These were the words of my wife as she left the house this morning:  “I owe, I owe, it’s off to work I go.”  I know, I know, because I’m not saving any dough.  She’s working because she wants to; I’m not working because I want to.  I pay my share of the bills through a pension, social security, and by withdrawing about a half a percentage of our IRA each month.  That should last about 20 years, and take me into my mid 80’s.   By then, I will have completed most of my bucket list, which does not include living to be 100.  From that point on, all my debts should be paid and the pension plus social security should be more than enough.  It’s a good plan that should take me all over the world and ultimately home, where ever that is by then.

I’m not earning or saving, as I have for the last 50 years.  It’s an odd feeling, knowing every dollar I spend will no longer be replaced.  When the money runs out, I’ll simply stop traveling. Once more, without a job, I’ll probably never be able to get another credit card, nor will I want one.  I did recently try to get another gold card, hoping to get some mileage points, and transfer the balance from my other card for 0% interest.  This would have delayed withdrawing any money from my IRA for a year, saving us a few bucks, or more likely stretching our travel another year.  Apparently, my debt to earnings ratio, without my wife’s income, was too high to qualify.  I’m apparently no longer worthy of self sufficiency, at least for the purpose of securing an additional credit card, until they lower their standards and call back.  Will I swallow my pride?

Once my wife joins me in retirement five years from now, I’m sure there will be a flurry of spending on travel, but we’ll probably also reduce our monthly expenses.  The current plan is to sell the house and spend the profits on storage and rental.  Maybe a year in Hawaii or Italy?  Certainly a 6 month or longer cruise around the world.  Our kids are now somewhat financially secure, the pets are aging, and our possessions are dwindling.  Eventually, we may settle in a smaller place with a view and in a warmer climate.  A beach to walk nearby would be ideal, with access to a pool.  Life is good today, but why not dream of better.

I think I will be tired of traveling by the time I’m 80, maybe stretching that five more years until my wife feels the same.  I know the strains of travel, relieved to get home to my own bed and routine.  I have two more states to visit and feel that we’ve conquered  only the Caribbean islands.   I need to experience the Northern Lights, the Southern Hemisphere, the Great Wall, the Pyramids, Greece, and Australia.  Will I have enough dough for all of this travel?  Most of all, I want to stay healthy.  I want to watch my grand children grow to be adults, and watch Indiana University win another NCAA basketball championship.  I also want a world of peace, and for other children to have the same opportunities that have been made available to me.  For today, however, I’ll settle for an Arby’s Jamoica shake and a sunny day!

Low dough, low dough, but off to lunch I go.