"Standing calmly at the
crossroads, no desire to run.....there's no hurry anymore
when all is said and done."
— “When All Is Said and Done”
from Mamma Mia, lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music,
Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group
Those lyrics? Perfect way to describe my state of mind right now: "no desire to run." We are finally feeling settled here...both the "here" of retirement as well as the "here" of Loganville*. Not so sure about the "no hurry" part, but when Pierce Brosnan sings the song, heck...I can believe anything!
So what's your secret? you might ask. Well, when we entered the Red Zone of
Retirement**, I did what I usually do when faced with something new or different
entering our lives that must be managed: I researched and I read.
I discovered much of what has been written about retirement is by financial companies or purveyors, and therefore
focused on preparing your finances to face your golden years. This is the
all-important “how am I going to pay for it?” I went through the process of
creating a detailed retirement budget...without really knowing all the relevant
details yet. I learned the inviolate 4% withdrawal rule...and the many reasons
it may be wrong for the current economy. I finally came to the conclusion that
it all comes down to [(whatever funds you have managed to save for retirement
plus whatever you receive from Social Security) minus (whatever your expenses
are in retirement)]. And, if you are past the point of saving more of the first
part of that equation, then you need to get really good at managing the second
part. Period...at least for the financial aspect of retirement.
Sadly, a first-focus on the
financial aspect...while necessary...is putting the cart before the horse: “pay
for ‘it’?”...pay for WHAT exactly? It has been said that “Emotional
preparedness is just as important to a happy retirement life as financial
readiness.” I might say "more important, but that's just my opinion.
This not-as-well-documented functional aspect of retirement means going through the process of examining
the emotional and social sides to determine the answers to “who, what, where,
and when do I want to be and do in retirement?” As you can see just by
comparing the number of words, this aspect ought to be the most important focus
of retirement planning.
It isn’t. Why? Maybe
because it is harder. Maybe because there is no equation, no percentage. Maybe
because there are far more “financial advisors” who charge a lot more but know
next to nothing about the so-called soft-side that is the domain of retirement coaches? (Do NOT
get me started on that one...:-)
Anyway...
In looking back at my life
(metaphorically), I could see a long line of activities and adventures...in
other words, an awful lot of DOING. So, I initially thought that retirement might offer
me the opportunity of BEING...still...quiet...calm. Reading books, working crosswords and jigsaws, knitting, watching TV...maybe a little blogging now and then.
Nah. Being still turned out to
be too difficult and frankly too foreign for my personality. I cannot seem to simply read...or knit...and watch TV; no, I try to do them at the same time! I have said all of
my life that I have two speeds: 0 and 100 mph. I’m either going at my top
speed...or I’m asleep.
So, here I am, loving
retirement...mainly because I have decided to let go of BEING STILL and to
embrace STILL BEING me by continuing my activities and adventures.
All of that was a way of saying
why my blog has suffered my silence since the New Year. But I was (lovingly)
reminded recently that I had some catching up to do, so here we go!
Most of you who follow me on
Facebook know that Missy M gifted me with a trip to Walt Disney World on my
birthday...and that trip had been planned for last September, for the same week
that Hurricane Irma shut central Florida down, including WDW for only the 5th time in its history. Fast forward
to the end of January, and we enjoyed our first Mother-Daughter Bonding
Trip (MDBT) in several years. Really enjoyed it, as these pictures hopefully show!
 |
| First night of WDW MDBT - 2018 |
 |
| Selfie at our hotel, the Boardwalk |
 |
| The Quiet Pool...before all the noise! |
 |
A clothesline of Candied Bacon
at Edison's in Disney Springs |
 |
Maredith snapping Tower of Terror
at Hollywood Studios |
 |
| Parade at Magic Kingdom |
 |
| On the Train at Magic Kingdom |
 |
| Illuminations at Epcot |
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| Dinosoar at Animal Kingdom |
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| Indiana Jones Stunt Show at Hollywood Studios |
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| Epcot at night |
 |
Magic bands mean they know where you are
at ALL times...even on the It's a Small World ride! |
Many of you also know that in
retirement, we have made a commitment to lifelong learning through the Oscher
Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at University of Georgia, which provides us with a community in which to expand our minds as well as our waistlines. We have enjoyed
being in both the Lunch Bunch and the Supper Club SIGs (let’s eat!), and I have
taken advantage of several classes. This month already, I have learned about
how to use the GALILEO system in genealogical research, as well as taking a
photographic “trip” to New Zealand: The Land of the Long White Cloud (more on
that in an upcoming post).
 |
| OLLI class on GALILEO for Genealogy |
Any areas that you haven't put your retirement plan into action? you ask. Well, yes. That trip to Disney reminded me that I had put "walking for regular exercise" on my plan for a happy retirement. While I was able to have three great step-count days then, I still struggle to carve out the time (and left-over energy) for the same here at Casa 303. Sigh. Ah well...a goal!
 |
Screen capture of my Apple Watch
for Day 3 at Disney |
So, if I am not being still and
writing my blog posts, you can rest assured I am still being active and
involved in my adventures.
====================
* For inquiring minds who know about M's imminent departure from Popeye's (which is beign moved to Miami by the "new" parent company RBI), rest easy: she was offered and has accepted a job in ATL...they are completing her background check. As soon as she gives me the high sign, I'll write some more about that. Bottom line: she's staying here...so we get to stay here, too!
**Retirement Red Zone has several definitions, depending on who is speaking or writing. I choose to use the 5 years before retirement and the first 5 years after retiring. So, we are 7 years in at this point.
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