally at peace... Even the free floating anxiety is gone.
... Missed my 60th Bowdoin Alumni celebration in Maine, but heard from good friends, and swim team buddies. Four of the very best years that smoothed the path through life.
-Look to the future
... Yeah... Pretty exciting. Some of our best friends in the LV CCRC are in their late 90's, are sharp as a 40 year olds, and optimistic... Though....... more naps.
... Watch more TV and get involved in the news, with a care to the future. Indulge in non-confrontational on-line discussion groups.
... Ongoing newer project... personal time-based personal history that started out as an ego-centric obituary, but became fascinating, as we work together to remember our lives...
as kids, college, work, 22 full moves and people, places and events. Since Jeanie and I have been together as friends, classmates and married folk since 1945, we have a great time in the quiet hours doing the names-places-events thingy.
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So we missed a lot I suppose... No international travel 'cept to Japan and Canada. Lived in 8 different U.S.States and have been in all of them.
Now no great ambitions or goals. The future is here... we're loving it. Not a financial success, but but safe and incredibly thankful and happy.
Taking this time, to wish you all the successful retirement that you've worked for. May you live long and share in the rewards that come in the later years in whatever you have planned.
regards,
bob