Blog 2604 -12.15.2022

Almost A Year Retired

I recall many years ago when my dad retired that he had a hard time adjusting to life without a job so much so that for a time he got a job as a security guard to help fill up all the time that he had on his hands. Dad retired at sixty-two, as early as Social Security would allow. I, on the other hand, waited till passed my seventy-first birthday, to finally give up my day job. In just few days it will be a year that I have been officially retired.

My last work assignment was a six month assignment in Wayne, Nebraska. It came after a year and a half break from work during the Covid-19 shutdown. Those eighteen months with no other income other than Social Security and a couple of small retirement checks drained years of savings and forced us to refinance our home so we could pay off all our bills and be able to live on our retirement income.

I took that last work assignment to replace much of our savings buffer and am glad I did. I have not found it hard as my dad did to occupy my time. There is always something to do and always something to write about. I read a lot and watch a lot of movies and television series.

I have mentioned before that when I was a boy in the nineteen-fifties one of my dad’s favorite TV shows was the spy-thriller “I Led 3 Lives.” Most of us I think get to live a least three lives – a pre-school and school life, a work life, and a retired life. All three have something to commend themselves and lessons to teach us.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “I have learned to be content in whatsoever state I am in.” I used to joke after quoting that verse – “But he never lived in Texas.” I too have learned to be content in whatsoever state I am in, even Texas where I have lived more than half of my so far seventy-two years. My last ten working years I spent mostly away on work assignments that kept me many miles from home and family.

I am glad and grateful for all those experiences and all the interesting places that I have seen and the wonderful people that I have met, but I am happy to be retired and to be home for Christmas two years in a row and counting.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18-GWc-CGzsuYGtoa64IhN0HnRTsM1oR0/view?usp=drivesdk

Christmas In Dixie