In retirement, the days of the week quickly lose their identity, blending together and distinguished only by the sunrise and sunset. There is no longer a need to set an alarm and little concern about scheduling conflicts. For me, now, every day is just Runday, the only commitment that I really need to accomplish. The sun gets me out of bed, usually just before seven until time change screws that up. I like to hit the pavement before it gets too hot, even though most days it’s nearly 80 degrees by the time I get the dog duties and push-ups completed. By the time I get to the half-mile marker I’m already sweating profusely, and at the finish line my t-shirt is soaked.
It will be good to get back to the cooler Oregon temperatures in a few weeks. I might then have enough energy to do some longer runs. So far, this summer has been draining on my 71-year-old body. Apparently, the Sahara sands that typically drift over this area not only filter the intensity of the sun’s rays but also give us the striking sunsets that people flock to the beaches to watch. We were there last night for the show from Englewood Beach, but the clouds got in the way. Fortunately, the Fourth of July from Venice Beach was clear just a few days ago.
I’m proud to report that my running streak now sits at 5,305 days without fail. Despite the soreness in my hip muscles and the lack of motivation, I somehow manage to fulfill this daily commitment to myself. December 28th will mark fifteen consecutive years, but still a long way off. By then, I will have been to two more weddings, at least two more baseball games, celebrated another birthday, hopefully will have avoided another hurricane, and joyfully will have witnessed many more sunsets from the beach. I’m counting down the Rundays until this next milestone.
When I retired seven years ago, I thought I had things pretty well set up financially. After all, I had a sturdy four-legged stool of Social Security, a generous pension, 401k savings, and a working wife. She expected to work for two more years, adding to our retirement savings. However, the company she worked for had other plans and soon she too was collecting Social Security, while the stool was getting a bit wobbly.
Covid struck while we were living in a pricy downtown Portland apartment and travel plans were put on hold. We started building a Florida retirement home and money began to rapidly flow only one way -out. We invested more than expected in our home, although wisely deciding on a resort community, pool and upgrades that will ultimately pay off. Needless to say, our budget has grown tight with my wife’s champaign taste and our mutual interest in travel. We’ve driven across country twice – Oregon to Florida; ventured to Glacier National Park; toured the Midwest and stayed at the iconic Grand Hotel; boarded Viking luxury ocean & river cruises to Normandie, Santorini, Alaska, Hawaii, and Egypt; took side trips to Miami, Savannah, St. Augustine, Tampa, the Keys, Frankfurt, Pittsburgh, Athens, Venice, Amsterdam, Paris, Petra, Honolulu, Bangkok, London, Rome, and Vancouver; plus, utilized the Marriott Vacation Clubs in Maui, the Big Island, Kauai, Amelia Island, Miami Beach, Phuket, Las Vegas, Panama City, Hyde Park, Marco Island, Orlando, and San Francisco.
We’ve already paid most of the cruise and lodging expenses to travel next spring from South America, through Africa, and into Spain, plus five nights in Mallorca. Airfare is due soon, another worthwhile drain on our 401k savings but wisely settling for economy seating rather than our normal business class accommodations. These pleasurable journeys have all been anticipated retirement expenses, although in too many cases, more costly than expected in these inflationary times. Even a McDonald’s Diet Coke is now $2.17, up dramatically from the traditional $1 paid since I can remember.
Increasing food costs, insurance, gas, dental, medical, and utility bills are quickly eating into my retirement budget, while contingency funds are running out. This coupled with recent unexpected setbacks like a lost diamond from my wife’s wedding ring, a bad thermostat, and other surprise home repairs have me wondering about our retirement future. Will we be back at work after the traveling is done?
It’s my younger wife’s 67th birthday today and she wanted a palm to replace the “nasty Florida oak” out behind our lanai. It was just not tropical enough for her tastes. I had that done while we were in Egypt. This morning I added a wrapped present under the tree, a camel Limoges box to add to her porcelain collection. She actually enjoyed riding her camel with the pyramids in the background and tried to get me to relax by leaning over to kiss me. I, of course, had a death grip on the saddle. It was a memorable experience for both of us.
The trip and built-in dining cupboards were having installed this week took another serious drain on our dwindling retirement savings. I half-jokingly offered to take her to Freddy’s, her favorite fast food restaurant for dinner and instead settled on Owen’s Fish Camp in Sarasota to celebrate the occasion. Many of the area restaurants are closed on Mondays, so this posed another challenge in making this decision, undoubtedly considered cheap on my part by those of you reading this post.
As it turns out, she then arranged an early dinner later next week with friends at this particular restaurant, so we agreed to change to our seafood standby, Dockside, for her birthday dinner. My wife tends to change her mind frequently when it comes to dining and therefore further compromised by finally settling on buying a couple of lobsters and grilling them herself. DIY – Do it Yourself – tails for her and her “cheap” husband. I don’t mind being called that since she usually gets what she wants regardless of my constant pleas to save money.
We went to Tahiti for her 60th, including some pearls, and hope to do something special for her 70th. Does that sound cheap? We also added-on London and Stonehenge to our Egyptian cruise last month and went to three London musicals, including SIX, so she cruises to her tap classes in her Lexus convertible singing along with the CDs. Also, many magnet purchases (now that’s a cheap souvineer) from Egypt, Jordan, and England moved her total over 225, decorating our garage refrigerator. She has a great tan from living here in the resort community and looks youthful for her age. I’m not feeling sorry for her – just love. I tried to express this in a poem:
6T7
Happy 6T7, My Babe in Arms. With A Florida tan, And womanly charms.
After built-ins and Egypt, We’ve emptied the tank. There’s only love, Left in the bank.
No fancy pearls, From this old gramp. DIY Lobster Tails, Instead of Fish Camp.
You could have had, A Freddy’s treat. But with Father’s Day, Too much red meat.
Your kiss on a camel, Tried to keep me calm. So I wrapped a memento, Under the BD palm.
We added a cartouche, To your gold chain. And a SIX CD, So you can sing the refrain.
There’s more magnets, On the fridge. Like Abbey Road, And the Tower Bridge.
We did our best, To mark your 66th year. Now Let’s get ready, For some 6T7 cheer!
Here’s to loving you, My adorable hottie. Wishing you fortune, And Angels on your Body.
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