May 1st marks 14 years of retirement from the corporate world. I celebrated that by buying my S2000. Although I owned Honda's years back...a new Accord in 1983 from the Marysville, Ohio plant, I never appreciated Honda's racing heritage as much as I did having reading everything I could when sparked by the car we all love so much. One of the reasons I picked May 1 to start my retirement was Springtime in Michigan is wonderful. Everything is turning green and coming back to life. For example, Grosbeaks showed up at the feeder this morning for the first time. Saturday we took an awesome 100 mile top-down trip to a brewery. 75 degrees and sunny. It just doesn't get any better. I even love doing the yard work this time of year. I was at a pub Friday night with a friend who retired less than a year ago and he's gone back to working part time. Sadly he only has two hobbies, playing the horses and drinking beer. Even though he has a really nice cottage on a lake, I don't think he knows how to enjoy it. I guess that's why they say retirement isn't for everyone but it sure works for me and my wife. It's going to be another great day.

 

Springtime is wonderful here, too.

 

Glad you are enjoying the retired life! Here's to many more years of goofing off for you and Donna!

Right now we have to be content with weekend jaunts. We headed over to Narragansett, RI yesterday in the S. A beautiful time of year here too. It's still cool, people are coming out, but you can still head to some of the prettiest spots in New England and not have to deal with large crowds.

 

I can't wait to start, Dave. How old were you when you started retirement?

 

Dave, I have known more than a few guys who retire, sit, and die. Then there are those who know how to use the new found "spare" time and how to enjoy the flexibility that one gains upon exit from the basic nine-to-five.

Obviously you fall into the second group. Expect a few questions on the philosophy of retirement from one who is looking at it in a few months to one who has navigated the transition with obvious success.

 

I don't know. I'd love to slow down a bit, but I'm not sure I could ever retire. My work is part of what I am.

 

I'm retiring as soon as I find a buyer for my practice. Rob, ever considered moving to the west coast? Haha. Also my house is for sale so you could move in, have a job, and say goodbye to snow.
Rob I see your Fiat is for sale. How is the guitar playing coming? I bought a guitar a few weeks ago and plan to spend time after retiring learning to play it.

 

Me too, Bill. I'm not sure when it could happen, but today was one of "those" days at the office. I want out!

 

The Fiat is for sale. We have a very long (125 foot long) driveway and Liz thinks we'd be better off with a 4 wheel drive pickup truck for the winter. I have mixed feelings. I know she's right about the 4 wheel drive and the usefulness of a small pickup, but I really hope, in my heart of hearts, that nobody gets to the reserve price. Unfortunately, I've already had a few interested inquiries so it looks like it might sell.

Oh well, someone just placed a bid that took the car over the reserve. It's sold. Now its just a question of how much higher the price will go. I hope we get more bids as I've got more invested in the car than the current bid, but the car is sold. I'm not so sure I'm happy about it.

The guitar was doing fine until tax season. From January 15th to April 15th I was working about 14 hours a day 7 days a week. I was starting to get reasonably good with all six strings and a few chords, but there just wasn't time to practice. I'm back to it again and should be back up to speed in a few weeks. I'm still not really very good at it, but I'm enjoying it and like playing guitar very much. If I ever do get to the point where I feel really good about it, I'm going to teach myself to play the piano. That's actually my favorite instrument. Good luck with your guitar. What it really comes down to is practice, practice and more practice.

I'd take you up on your offer of the house and practice, but it would be too far for me to commute back to the east coast every morning to take care of my clients. Besides, in spite of the hard winter that we just had, I kind of like the east coast and the change of seasons. Especially now that I have a Honda Track Drive snow blower, I'm unstoppable. Thanks anyway.

 

Atta boy, Rob. Keep punching! You give me confidence in the future.