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The Screaming Moderate

What to do in retirement?

11/18/2013

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As I edge closer to retirement, some things become more real:

What will I do with my days? I know some of this but not all; then again not sure I have to have an agenda for every day either. After all, it is “retirement” which Merriam-Webster defines as “withdrawal from one’s position or occupation or working life.” I do see more household chores in my future though, which is fine with me (and fine with my wife, by the way).

 How do I deal with medical insurance? I don’t mean where do I find it but today, for example, I called my health  insurer to find out why, after years, a prescription I take (it’s a vitamin; one pill so I don’t have to take 20 different vitamins) no longer is available to me in 90-day supplies. They informed me all of a sudden that I can only get a
monthly supply and, of course, for a higher cost. Why? She said: it goes beyond the normal adult dosage. Folks, it’s a vitamin!! What happens when my health insurance issues are more complicated (but the logic of their answers is no more
understandable)?

Which brings up, how do I deal with being on a fixed income? Things like paying a higher cost for prescriptions become more important. Things like a cell phone bill become more important, after all, I barely use my cell phone. I’ve always been a, how you say, “frugal” guy. Is there a word such as “frugaler”?

What hobbies do I have? Well, not many, really. There’s golf. There’s reading. Can I all of a sudden become a skilled home repair guy (my best friends -- member these were my BEST friends -- used to call me “Fingers” because I couldn’t hammer a nail. Oh, and once, as they were helping me paint a new apartment – MY new apartment – when I asked
  where I should start, the two of them said, in unison: “the closets”).

Which volunteer work should I pursue?  Well, first you should do something that you have a passion for and of course, that helps others. Second, that kind of thing needs to be available in the area you’re going to live. So, procrastinator that I am, I’m putting that decision off (too) for now.

Maybe I should get a dog?  I came close a couple of times but realized owning a dog is a bigger commitment than marriage. I mean, you can’t decide to be late coming home because you’re out with the boys; the dog can’t hold it in forever. And, of course, the dog relies on its owner to feed him. You  can’t go away for a few days or weeks without figuring out care for your dog. So, so far, no dog.

I’m on a university’s board, which requires some time that I haven’t given sufficiently so far, but want to. I have six grandchildren, and I’ve barely spent time with any of them, so I want to do that, if they’ll have me. Same goes for my three daughters. I have friends I’ve unfortunately lost touch with because our lives have gone in different directions geographically. But I miss them, so I hope to reconnect.  There’s this blog, which I enjoy doing. And, maybe there’s other writing I’ll pursue.

Of course, there’s always “Law and Order,” though I think watching each episode four times, which I’ve already done, is sufficient. 



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    B. Jay Cooper

    B. Jay is a former deputy White House press secretary to Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He also headed the communications offices at the Republican National Committee, U.S. Department of Commerce, and Yale University. He is a former reporter and is the retired deputy managing director of APCO Worldwide's Washington, D.C., office.
    He is the father of three daughters and grandfather of five boys and one girl. He lives in Marion, Mass.

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