Nowhere NEAR retirement!!--- yet!

 

While not yet feeling QUITE as 'up in years' as the old GEEZER pictured above, there ARE times when my body tells me I'm NO kid anymore! This month (June), I'll be hitting something of a 'landmark' B-day. Some thoughts and ramblings about it, down below!---

Ah yes, it's the month of June. Summertime officially arrives, the weather starts getting a LOT more hotter, AND--- the 'ol Loydster turns another year OLDER! As is usually the case, I also get a bit reflective around this time-- mostly thinking, especially as I've started getting 'more mature' in years (that means WELL-PAST middle age, folks!)-- about the passage of time. 

This year in particular, I guess I've been a bit more thoughtful than previous years-- for a few fairly good reasons. The passing of my Pops, back in December-- now means that BOTH of my parents are no longer around to help me celebrate the 'special day' (a strange feeling indeed!). Also, (on a MUCH more CHEERFUL note!) my mama-in-law, Mrs. Sandy-- is having a 'landmark B-day' herself-- turning 80 this month. AND-- lastly, there's the fact that I'll be 62 this month. The first year that folks in my 'age bracket', are eligible to draw Social Security.

Boy-HOWDY! There were INDEED times in my life, when time felt like it passed just like THIS! Other times, though-- it DRAGGED-ON ever-so SLOW! It all depended on the situation, that's for SURE!

Now, for me personally-- drawing on the S.S. fund is OUT of the question! Mostly just because the money I'm qualified to draw from it, at age 62-- is SO small! I could NEVER pay bills, and support the wifey and myself-- on such a DINKY amount. 

So, I'll just keep plugging-away, good Lord willing (of course!)--working full-time-- for a few more years. The 'full benefit' age, is 'over-65'-- and THAT is the target I'm aiming for. But-- even at THAT point, I'll more than likely have to at least continue thrashing away PART TIME at something.

Well, hopefully I'll be a bit more mobile than THIS in around 4 to 5 years or so! THAT is my target-time for at least 'semi-retirement'!

What I'm hoping to be able to do, is to at least semi-retire at age 66. I'll be up for the FULL amount on the S.S. check, and I can then cut back to a 24 - 30 hour or so work-week. That should also help keep the bills (MOST important: our mortgage!) paid, and keep buying our groceries!

Whether my current job will work with me on that plan or not-- I'm not sure. At one time, (about a year or so back) when I mentioned my 'post-age-65' plan-- they had said they couldn't keep somebody 'part time'. If that's still the case-- then I'll have to find some other folks who'd be onboard with my being only 'part time'! Because, again-- the good Lord willing, THAT is my plan after 65!

YES!-- That scene in 'The Santa Clause'! THAT is what getting older can sometimes feel like!!

Seriously, all of the above goofy images aside-- Considering the above-mentioned 'age bracket' that I'm in-- I consider myself pretty BLESSED! Yes, I've got my share of aches and discomforts, and some genuinely chronic areas of pain! But-- I'm still able to move around 'under my own power', and I'm STILL able-bodied enough to earn a living! Believe me, I'm thankful and grateful EVERYDAY for that! Things for me, could be a whole LOT worse. Again, God willing-- I'm hoping I'll be holding up as decent as I am now, in 4 to 5 years or so!

Of COURSE-- let's also not forget the OTHER thing I consider myself to be BLESSED with! It's that I'm a KID at heart! I really do think that's one of the MAIN elements going for me, that's prevented me from 'getting OLD before my time'! 

I guess some folks won't believe it--- but keeping that 'over-grown kid' outlook, I think-- is what's kept me BOTH sane, and reasonably HEALTHY! That is indeed something to be HAPPY about! I hope that sometime in the not-too-distant future, whenever I'm blessed with grandkids--- I'll be able to be the YOUNGEST acting grandpa around!!

Oh, I'll be looking for one of THESE little numbers too, in a few years! I think I'll want one with a bit more comfortable PADDING on it than THIS one though!

                                                  Stay SAFE, SANE and HAPPY gang! See you next month!