This time last year i was at work in the morning. Age 73, i decided that i needed to go on with life before life ends me. Wrote a short note to the boss and laid on his desk. Out front to lady and said i was going home and probably will not be back. And i was not. No gold watch, hugs, farewells or party.
Got home told the wife i quit. She had quit her part time job a few days ago.
Now what? No salary, benefits and all kinds of time on our hands. Concerns were many. After one year i have found:
Adjustment:
50 years ago i had completed my time in the service but still found myself in the high lands of SE Asia drinking beer with my pot head buddies. Got hit that night and medivac came and haul some away. That morning i decided it was time to go home and asked the company clerk how i get out of the bush and find my way home (that was an experience). Got home on Wednesday and Saturday went to local small town bar. Reception was not even close to what i thought it would be. Sat at bar with passed out veteran and bought my own beer for the next two hours. Not one person in bar came up to me to say welcome home.
Sunday i planned a trip to California in my 68 delta 88. At that time SE Asia became only a moment in time and was a blur for me. New day and new adventures. I had adjusted (and i do not need a welcome home).
This adjustment now was slower but in time, when morning came, it was good not to go to the job i liked and missed somewhat. I did adjust. No one but ourselves to answer to.
Monies:
Income is now $4,700 per month from SS and one other source, Monthly bills are $18-2,000 each month with the big item insurance, no debt. Balance for living. Wife asks what i do with that monies and i ask her the same thing. However during the year we have not use any of our saving or interest on our savings for living.
Did our 2020 income tax. With income as such no tax so took $20,000 out of IRA to Ross. That added a tax bill of $1,000 which i can wipe out with credit on the first stimulus plus some earn income credit (maybe, if i did this right) That $20,000 saved us about $4,500 in taxes before so it did work.
Time:
I have found there is not enough time in the day to get done what i plan to do the night before. In fact not enough time in my life to do what i want to do.
-found a diamond willow patch so have all kinds of sticks
-built a play house for my kids in 1983. Finish inside with insulation and electric and haul to teenage grand kids. They did use it.
-built a new food plot with two man stand and room to sleep with heat. Arrow a five point and if i count all horns it will score in the 160. However i prefer to score as the Brunner and Hanson buck were score so it nets and grosses in the 150. It is a 150 class buck.
-one trip of 750 miles on Goldwing with wife. That is not acceptable.
-young, long blonde hair lady got her thrill by exposing both boobs to me as i rode my scooter east of Devils Lake on highway 2. That is acceptable.
-more work on house than i thought there was.
-need to do a better job on my food plots next year.
-hope to get my dad's KB5 he bought new in 1948 this year, Low miles and in excellent shape.
-son had a grandson for us. That makes 10 now.
-list can go on but this is to long already.
-most of my rifles are old and over half i have not shot some due to lack of finding bullets of that caliber, Need to find and shoot in 2021.
But there were issues to:
Five members of the extended family passed away in 2020. Two young ladies with cancer.
Wife got cancer and after the year end battle, doc says it is good.
Relationship needs mending with two family members and that will probably never happen. Old and a lot to do yet.
There are quite moments when i reflect on the present, past and future.
During that time i get a feeling in my body of peace, comfort and well being, It is a good feeling and thought turn to tomorrow.
Yes a lot of roads we could of gone done, a lot of, if only and maybe but it is what it is and all is good.
So for what it is worth, life is indeed good and for all of you live it to its fullest. Retire earlier than we did if it is possible. Maybe plan things a little better than we did like never used birth controls and finally one day she quit, finally, getting with child. Best of the new year for all. db
Got home told the wife i quit. She had quit her part time job a few days ago.
Now what? No salary, benefits and all kinds of time on our hands. Concerns were many. After one year i have found:
Adjustment:
50 years ago i had completed my time in the service but still found myself in the high lands of SE Asia drinking beer with my pot head buddies. Got hit that night and medivac came and haul some away. That morning i decided it was time to go home and asked the company clerk how i get out of the bush and find my way home (that was an experience). Got home on Wednesday and Saturday went to local small town bar. Reception was not even close to what i thought it would be. Sat at bar with passed out veteran and bought my own beer for the next two hours. Not one person in bar came up to me to say welcome home.
Sunday i planned a trip to California in my 68 delta 88. At that time SE Asia became only a moment in time and was a blur for me. New day and new adventures. I had adjusted (and i do not need a welcome home).
This adjustment now was slower but in time, when morning came, it was good not to go to the job i liked and missed somewhat. I did adjust. No one but ourselves to answer to.
Monies:
Income is now $4,700 per month from SS and one other source, Monthly bills are $18-2,000 each month with the big item insurance, no debt. Balance for living. Wife asks what i do with that monies and i ask her the same thing. However during the year we have not use any of our saving or interest on our savings for living.
Did our 2020 income tax. With income as such no tax so took $20,000 out of IRA to Ross. That added a tax bill of $1,000 which i can wipe out with credit on the first stimulus plus some earn income credit (maybe, if i did this right) That $20,000 saved us about $4,500 in taxes before so it did work.
Time:
I have found there is not enough time in the day to get done what i plan to do the night before. In fact not enough time in my life to do what i want to do.
-found a diamond willow patch so have all kinds of sticks
-built a play house for my kids in 1983. Finish inside with insulation and electric and haul to teenage grand kids. They did use it.
-built a new food plot with two man stand and room to sleep with heat. Arrow a five point and if i count all horns it will score in the 160. However i prefer to score as the Brunner and Hanson buck were score so it nets and grosses in the 150. It is a 150 class buck.
-one trip of 750 miles on Goldwing with wife. That is not acceptable.
-young, long blonde hair lady got her thrill by exposing both boobs to me as i rode my scooter east of Devils Lake on highway 2. That is acceptable.
-more work on house than i thought there was.
-need to do a better job on my food plots next year.
-hope to get my dad's KB5 he bought new in 1948 this year, Low miles and in excellent shape.
-son had a grandson for us. That makes 10 now.
-list can go on but this is to long already.
-most of my rifles are old and over half i have not shot some due to lack of finding bullets of that caliber, Need to find and shoot in 2021.
But there were issues to:
Five members of the extended family passed away in 2020. Two young ladies with cancer.
Wife got cancer and after the year end battle, doc says it is good.
Relationship needs mending with two family members and that will probably never happen. Old and a lot to do yet.
There are quite moments when i reflect on the present, past and future.
During that time i get a feeling in my body of peace, comfort and well being, It is a good feeling and thought turn to tomorrow.
Yes a lot of roads we could of gone done, a lot of, if only and maybe but it is what it is and all is good.
So for what it is worth, life is indeed good and for all of you live it to its fullest. Retire earlier than we did if it is possible. Maybe plan things a little better than we did like never used birth controls and finally one day she quit, finally, getting with child. Best of the new year for all. db
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