This week, in a fit of "What If", I calculated m potential income from Social Security.
It is a bit of a pipe dream at this moment - after all, I still have some time to go until I can even think about taking the lower level of Social Security - but I was curious about what the number was.
I harbor very few illusions about retirement - if I get that far. At best, it will be a quiet retreat from a world that will have outpaced me even more than it has now. If I am extremely lucky, it will allow me to live in peace and silence.
(I am sure The Ravishing Mrs. TB has plans for travel. I am okay with travel - in small amounts. In my best world, I never go more than a day's drive away from home.)
If I am less lucky of course, there is no Social Security and no retirement and I am certainly not left to my own devices by society. Which will be sad, of course, but there is only so much I can do to prepare. Barring a complete societal break down, one does the best one can.
I can see a life that involves almost no interaction with society at large, or only the interaction that really want. No silliness from social media. No news about items I cannot control (and which may be marginally true at best). No government reminders of how grateful I should be to pay my taxes.
I am sure that it will not be everything that I want it to be. But I am finding that my wants are very few. Perhaps my wishes will finally meet reality
At 82, I am well into retirement. It's totally different then I expected.There is a big learning curve of being together, 24/7. As big an adjustment as marriage itself. I, too, worried about finances,but find that our needs are so few that careful management gives us a comfortable life. The exceptions are rising health care costs and health problems growing surprisingly fast. Too much time and money spent on Dr. appointments!Also, a jewel lacking in my life is a good, reasonable, skilled handyman.All the things we once could do now have to wait for help. And help is in short supply. I hope that, eventually, that person will appear. By and large, its a good time in our lives. Time to pursue some of those things that working life curtailed. Be of good cheer. Julia
ReplyDeleteAs Julia mentioned, things hubby and I could once do often require a handyman. And I can't count the number of times we expected one and they never showed up.
ReplyDeleteFortunately (?) Since two of our three boys live with us again, they can help with a LOT of what we can't do as well as we could.
But things like peaked roofs need an expert (even my brother in construction had a bit of a hard time the day he climbed up); and tin is not the same as shingles.
We also find ourselves strangely busier in the health appointment department, but we are fortunate that do far our insurance has covered most all of our costs.
I expect that if (when) social security ceases to be viable, barter might become popular again.
*Hugs* God bless.
Thank you Julia. That is a very interesting perspective. I suppose I had not completely thought of the 24/7 in quite that way before.
ReplyDeleteFrom my parent's experience, expenses (except for health, of course) have largely dropped as well. And I expect that they would for us too. They are fortunate in that they have a handyman that lives just down the road from them - but that, too, should be considered.
Thanks Linda. You are fortunate to you have your sons with you.
ReplyDeleteBarter will become more popular not only if Social Security ends, but if cash ends too. I, for one, am not too keen to have every cent I spent tracked by the government.