Retirement

Several weeks ago I was traveling with three other preachers to the Missouri State Fair. One of them (about my age) asked me how one should go about planning for retirement.
My answer was that by the time you are in your early thirties you need to find a good career with a good union pension and a 401K or similar plan.

I don't think that was the answer he was hoping for!

I bring up retirement today because it is the first of November and I am going to take up the writing challenge of posting daily; most days will be about something for which I am thankful.

I never would have imagined that I would be retired in my mid fifties. We are far from wealthy and Chris is still working, but we are comfortable and I am enjoying life. I have a freedom that allows me to do things and make choices that working would prohibit.

A year ago I was able to be in there when my siblings had transplant surgery.
I have been able to take my parents to Chicago for an event they wanted to attend.
Last month, I took my mom to Wrigley Field for a Cubs game.
Without a work schedule, I have been free to take more ministry jobs and was a part of six different kids and youth camps this past summer.
Traveling with Chris only requires one of us to get time off work which makes scheduling so much easier.
I have been able to ride my motorcycle as often as I like and have made several long rides of 300 to 500 miles/day.
I don't get the exercise that I need to be getting, but that isn't because I don't have the time for it. It's just because I've been lazy.
And there have been many. many more great benefits.

All-in-all, it's a pretty cool thing.

And that kicks off my 30 days of posting for the month of November.
I'll try to mix in a few other posts, but figure that if I have a theme of thankfulness I will most definitely have something to write about every day!

John <><