June 30--June 30th, June 30th

[zyzyly]

Instead of going out to walk this morning, I sat out in the back yard and read my book. I was at the point where it was difficult to put down. It was nice out there. The birds were making noise, the squirrels were running around, and the weather was perfect. I had a cup of coffee as I read. It's a nice way to spend the morning.

Malida had an ultrasound today, so I took her to the appointment,and then we went to The Habit for lunch. They have tasty burgers. We did dome shopping after lunch and then had a nap.

During my nap I had an interesting dream. I don't quite remember what was going on, but it occurred in my old babysitter's house. There was a woman there who was supposed to be doing something for me--looking over papers or something like that. It is someone I know. She has a little frozen yogurt stand over near the park, and we stop there after our walks sometimes for a yogurt or shaved ice. In the dream, she only has one leg--the other one is a prosthesis.

I woke up after the nap and finished my book. It is the third in a trilogy. The first book, called The Passage, is among the best books I have ever read. It is a book that stayed with me long after I put it down. The second volume in the trilogy dragged on a little, as most bridging volumes do. The final book, The City of Mirrors, closed the series out nicely, though with a number of heartbreaking moments. When I got to about the 75% point in the book, I had no idea which direction it would take. I like a book that is hard to predict. Anyway, if you are up for a nice long summer read, check it out.

Malida and I visited my financial planner the other day. I hadn't seen her for a while. The last time was just after I had left my job, and was setting out on my travels to find my new life. I gave her control of my retirement accounts and haven't thought of them since. They have done ok, given the ups and downs of the economy over the past 10 years.

We went over everything, and she made up a plan for me to retire in about 7 years. I will be about 66. That sounds about right. The good news is that Malida will be able to retire a few years after me, when she is about 50. I could actually retire now, if I wanted to. I like teaching, though, and want to be able to do something with this doctorate I am working towards. And having the summer off is kind of like partial retirement anyway. At least until the middle of August.

Comments

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

My late father worked all the time as a small town doctor for a dozen years, before scaling back to merely busy and then retiring at 55. But he could never stay retired. Being a doctor was too much a part of who he was in his community. He first went back as an ER doc, then back to the clinic until the years caught up a bit in his sixties.

Trial work has some stress to it. So I used to say I would retire at 60. I felt I would not be like my dad but would want to be done with it. But now, at 56, staying on a bit starts to have more appeal.

What would you do if you retired?

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure what I'd do. Probably about the same as I do over the summer, but I know I would have to have something or I would get bored. Maybe a regular volunteer position somewhere.

My dad retired from the Post Office at the age of 55, and soon got bored, and took a part-time job delivering flowers for the local florist. He did that for close to 30 years, until he stopped about a year ago.

[basefinder.livejournal.com]

My congratulations on your retirement planning. I couldn't retire right now unless I had Lotto help. But 66 might be doable.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

I think we are planning to spend part of retirement in Thailand, where a little money goes a long way. I would like that--to be able to just explore there and not have to worry about having to fly back home in a few weeks.

[pasticcio.livejournal.com]

I like the space in the backyard. It's zen.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

It is kind of zen, but it is kind of messy too. Next year's project is to tackle it and make it a place that feels good to be in.

[blistermoth.livejournal.com]

I finally downloaded Ingress. It's intriguing but confusing. Do you have a recommended source for a newbie?

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

I saw that your account became active (I got some points for that!)

The first thing is the Ingress map: https://www.ingress.com/intel

this will give you an overview of the activity in your neighborhood. Just put in your zip code and you can see where all the portals are. Green portals are Enlightened, blue are Resistance.

There is a training thing on the app under OPS. Do that first, and it will give you the basics.

the ingress site has a nice tutorial: https://support.ingress.com/hc/en-us

See if you can connect with some of the experienced players nearby. Most are more than happy to help you get started.

Have fun--it is a fascinating game that becomes more interesting as you go along.

Malida had an ultrasound

[crookedfingers.livejournal.com]

Malida sick? Why the ultrasound? My wife is also going to retire when she is 66 years old-I retired when I was 55 years old-peace

RE: Malida had an ultrasound

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

She's not sick--just a followup to monitor something that is benign to make sure it isn't going to cause trouble down the line.

Is your wife still working in bedside nursing? I am sure she will be more than ready to retire when the time comes. It's hard work.

RE: Malida had an ultrasound

[crookedfingers.livejournal.com]

My wife is a Rapid Response Nurse nights-no longer is a bedside nurse-peace

[neptunia67.livejournal.com]

Happy July :)

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

lol!

[neptunia67.livejournal.com]

I was a day or two late for and end-of-June greeting :-)

[pinkroo.livejournal.com]

retirement is an interesting concept.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

It is--the closer I get to it, the less it seems like I always thought it would be. I know I will have to keep doing something so I don't get bored, but It won't be going to work every day.

[insanezanne.livejournal.com]

Happy for you that you've got some retirement and choices. Especially happy for you that you are happy with your "now." That's the best! And looking at this picture, I have to comment, "Oh, how I miss my old Kindle that was JUST like this one!" I loved that thing but it fell to the side of my bed one night and I woke up the next morning, only to unknowingly step on it! My life has been a long journey of not planning well and thus, stepping where I didn't want to!

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

I picked up that book (like, literally picked up and looked at, didn't actually buy it) last week at the bookstore. I read the first two. I should probably pay off my library fine so I can read the third.

Actually, I was motivated by your post to try once more at my old library. Last time I tried to login after I switched computers and didn't have the login info stored in my browser anymore, it didn't work, and I figured they'd finally cut me off since I moved nearly 6 years ago. But I tried again just now, and it worked, so I must just have typed it wrong last time.

And now I'm on the waiting list for it.

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

This has totally made my day. I've read very little mainstream publisher fiction in the past year. I now have holds placed on half a dozen books I've been meaning to get to.