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Episode 994 Connections
This is Retirement Talk. I'm Del Lowery.
A few years ago we had dinner at the Fish House Restaurant in Stanley Park. Our fellow diners were folks we had met over the internet via these very podcasts; Charlie and Elaine Averill and their friend Phyllis. Charlie and Elaine live in Knox, Indiana. They are retired. Phyllis lives in Corvallis, Oregon and is also retired although she still works whenever she can. She was an accountant and loved her job. She is now in her eighties and not asked to work on a regular basis.
Charlie wore a blue shirt with a small logo printed on the front; SOAR which stands for Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees. He writes a monthly newsletter - soon to become a bi-monthly. He was in Vancouver to speak to a conference of retired Canadian members.
Charlie knows about retirement. He knows about problems the common person faces when they retire. He not only writes the newsletters for other retired members of his union but he answers their questions about whatever may be bothering them. We talked mainly about insurance questions. People have a hard time figuring out health insurance issues. There are many different circumstances that dictate what action may be taken to deal with the various problems. Government programs that affect individual insurance seem to be introduced over time and with enough cloud cover that it takes more than a little effort to understand. I suppose this is so democrats as well as republicans can vote for them without alienating their voters.
Charlie has devoted his retirement to helping others understand and deal with retirement. He travels to Washington DC to lobby concerning retirement issues. He also travels to conventions connected to his union and tries to stay abreast of the latest concerns. His commitment is inspirational.
He also gardens, watches one movie every day, and drinks coffee. Now I like to think that we are coffee connoisseurs so to speak. Then he asked me if we roasted our own beans. I had never considered such an action or even the question. Then he told me of going to his basement each day and roasting just enough beans for the day's coffee. He roasts them in a popcorn popper. He said he had even posted a video to YouTube illustrating the process. I watched it later that evening. It was good.
Charlie and Elaine live out in the country nine miles from a small town. She quilts; loves to cook and reads. They have made a seemingly comfortable and enjoyable retirement in the middle of Indiana: the heart of America.
Our lives are filled with people coming and going. We meet them; have an interaction and then never see them again. We move one direction and they move another. This is likely to be the fate of many of our relationships.
Recently two former students of mine (40 odd years ago) contacted me via Facebook. They were excellent students and have gone on to have made their mark in society: one a cartoonist and editorialist with a newspaper and the other a classical musical composer living in Manhattan. They are brothers. It is such a pleasure to know that we might get reacquainted and share a bit in our lives through stories of the past and hopefully experiences that lie yet in the future. Joining and participating in this social network may be a bit daunting at first but it can certainly result in enriching our lives right from our desk chair.
Then last weekend the Northwest Classical Guitar festival was held in my hometown. My present teacher from Vancouver stayed with us for three days. It was such a treat. She even gave me a free music lesson while there. Another guitarist that I met twenty five years ago also stayed at our place. It was fun to get reacquainted with him.
We even managed to put together a quick dinner one evening between two performances that included seven of us; four of which we had never met. We have never had a more laughable, loud, enjoyable gathering around our table. Energy was high, the food was great and enjoyment was the rule. Hard to beat an enthusiastic dinner with old friends and new acquaintances.
Life continues to offer us new experiences. They come if we are willing to take a bit of a risk and accept them. I do recall being a bit apprehensive about the busy past week events before they occurred. It is much safer to just keep life on an even keel. New ventures require new efforts and thoughts. We worry about the details. We worry about things that may go wrong. Sleep is tormented by meandering thoughts that race and then linger in our mind. Much easier to just pull in the reins and keep life smooth, easy and predictable. A choice must be made.
As I get older I can better understand this position of risking less. Life can be pretty good sitting in an easy chair and keeping the door locked. Perhaps that is a position we are all very likely to assume in later life. But for the moment - time to step out - while we still can.
This is Retirement Talk
If you have questions, comments or suggestions contact del@retirementtalk.org
A resource from a listener: Best Free Online Degrees for Seniors guide is designed to assist seniors who aspire to enhance their intellect or consider starting a new career path. It features an overview of the top online degrees for seniors, emphasizing their numerous advantages, and a broad range of subjects to choose from. A friend's website: Terra Firma Designs: Fine Furniture, Stained Glass and woodworking workshops. Copyright 2010 RetirementTalk.org |
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