Will I Be Able To Retire?
I have had an extremely fortunate
life. I lived for today. I did not plan for tomorrow. Will guess what, tomorrow
is coming fast. How am I going to sustain the life I have always had? First, I
have to say I am not depressed about this. The reason for that is I am where I
am due to the conscious choices I have made. There’s probably plenty of
argument whether I make good choices, but that is not the point. I know most
may have had choices forced on them. I am very grateful.
But the issue is still there. What
kind of life have I set myself up for? At this point I don’t see a scenario
that allows for a traditional retirement. Not that I am extremely near the
retirement age, but I am a lot closer than most. What I’ve learned is that I
don’t need all the stuff I felt I needed. My happiness is not based on tangible
things. What drives my happiness is the people in my life in the experiences I had
and will have.
Shelter is important. But my need for
living space is greatly reduced. I love to drive; however, I don’t need a fancy
car. Better yet, live were public transport is available and only use the car
when it is really necessary. Rent it
vice own it.
Transitioning my life to simplicity
will be one of the best choices I could never make. Simplicity allows me to
focus my resources towards what I truly love vice what I thought I did. I
counted 8 pair of brown pants in my closet. Multitudes of T-shirts and polo
shirts. I have a lifetime’s worth of white workout socks. So much waste. I even
have a couple of brand-new shirts, still have the tags on them, which I know
were at least five years old.
One thing I really love to do is read:
books, newspapers and magazines. I prefer them in hard copy not digital. I once
donated over 400 books to library. I have begun to accumulate another load. I
have a box of books that I know in my heart I’m not going to read again. I
understand when people collect stuff.
A great quote I read was “there is no
way to happiness, happiness is the way.” I gain happiness each and every time I
simplify some aspect of my life.
Will I be able to afford retirement?
I don’t know. But I do know that what I thought of as retirement 20 years ago
is vastly different today. Whatever my life will be like in the future can only
be dessert for the great main course I’ve had so far.
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