I started this morning with a phone call to the Social Security Administration. I had to listen to a long recording about fraud and other details that seemed to drone on then enter my s.s. number only to be told that they did not have enough operators to take my call. I wasn’t even given the option to hold, instead it was “call back at another time.” They did suggest that I not call early in the day or early in the month, but I need to enroll in Medicare Part B by December 15th. Another source told me that the enrollment period was January and February, so I’m not taking any chances. It’s another hassle that I would just assume not deal with, but a critical step in the retirement process. I’m still on my wife’s COBRA but would prefer the savings of my entitled government health benefits. The term “entitlement” seems a bit like the words of a spoiled brat or a grumpy old man, so I would justify it with the words “earned through 50 years of work.”

I had already tried to do this on-line but apparently the information I submitted was different from what  they had on file. It’s just like a trip to the DMV – filled with surprises and hassles! I’ll have to fight my way through the switchboard to get any answers. This coupled with an attempt to provide my wife the balance of her credit card have occupied the first couple hours of my morning. At least I was finally able to get into her account, as we plan to pay off all credit card balances by the end of the year. It will give us a fresh start, as I continue to calculate the amount of money we’ll need to continue a comfortable retirement filled with lots of travel adventures. 

We hope to see a movie this afternoon, taking advantage our Regal Unlimited membership – all the movies we want to watch at any time. There will be no need to take advantage of senior or matinee discounts. We’ve already paid for all the movies we’ll watch next year, and while you’re in the theater you can’t spend any money. It’s even better than standing in line because your phone has to be off, so there’s no way to shop for at least two hours. The added benefit is there’s no checking e-mail, social media or scores. I’m so easily distracted at home and the quiet of the theater allows me to concentrate on one thing – the movie. We’re even able to walk to two neighborhood Regals, giving us some conversation time before the lights go out and the entertainment begins. 

Knowing me, I’ll keep a list of all the movies we see in the next year to assure that I made a good investment. In the meantime, I’ll be trying to get through to the Social Security Administration. There’s a reason it shortens to SS (Schutzstaffel) with its similar bureaucratic methods. As I continue to stress through this blog, retirement is not without hassles. It’s not always peace-of-mind, blue skies, margaritas, and magnificent sunsets.