Sep. 18, 2021

Officially Day 1

I'm a teacher. I've known for a while that I should be preparing to retire. I am, after all, 68 years old. Not all of my working life has been as a teacher though, so I kept telling myself I could keep this going for a while.

Covid and all of its unknowns has been jabbing at me. It's like a swarm of Louisiana mosquitoes fly at me, I get those all swatted away, and in a day or two another swarm comes from a different direction. I've never been good with mosquitoes. They leave whelps on my skin.

I would drop everything in a heartbeat and retire post-haste if I weren't so materialistic. You need money to be materialistic. And I will admit that I have not been a good money manager throughout my adult life.

I look around and see all of these people all set up - walking right into precious downsized properties, travel itinerary spaced out over the next 5 years (with options). Many are couples, a huge advantage that I have not had for over 20 years. I, on the other hand, try not to hyperventilate as I picture a series of Motel 6 by-the-week rooms and a diet of Ramen and whatever soda is on sale that week.

So I have about 8 months to come up with an alternative plan - to find a way to live comfortably (I don't want palatial) and safely on the income I am projected to have.

I'm inviting you to come along as I explore the possible pathways that will replace my Motel 6 nightmare with something more substantial.