Discussion:
So far so good!
(too old to reply)
jvangurp
2017-09-06 12:45:03 UTC
Permalink
Well I must say, this retirement thing is working out splendidly! I'm just starting to get a feel for it. A fortnight ago I was still waking from dreams of work, and angry dreams, and getting up too early. The past few days have felt much less hurried and much more relaxed. I'm picking away at the house painting just a few hours here and there with no sense of rush at all, like I would have approached it a year ago. We have also decided that we'll buy that camper van next spring instead of in the fall. That gives us a summer to do some shakedown trips before heading to BC in September, likely with a loop through the US on the way home.

Last Saturday my jug band played the LaHave Folk Festival but it was so very cold, and the rain started just after our third song, so it was a bit of a disappointment, even though we shared the stage with the like of Tom Chapin (Harry Chapin's brother).

The samba band is back in full swing again for a new season with a gig in Chester this coming weekend.

Meanwhile my mornings are a relaxed period of coffee and web stuff, dog walking and thinking about the day ahead.

LIFE IS GOOD

Cheers,
John
l***@fl.it
2017-09-06 16:20:15 UTC
Permalink
Post by jvangurp
Well I must say, this retirement thing is working out splendidly! I'm just starting to get a feel for it. A fortnight ago I was still waking from dreams of work, and angry dreams, and getting up too early. The past few days have felt much less hurried and much more relaxed. I'm picking away at the house painting just a few hours here and there with no sense of rush at all, like I would have approached it a year ago. We have also decided that we'll buy that camper van next spring instead of in the fall. That gives us a summer to do some shakedown trips before heading to BC in September, likely with a loop through the US on the way home.
Last Saturday my jug band played the LaHave Folk Festival but it was so very cold, and the rain started just after our third song, so it was a bit of a disappointment, even though we shared the stage with the like of Tom Chapin (Harry Chapin's brother).
Still love all my Harry music - saw him in Wolfville not that long
before he was killed. A great loss.
Post by jvangurp
The samba band is back in full swing again for a new season with a gig in Chester this coming weekend.
Meanwhile my mornings are a relaxed period of coffee and web stuff, dog walking and thinking about the day ahead.
LIFE IS GOOD
Cheers,
John
We told you it would be, it was just getting there!!
jvangurp
2017-09-07 12:22:48 UTC
Permalink
Post by l***@fl.it
Post by jvangurp
Well I must say, this retirement thing is working out splendidly! I'm just starting to get a feel for it. A fortnight ago I was still waking from dreams of work, and angry dreams, and getting up too early. The past few days have felt much less hurried and much more relaxed. I'm picking away at the house painting just a few hours here and there with no sense of rush at all, like I would have approached it a year ago. We have also decided that we'll buy that camper van next spring instead of in the fall. That gives us a summer to do some shakedown trips before heading to BC in September, likely with a loop through the US on the way home.
Last Saturday my jug band played the LaHave Folk Festival but it was so very cold, and the rain started just after our third song, so it was a bit of a disappointment, even though we shared the stage with the like of Tom Chapin (Harry Chapin's brother).
Still love all my Harry music - saw him in Wolfville not that long
before he was killed. A great loss.
Post by jvangurp
The samba band is back in full swing again for a new season with a gig in Chester this coming weekend.
Meanwhile my mornings are a relaxed period of coffee and web stuff, dog walking and thinking about the day ahead.
LIFE IS GOOD
Cheers,
John
We told you it would be, it was just getting there!!
You did indeed. These are the significant dates:

Last day in the office in August
Actual last day as an employee on Sept 20th
First pension cheque

When the subject of retirement comes up with friends who have no hope of ever retiring because of low paying work or having starting late in life, or they have no retirement savings or pension plan I see some eye rolling here and there. Once in a while it even looks like a bit of resentment. Well what can you do... these are people who graduated high school around the same time I did and they had all the same information and choices. Not my fault they took a different route, and the lifetime in the office didn't come without a cost to health and mental state and a hit to life's aspirations. It's pretty darn sweet now though!

So, two significant dates to go, but we're already sailing along under clear skies, on smooth waters.

Today I look outside at the pouring rain and I think I'll head to the workshop with a thermos of coffee, turn on the CBC and work on a table repair for my sister.

Best wishes to all,

John
HRM Resident
2017-09-07 13:10:39 UTC
Permalink
Post by jvangurp
When the subject of retirement comes up with friends who have no hope of ever retiring because of low paying work or having starting late in life, or they have no retirement savings or pension plan I see some eye rolling here and there. Once in a while it even looks like a bit of resentment. Well what can you do... these are people who graduated high school around the same time I did and they had all the same information and choices. Not my fault they took a different route, and the lifetime in the office didn't come without a cost to health and mental state and a hit to life's aspirations. It's pretty darn sweet now though!
A few thoughts when others criticize boomers and gov't workers for
"being better off than them":

(1) No one picks their birth year.

(2) Many of my peers left school at Grade 12 or earlier . . . a few even
tried university for a year and then got a pink or blue collar job. I
had no car, no money, no girl . . . they had it all. Fast cars, a job,
a pocket full of money, freedom from teachers and school, women (or men
for those who want to nit-pick) and so on . . . life's great when you
are under 30 and have a job. BUT, the wages stay around the same all
through your working life, the cars wear out, the women (or men) often
then ditch you for those working at steady jobs, etc. The point being
you can't have everything they see from age ~15 to ~90 without
sacrificing something for a number of years of your life. They chose to
live the good life ASAP, but ran out of resources when the reality of
adulthood kicked in around 30. It was their choice to have "fun" early
at the cost of not having a lot when it came time to retire. Remember,
it was THEIR choice, not yours or mine.

(3) We boomers didn't make the current pension laws or institute the
social programs of today. Our parent's generation did. I call them the
"Bob Hope" generation. Regardless of what you call it, the generation
who ran the show from ~ 1950 to ~2000 were NOT boomers. The only boomer
Prime Minister we ever had (and almost certainly the last one) was
Stephen Harper. He was not "good" for boomers. Justin Trudeau is
Gen-X. Regardless of what you think of him, he is NOT a boomer and
doesn't cater to boomers.

(4) Sitting in a government cubical, with multiple dimensions of
mismanagement, and implementing ever changing policies, for 35-40 years
is not an easy job. You do get job security, but little to no job
satisfaction can be derived from enforcing politically driven
ideological rules that favour another part of the country or another
demographic . . . and change after every election.
--
HRM Resident
l***@fl.it
2017-09-07 13:42:21 UTC
Permalink
Post by jvangurp
Post by l***@fl.it
Post by jvangurp
Well I must say, this retirement thing is working out splendidly! I'm just starting to get a feel for it. A fortnight ago I was still waking from dreams of work, and angry dreams, and getting up too early. The past few days have felt much less hurried and much more relaxed. I'm picking away at the house painting just a few hours here and there with no sense of rush at all, like I would have approached it a year ago. We have also decided that we'll buy that camper van next spring instead of in the fall. That gives us a summer to do some shakedown trips before heading to BC in September, likely with a loop through the US on the way home.
Last Saturday my jug band played the LaHave Folk Festival but it was so very cold, and the rain started just after our third song, so it was a bit of a disappointment, even though we shared the stage with the like of Tom Chapin (Harry Chapin's brother).
Still love all my Harry music - saw him in Wolfville not that long
before he was killed. A great loss.
Post by jvangurp
The samba band is back in full swing again for a new season with a gig in Chester this coming weekend.
Meanwhile my mornings are a relaxed period of coffee and web stuff, dog walking and thinking about the day ahead.
LIFE IS GOOD
Cheers,
John
We told you it would be, it was just getting there!!
Last day in the office in August
Actual last day as an employee on Sept 20th
First pension cheque
When the subject of retirement comes up with friends who have no hope of ever retiring because of low paying work or having starting late in life, or they have no retirement savings or pension plan I see some eye rolling here and there. Once in a while it even looks like a bit of resentment. Well what can you do... these are people who graduated high school around the same time I did and they had all the same information and choices. Not my fault they took a different route, and the lifetime in the office didn't come without a cost to health and mental state and a hit to life's aspirations. It's pretty darn sweet now though!
Perhaps don't say too much re retirement, think how you would have
felt in the reverse situation.
Post by jvangurp
So, two significant dates to go, but we're already sailing along under clear skies, on smooth waters.
Today I look outside at the pouring rain and I think I'll head to the workshop with a thermos of coffee, turn on the CBC and work on a table repair for my sister.
Best wishes to all,
John
jvangurp
2017-09-07 19:17:58 UTC
Permalink
Post by l***@fl.it
Post by jvangurp
Post by l***@fl.it
Post by jvangurp
Well I must say, this retirement thing is working out splendidly! I'm just starting to get a feel for it. A fortnight ago I was still waking from dreams of work, and angry dreams, and getting up too early. The past few days have felt much less hurried and much more relaxed. I'm picking away at the house painting just a few hours here and there with no sense of rush at all, like I would have approached it a year ago. We have also decided that we'll buy that camper van next spring instead of in the fall. That gives us a summer to do some shakedown trips before heading to BC in September, likely with a loop through the US on the way home.
Last Saturday my jug band played the LaHave Folk Festival but it was so very cold, and the rain started just after our third song, so it was a bit of a disappointment, even though we shared the stage with the like of Tom Chapin (Harry Chapin's brother).
Still love all my Harry music - saw him in Wolfville not that long
before he was killed. A great loss.
Post by jvangurp
The samba band is back in full swing again for a new season with a gig in Chester this coming weekend.
Meanwhile my mornings are a relaxed period of coffee and web stuff, dog walking and thinking about the day ahead.
LIFE IS GOOD
Cheers,
John
We told you it would be, it was just getting there!!
Last day in the office in August
Actual last day as an employee on Sept 20th
First pension cheque
When the subject of retirement comes up with friends who have no hope of ever retiring because of low paying work or having starting late in life, or they have no retirement savings or pension plan I see some eye rolling here and there. Once in a while it even looks like a bit of resentment. Well what can you do... these are people who graduated high school around the same time I did and they had all the same information and choices. Not my fault they took a different route, and the lifetime in the office didn't come without a cost to health and mental state and a hit to life's aspirations. It's pretty darn sweet now though!
Perhaps don't say too much re retirement, think how you would have
felt in the reverse situation.
Post by jvangurp
So, two significant dates to go, but we're already sailing along under clear skies, on smooth waters.
Today I look outside at the pouring rain and I think I'll head to the workshop with a thermos of coffee, turn on the CBC and work on a table repair for my sister.
Best wishes to all,
John
Yes this good advice, and I am careful to not raise the topic however, it does come up from time to time. I carefully don't gloat or boast etc, as that could quite reasonably raise some resentment.

Cheers,
John
Mike Spencer
2017-09-07 03:32:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by jvangurp
Well I must say, this retirement thing is working out splendidly!
Oh, good.
Post by jvangurp
Last Saturday my jug band played the LaHave Folk Festival...
That would be down my way, somewhere near LaHave, Bridgewater or
Lunenburg? Do let us know here on hfx.general if you've a gig down
this way again with the jug band.

Sorry you got rained out.
Post by jvangurp
Meanwhile my mornings are a relaxed period of coffee and web stuff,
dog walking and thinking about the day ahead.
LIFE IS GOOD
All good.
--
Mike Spencer Nova Scotia, Canada
jvangurp
2017-09-07 12:33:40 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike Spencer
Post by jvangurp
Well I must say, this retirement thing is working out splendidly!
Oh, good.
Post by jvangurp
Last Saturday my jug band played the LaHave Folk Festival...
That would be down my way, somewhere near LaHave, Bridgewater or
Lunenburg? Do let us know here on hfx.general if you've a gig down
this way again with the jug band.
Sorry you got rained out.
Post by jvangurp
Meanwhile my mornings are a relaxed period of coffee and web stuff,
dog walking and thinking about the day ahead.
LIFE IS GOOD
All good.
--
Mike Spencer Nova Scotia, Canada
Yarrr Mike, it was at the Fort Point lighthouse museum grounds. A lovely spot, even with the cold wind blowing in off the water.

Here's a photo of the band... that's me with the washboard.

https://imgur.com/a/ksQLJ

I've since upgraded to a proper metal version from The Lark in the Morning (https://imgur.com/a/mh2Bj), now complete with thimbles, a bell, a horn, and a Prince Albert Tobacco can for an extra plunker.

Cheers,
John
Mike Spencer
2017-09-08 04:23:18 UTC
Permalink
Post by jvangurp
Post by Mike Spencer
Post by jvangurp
Last Saturday my jug band played the LaHave Folk Festival...
That would be down my way, somewhere near LaHave, Bridgewater or
Lunenburg? Do let us know here on hfx.general if you've a gig down
this way again with the jug band.
Yarrr Mike, it was at the Fort Point lighthouse museum grounds. A
lovely spot, even with the cold wind blowing in off the water.
Sorry I missed it. Nearly 50 years ago I used to hang out with a
bunch of stringed instrument guys. Only one had a washboard and he
didn't show up too often. Then later with a fiddler here from whom I
learned to play the button accordion -- after a fashion anyhow.
Post by jvangurp
Here's a photo of the band... that's me with the washboard.
https://imgur.com/a/ksQLJ
Cool. Buncha crusty ol' geezers. Wait! *I* look like that, only not
so well tailored. Is that a Martin mandolin?
--
Mike Spencer Nova Scotia, Canada
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