It’s been a long time since my last post. Believe me it’s not because I have nothing to say, it’s because I can’t find the time to sit here and write about it. I have had friends and family in my life through out the years, and I have done things such as travel, go to concerts, dinners, shopping, boating, and golfing. Everything went in cycles, but what never changed was the 7 to 5 work grind, that was always first and foremost. It had to be, there were bills to pay, and if I wanted to do any of the things I just mentioned you needed money, so off to work I went. Along the way I saved, could I have saved more; of course. Will what I have saved be enough, only time will tell, but I will say that the effort that went into controlling my spending and holding back on some of those “wants” that weren’t “needs” did pay off, and because of those times in my life I am happy to say that I have almost reached my first anniversary of retirement. All my life I would say, “when I retire I want to do this”, or when I retire I would like to go here”, well I certainly haven’t even scratched the surface, but I’m sure moving in the right direction.
I had this certain expectation of what retirement was going to be. I didn’t see myself sitting in my house watching TV all day, nope, I was going to be socializing and traveling, and doing activities. I am so very happy to say that in the first year my expectations have been met and exceeded. It started as a busy year relocating to our current home, which is located in an Adult Sun City Community. After settling in we started meeting people and joining groups. We got involved in game nights, dances, dinners, golfing, and exercising and now as we continue to expand our activities list I am now meeting new people in the community. I’m still as excited about our community as I was when we first moved here. It hasn’t slowed down and we are having as much or more fun than at first.
At first I was scrambling to do all and get involved with everything. Almost like a kid in a candy store, afraid they’re going to run out, so go for it all. A year later, it’s not running out, but changing, expanding and getting better. The end of August will be one year since I left my last career job. I thought I was going to die, I was scared to death about money, being lonely and bored, and figuring I would be back to work full-time in under 6 months. I can honestly say that if we stayed in our previous house this probably would have happened. I didn’t have the base of friends that I have acquired here in less than a year. We lived there 5 years and never developed friendships like we have in the short time we’re here.
I write this down because I am hoping that as you near retirement and if you consider yourself a somewhat sociable person and want to meet people of similar ages and likes, then please look at an Adult Community, they are not for old people. I can tell you that I am getting healthier than I have ever been and have a chance to look better in my 60’s than I did in my 50’s. Age is nothing, it’s your attitude and how you go about life. All my adult life I was in a controlled environment, meaning someone else controlled the majority of my life, my employer. Now I’m in control and I’m doing the things that I have been waiting 35 years to do, at my own pace and my own time. Embrace your older years, it’s still time to grow and develop. It’s time to learn and expand your knowledge and it’s time to share those also.
Work hard and long when you have to, and prepare for the later years in your life, because the best is still to come. Enjoy your travels, it’s getting better and better…….
Next post is our trip to New Mexico!
A New Road to Travel 