I sometimes wonder if I’m doing enough in my first year of retirement? There is probably so much more I could be doing with my life in the area of helping others.  I guess I’m just not ready for that yet.  The angel on my shoulder feels like I should be delivering meals, mentoring youth, cleaning up trash, and volunteering for events.  The little devil sitting on my other shoulder says it’s “my time” and I should simply take care of myself.  I write this blog to clear my mind and to provide a sense of daily accomplishment.  I run everyday to keep myself in shape.  I can’t remember a time when I’ve felt better or enjoyed myself so much.  I watch sports, read books, and learn from documentaries.  Should I feel guilty?

I look at my two other friends that have retired this year.  One is still doing some odd jobs related to his former business, earned a certification in recycling and readily volunteers, plus he went to a guitar-building school for two weeks.  My other friend is getting ready to go back to school to earn a degree in wine and spirits, while working with his wife to manage a hobby vineyard.  All I’ve done is travel, drink wine and spirits, think about learning to play the ukulele, take bottles to the recycling center, learn to cook one meal a week, and continue to run, conquering the Hood to Coast a week ago.  It doesn’t look like I’m keeping up with the Joneses.  As I use this common phrase, I didn’t even know that Keeping Up With The Joneses was a comic strip by Arthur R. “Pop” Momand in 1913.  It continued to run in The New York World and other magazines until 1940, and is one of several references to the origin of this phrase.  Of course, every one has had a neighbor named Smith or Jones.

Competition is probably healthy, even in retirement.  We want to look better than our contemporaries, hoping that the next person that looks at our ID will be shocked at our age.  Since we aren’t earning a paycheck any more, earnings does not seem to be a competitive issue any more.  Money in the bank doesn’t seem to matter, since the more you have the less likely you can spend it all in retirement.  My goal is to pass along as little as possible.  I think that I have just enough to do what I want while still leaving a tidy sum for the kids.

Realistically, I’ve never been very handy, so I don’t have to worry about volunteering for Habitat for Humanity.  Plus, no one would ever want my advice on investing in real estate.  I don’t have any talent to share, so music, dance, theater, and arts are not my thing, and I haven’t made a dime writing.  I’m not very good with kids, or even animals for that matter.  Cars are also not a passion, as I continue to rule out retirement projects.  I do enjoy sports, but don’t have the skills to teach or the patience to coach, and am probably too old to play.  I have not completely ruled out the senior softball leagues, however.  I don’t like to hike, bike, fish, or hunt, and I’m not even a golfer.  Although, I do own golf clubs and skis – just in case the opportunity comes along, but neither have been used in the last two years.  Bowling isn’t even an interest, even though it’s an indoor sport.  All these things considered, it doesn’t leave much on my retirement list except travel, watching sports, reading, word games, writing, and running.

So where does that lead me -except feeling guilty?  I don’t enjoy big crowds, traffic, and the great outdoors.  My taste buds are dead, my sense of smell poor, and my hearing an issue. Fortunately, the legs and knees are still excellent, and I continue to get into better shape.   Maybe I’ll run another marathon, or hike up Mount Hood.  No, wait, heights are an issue!  It all comes back to travel….and that’s my sole goal in retirement, especially when you consider the process of elimination.  Take that….Mr. Jones!