I was at the Phoenix LTL (less than truckload terminal, will not say which in case it gets Googled) terminal today, picking up a large delivery of material that for whatever reason, had not been delivered directly to us. We got to talking about loading flatbeds versus loading vans since Conway doesn't have flatbed trailers, which led to this and that and then he started talking about his hernias and on and on.
I asked him - aren't you about ready to retire? Not in mocking way, it was a sincere question as he is obviously well up there in years. He replies that he is 72 years old, but then does the finger rubbing gesture - the one that denotes money and in this case, the lack of it.
72 years old and still operating a forklift because he doesn't have enough money to retire.
This is exactly what I am afraid of. 72 years old, operating a forklift in a warehouse and loading trucks because I don't have enough money to retire on. How did we get ourselves into this position? So many people at retirement age that have nothing near the amount of money stashed away that is necessary to enjoy at least a decent retirement without feeling like you are living in want.
Gave all 3 dogs flea baths yesterday and the treated all 3 for fleas, even though the Danes show no sign of it. Sophie didn't exactly like the cold water; Duke loves water and doesn't care how cold it is and Prince - well - he just stood there with a pathetic look on his face, lol.
I need another vacation. I am trying to hold off until summer. May warms up then June brings hell. So maybe 2-1/2 months off. Gonna have to take another 3 day weekend before then, I do believe.
Also went to the small church group yesterday. I like it a lot better than last week, but - there is always one or 2 people in such groups that feel they must dominate every conversation that comes up. Their opinion, apparently, is equal to the value of gold and therefore must be heard. One woman especially. She couldn't and wouldn't stop talking. Whenever someone had something to say about the discussion that would be put forth, this woman would chime right in and go on for 5 or even 10 minutes. I got very tired of listening to it. If they don't do something to stop it, I may opt out of that small group and go to a different one. Way back when, when I was leading small groups, I remember a guy that would not shut up. He would go on and on and on the entire time, leaving very little time for anyone else to say much of anything. I ended up confronting him on it. He claimed he didn't realize he was doing that.
Anyway, everyone has a viewpoint and an opinion about everything, including things Bible related. I just don't get people who think they are somehow pre-eminent and will never shut up. They sidetrack entire conversations and go off into tangents that are usually extremely personal - and extremely boring - things that only relate to them and have nothing to do with the conversation that was originally floated. That's great in your social circle, I guess, but not so great in a church group. I am not going to say anything, yet. I will see what happens next week. Basically, the group leader just needs to take charge and do whatever he has to to limit one person from taking over everything that is brought up.
Well, whatever. I hate to speak negatively about it, but it became rather annoying after an hour of it and I would doubt that I am the only one that feels that way. The meeting was supposed to be over at 8:30 pm, which it was not, but the leader saw me looking at the clock and offered that anyone that needed to leave, could. I got up, said I didn't mean to be rude but I have to get up at 4:30 am, I gotta leave. They all gave their blessing on it.
Time to go to work, plenty to do today, too.
Later.
ben
2 comments:
IMO there are a few reasons why people approaching retirement may not be able to.
For one, many of them were too greedy and insistant on having all the best toys most of their life, buying boats and fancy cars etc instead of saving or investing their spare money.
But equally, congress DESTROYED the SS system by giving away untold billions of money to people who did not pay for it, deserve it or even want it in some cases, trading 'votes' for benefits for divorced spouses or grandchildren etc etc.
Further, and here I am only guessing, many private companies defaulted on their pension schemes (airlines etc) leaving people who were PROMISED money with none, or much less than they had been told. Enough blame for everyone it seems.
Yes, and I totally agree with your assessments excepting don't really know about the last one - but in the end, we only all have ourselves to blame if we didn't save while we were working. I don't have the best toys, I live in a very modest house - though at least my property outside is increasingly growing more and more beautiful - and I am attempting to save. I did buy 2 RV trailers last year, one is paid off and the other 2 payments off. I am selling the second one and the one I am keeping going up north for a "cheap vacation getaway". It's really a nice trailer for what I paid for it, everything is, well it's almost working, a few things left to go. After I get it done, the only money I will be spending is gas money getting there and back. Which, currently, is not cheap.
I am also not going to rely on inheritances, cause' that might not happen. And experts warn you not to rely on them, anyway. I only have myself to blame if I don't get a nice nest egg going in the next 15 or so years. So, I light the fire under my feet regularly and remind myself that what I started, I BETTER follow through with.
ben
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