Ticket 2 Ride

My life was a busy one, and then it wasn’t. Sudden retirement is a sea change, for sure. Thankfully, my finances were good, and I was reasonably healthy, so I had both feet on the ground.

The thing I had an abundance of was time. Of all life’s mysteries, time still befuddles me. We use it, analyze and theorize about it, and waste too much of it. We don’t own or even control time, there’s a sort of partnership we develop with it. Time exists with or without us. How’s that for deep thought? Thankfully, I have plenty of time to wrestle with big and mysterious concepts.

My fiancé tries to understand my need for a daily nap. I do not sleep for eight or more hours at night. Five or six are enough for me, as I generally stay up late working on various hobbies or projects. During the day, my energy level dips and I find myself sluggish and a very dull boy. The dog and I share a lot of similar nap tendencies, although I do not sleep on my back with my arms and legs in the air, nor do I run in my sleep. At least I do not think so.

After being retired for a year and a half, I cannot imagine working a fulltime job again. I don’t know how I did it for forty-plus years, it is exhausting just thinking about it. Sleep is definitely not overrated. If sleep is ever on trial, I will volunteer to be a character witness.

I have retired friends who live a very hectic life. What is wrong with those people? I understand the need to exercise, work a part-time job, take classes, travel, care for grandchildren and volunteer – but that’s a job for close to a dozen people. My staying out of the workforce makes it easier for someone else to find a job. My absences at the community center allow others to use the space. Airplane travel scares me so one less person screaming during take off would be appreciated by fellow travelers. My grandkids do not need to see my bad habits. Children have enough problems growing up these days. My contribution is through not contributing.

This is a pretty good country where a person can retire while they are still healthy and live comfortably. That is obviously not true of everyone, and that is shame. I am deeply appreciative of the opportunities I have been afforded and the good health I enjoy. My biggest fear was health care, and biggest challenge was figuring out Medicare Supplemental Insurance plans. Holy hell! Filling in the gaps for what Medicare does not pay for: dental, vision, drugs, etc. Every October, I break out in a sweat as I begin to wonder, do I have the best coverages? Am I paying to much? Is there something I’m not getting that I need? Were Joe Namath and Jimmy Walker always this annoying?? As the deadline approaches, my chest tightens and my heart beats faster than a Bee Gees song. Am I having a heart attack? Which hospital is in my plan? Things you need to know.