Fourth Quarter

Almost there. October is half over and then there will be three.

As I begin to approach and prepare for this new beginning, I have been watching friends and co-workers who have retired before me. Admittedly, some have become old crones and curmudgeons overnight, while others have welcomed these years with open arms. Not wanting to be one of the crones nor be married to a curmudgeon, I began to research the pitfalls you may find in retirement. I found an article that detailed the Four Major Fears of Retirement.

1. Financial Ruin
2. Filling the Days
3. Faultering Physical Capabilities
4. Failing Mental Capabilities.

As I reflected on those fears, I began to realize that if you take care of #2, the other fears would take care of themselves. When the day of retirement comes, you have either saved enough or you haven't - you have gotten out of debt or you still carry heavy loads of debts. If you have reached retirement age and you have not taken care of the debts and savings, then fear of financial ruin is a real one. But even if you have not saved enough dollars and cents, use your common sense and newly found extra time to find ways to economize. But here is the good news. If you focus on Fear #2 and fill your days with using your brain and your body, the remaining fears will not be near as frightening.

Of course, there is a reason that finances are at the top of the worry list. It doesn't matter how much you have saved or prepared, it's knowing that you can't predict what tomorrow holds that makes you worry that you may not have saved enough to get you to the end of the road. On the other side of that fear, I think about the recent death of Steve Jobs. One of the richest men in the world. He worked until the end. But even had he retired, financial ruin would have been at the bottom of his Fear List; because even with all his money and assets, none of it could give him the one thing he needed. We all walk that path eventually and it matters not how much or how little you have in the bank or investments.

There are no predictable effects on physical health, mental health, financial health, or self-esteem. Retirement is one of life's many milestones. But ponder about the many transitions you have already navigated in your life: teen years, college life, launching a career or business, marriage, having babies, raising your children, facing the empty nest, now paying for someone else's college life, assisting ailing parents (perhaps financially as well as physically), discovering the joys of being a grandparent. Now recall the fears and anxities and came along as those milestones approached  - yet you managed each one and each one brought joys along the way.

For me, that last time I walk into the office for another 8-hour stint will be a Day of Delight. But the best part of that day will be when I walk in the door and call out, "Honey, I'm home!".

Five More to Go

What can I say? I'm a serious procrastinator when it comes to writing on my blog. But today could not be ignored as I pulled down and trashed another calendar page. Five more months to R-Day. But now I'm getting nervous. No house built or purchased yet. No options in sight. If God doesn't turn up that perfect dwelling soon, R-Day may end up being postponed. I welcome any and all prayer support on our behalf that He will soon reveal our new home.

Ocean Breezes

Ron and I are on a long weekend with our son and DIL. This is one last trip with them before Baby G arrives in October. We drove through heavy rains on the way down. Yesterday was a bit overcast but nicely cool by the water. A typical Florida vacation, we soaked up the rays most of the day, went to Pompano Joe's for seafood, came back to the balcony to enjoy dessert while listening to the surf.

Here we are on day 2. Ron and I were up early walking the shoreline and watching the sunrise while the other two slept in. Right this minute, I can't imagine too many better place to be than on the balcony with our coffee cups watching the sun makes it's full appearance over the horizon. Life is good. (sorry - couldn't get my photo to upload with this iPad)

Is Anybody Out There?

OK. I know people are reading my blog. For some reason, only four lovely people have signed up to be "followers" of my blog. However, since yesterday at this time, there are have been 14 visitors to my site. So I guess there are people out there who are finding something of interest in my musings.  They just prefer to be blog stalkers rather than blog followers.

"There are peole who come into our lives as welcome as a cool breeze in summer--and last about as long." Alan Christoffersen

So for those of you who are reading anonymously...thank you. Even if I never know who you are, when I see my reader count go up, it is as satisfying as a cool summer breeze.

Needs vs. Wants

As I approach my next Life Passage and have those financial worries coursing through my veins, I am constantly checking my spreadsheets to visually remind myself that our retirement incomes will be able to meet our needs. However, like most Americans, my wants far exceed my needs. Yet many of the things we continually want may give temporary pleasure, but they do not necessarily contribute to our happiness. When I stop to realize that I will be able to meet my basic needs and even be able to gather in many of the wants, I realize that in giving up some of the wants (which cause me to have to continue to work 8 hours a day), then what I will gain in return is more time and energy for those things I know will contribute to my happiness. Time for helping family, time for socializing, time for my various interests, and especially time for snuggling and playing with three special boys and the little girl soon to join us.

Time with these three and the one on the way.

More times for precious moments like these - when you turn around to find a little one has grabbed your granny glasses.

Mark always like my rhinestone-studded glasses best.

From Peter Walsh: “In life, there are limits. We can’t all climb Mt. Everest. We can’t all live in mansions with butlers and drive Rolls-Royces. We can’t all have an unlimited source of funds just as we can’t have unlimited natural resources. On planet Earth there are limitations to be had despite desires, wants, entitlements, and wishes. And despite your best efforts, limits are all around us. Some of our limits are flexible – some are absolute limits beyond which we cannot go. Pretending limits do not exist can be a serious mistake."

Shorter and Shorter

Look at this calendar! Here I am at June 1. Seven more months to go. After just 30 days, I will be down to two rows of calendars.  If you see a spot of color near the top left, that is a little graphic I have added - it's a woman daydreaming about sun and sand, chaise lounges, and cold beverages. I just need to add three little boys and one little girl to the picture.

I am now on the countdown of the last time I'll do this. I just returned to the office after attending my last "end of year" cookout with RCPS. And I made my appointment with the Teacher Retirement counselor just now. Now that makes it real!

The Margo Story

If you are interested in the story behind how my Nikko blue got her name of Margo, please click here to visit my sister's blog.

Beautiful Blooms

My Margo Hydrangea that sits on my little brick patio. Small blooms but proliferate for a "contained" hydrangea. Hoepfully, I will be moving Margo to her new home in North Carolina soon.

Margo Hydrangea

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Small Pleasures

Funny how a single little clematis bloom can make you smile.