The big question looms - if you have the means to retire, what the hell do you do with your time? The first part of the retirement equation is about money, and a large part of that formula is paying for a roof over your head, some form of transportation, and health care. That's what this blog has been about, the ever increasing cost of health care and how to afford it if you decide to retire unconventionally - overseas, early, and without the safety net of a Medicare or other state sponsored health care system. And that's what the focus has been of pretty much every thing I've read - how to afford retirement. But if you can, what do you do with your time? Once the closets are organized on the third day, then what? And for me, and anyone else that's contemplating retirement, I think that's a bigger question.
I just spent 4 months in Texas doing manly things around our house in Texas after a magnificently failed attempt at retirement. Sure, I did some fun things, visited some friends in Huntsville, Alabama, took a wild hair up the ass trip to Fredicksberg, TX to see the Pacific War museum and the highlight (apart from being with Gwyne - that was a good catch there, eh?) was a sailing trip with my brothers from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz, hanging out with them and my parents. But I did learn a few things about how I don't want to spend my time in retirement. Pushing a lawnmower is not exciting. When Gwyne got home from work and asked what I did, I told her I edged. I edged the driveway. Both sides. I edged the sidewalk. All four sides. It looked really good. But I edged. That was the highlight of my day. After coming back from Afghanistan, passing through Dubai every four months, the highlight of my day was edging. That shit doesn't work. While life in Afghanistan is certainly not comfortable, it is definitely interesting and exciting. Hanging out around the house in a master planned community in Texas is definitely comfortable, but not very interesting or exciting.
I think the first part of the retirement equation is solved - the money. We'd like to have a home base in the U.S., but retire unconventionally, retiring overseas greatly reduces fixed costs. But if the highlight of your day is edging, well then why retire?
I've spent the last 130 days in Texas. Partly, due to having arthroscopic surgery on my knee, retirement hasn't been that great. Sure, there have been enjoyable moments, strolling the uncrowded aisles of Costco on a weekday with the rest of the retirees in what seems to be the retiree uniform of khaki shorts, a polo shirt or t-shirt and sneakers, that's been fun. But sorely lacking in excitement.
I've had a few extended periods of time off in my life - here they are in review, with lessons learned.
1. One and half years traveling around SE Asia after college graduation and working for 8 months.
2. Six months off when I resigned my position due to ethical issues in the Marshall Islands.
3. Five months off after I completed a contract in Kuwait and moved for my wife's job.
4. Four months off after I completed a contract in Afghanistan and went to Texas.
#1 and #2 were fantastic, #3 and #4 were fails.
Why? Well, #1, I think, is pretty easy. Traveling around SE Asia, move when I want, where I want - I once left Nepal on a whim because I tasted curry in my morning coffee (c'mon, you have to admit that is wrong). Yup, that got my knickers in such a a twist, I got on a bus to India that morning. What are the chances of getting a little curry in your coffee in India? Well, it was the closest country and I was pissed. It was a wonderful period in my life, traveling so freely, exploring, learning everywhere I went and always meeting interesting people.
#2 was great as well, I was able to stay in the Marshall Islands as a house husband and I surfed, windsurfed, fished, cooked, took care of the kids - in my mind, the perfect kept man. Tough to top that.
Yeah, #3 and #4. #3. Moved to San Antonio with Gwyne for her job - to be fair, I was her dependent in Kuwait (I was working for the same company) and well, most of the smart people left over concerns of the company's long term success, which was, of course, coupled with the future of their success. But still. Kuwait was a great gig and we really loved living there. I'd done a year there before as a geographical bachelor and was thrilled to share the Kuwait experience with Gwyne. And then we moved to San Antonio for my wife's job. I wasn't working - I thought I'd love it, but didn't. Bicycled a lot, but was mostly bored, dealing with the hassles of moving from one country to another. And boredom, my friends, is a dangerous thing. So I went to Afghanistan for a year. Because I was bored. And then, moved back to Texas, of all places. Not quite sure how that script was written, someone, other than me, has a great sense of humor. The Texas part, not Afghanistan.
#4. This has't worked out so well either, due to knee surgery and ongoing physical therapy. That and the mf never ending edging. Going from an exciting, fast paced, never ending changing work environment, meeting customer's needs to...edging.
So, here are some lessons learned for what I think a successful retirement looks like. It includes a schedule - a purpose. Our time is organized in life by a schedule - school, work - times, responsibilities, deadlines, you have to meet them to be successful. But retirement? We don't need no stinking deadlines. Well, I think we do. The recipe:
1. You have to take care of yourself. Without your health, your life, let alone retirement, is so restricted. So, you need to take care of yourself, have scheduled exercise and eat well. I've seen so many retirees end up at McDonalds every morning showing the latest picture of their grandkids on their iPads to their friends. Might as well edge that lawn.
2. There needs to social interaction (other with than your spouse or partner). Most of our social interaction came from school or work in the pre-retiree life. My friends came from school and work - we have history, shared experiences. It's kind of hard to generate that when you're not in that structured environment. "So, what day of the week do you think is the least crowded at Costco?"
3. I think there should be some kind of productivity every day. Part time job, writing, gardening, home improvement, whatever works for you, but my days feel more fulfilled when I have a productive list and I cross things off. And when I edge.
The rate of recidivism is high in Afghanistan. They asked me to go back for 4 months at a very fortuitous time for them - I had just finished edging the lawn. And they called. I think the edger was still quivering in my hand when I answered the phone. I was weak. Perhaps with a bit too much excitement in my voice, when asked nicely if I'd consider a return trip I said, "Oh, pretty please sir, can I have some more?" So, here I am in Dubai, getting ready for another 4 month gig in the sandbox. For now, I'm just another recidivist, still working out the retirement formula. And a few more shekels won't hurt the plan, but I've been told that I have to figure out how all this retirement stuff works. Look for an ad on Craigslist for a used edger to kick things off.
I just spent 4 months in Texas doing manly things around our house in Texas after a magnificently failed attempt at retirement. Sure, I did some fun things, visited some friends in Huntsville, Alabama, took a wild hair up the ass trip to Fredicksberg, TX to see the Pacific War museum and the highlight (apart from being with Gwyne - that was a good catch there, eh?) was a sailing trip with my brothers from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz, hanging out with them and my parents. But I did learn a few things about how I don't want to spend my time in retirement. Pushing a lawnmower is not exciting. When Gwyne got home from work and asked what I did, I told her I edged. I edged the driveway. Both sides. I edged the sidewalk. All four sides. It looked really good. But I edged. That was the highlight of my day. After coming back from Afghanistan, passing through Dubai every four months, the highlight of my day was edging. That shit doesn't work. While life in Afghanistan is certainly not comfortable, it is definitely interesting and exciting. Hanging out around the house in a master planned community in Texas is definitely comfortable, but not very interesting or exciting.
I think the first part of the retirement equation is solved - the money. We'd like to have a home base in the U.S., but retire unconventionally, retiring overseas greatly reduces fixed costs. But if the highlight of your day is edging, well then why retire?
I've spent the last 130 days in Texas. Partly, due to having arthroscopic surgery on my knee, retirement hasn't been that great. Sure, there have been enjoyable moments, strolling the uncrowded aisles of Costco on a weekday with the rest of the retirees in what seems to be the retiree uniform of khaki shorts, a polo shirt or t-shirt and sneakers, that's been fun. But sorely lacking in excitement.
I've had a few extended periods of time off in my life - here they are in review, with lessons learned.
1. One and half years traveling around SE Asia after college graduation and working for 8 months.
2. Six months off when I resigned my position due to ethical issues in the Marshall Islands.
3. Five months off after I completed a contract in Kuwait and moved for my wife's job.
4. Four months off after I completed a contract in Afghanistan and went to Texas.
#1 and #2 were fantastic, #3 and #4 were fails.
Why? Well, #1, I think, is pretty easy. Traveling around SE Asia, move when I want, where I want - I once left Nepal on a whim because I tasted curry in my morning coffee (c'mon, you have to admit that is wrong). Yup, that got my knickers in such a a twist, I got on a bus to India that morning. What are the chances of getting a little curry in your coffee in India? Well, it was the closest country and I was pissed. It was a wonderful period in my life, traveling so freely, exploring, learning everywhere I went and always meeting interesting people.
#2 was great as well, I was able to stay in the Marshall Islands as a house husband and I surfed, windsurfed, fished, cooked, took care of the kids - in my mind, the perfect kept man. Tough to top that.
Yeah, #3 and #4. #3. Moved to San Antonio with Gwyne for her job - to be fair, I was her dependent in Kuwait (I was working for the same company) and well, most of the smart people left over concerns of the company's long term success, which was, of course, coupled with the future of their success. But still. Kuwait was a great gig and we really loved living there. I'd done a year there before as a geographical bachelor and was thrilled to share the Kuwait experience with Gwyne. And then we moved to San Antonio for my wife's job. I wasn't working - I thought I'd love it, but didn't. Bicycled a lot, but was mostly bored, dealing with the hassles of moving from one country to another. And boredom, my friends, is a dangerous thing. So I went to Afghanistan for a year. Because I was bored. And then, moved back to Texas, of all places. Not quite sure how that script was written, someone, other than me, has a great sense of humor. The Texas part, not Afghanistan.
#4. This has't worked out so well either, due to knee surgery and ongoing physical therapy. That and the mf never ending edging. Going from an exciting, fast paced, never ending changing work environment, meeting customer's needs to...edging.
So, here are some lessons learned for what I think a successful retirement looks like. It includes a schedule - a purpose. Our time is organized in life by a schedule - school, work - times, responsibilities, deadlines, you have to meet them to be successful. But retirement? We don't need no stinking deadlines. Well, I think we do. The recipe:
1. You have to take care of yourself. Without your health, your life, let alone retirement, is so restricted. So, you need to take care of yourself, have scheduled exercise and eat well. I've seen so many retirees end up at McDonalds every morning showing the latest picture of their grandkids on their iPads to their friends. Might as well edge that lawn.
2. There needs to social interaction (other with than your spouse or partner). Most of our social interaction came from school or work in the pre-retiree life. My friends came from school and work - we have history, shared experiences. It's kind of hard to generate that when you're not in that structured environment. "So, what day of the week do you think is the least crowded at Costco?"
3. I think there should be some kind of productivity every day. Part time job, writing, gardening, home improvement, whatever works for you, but my days feel more fulfilled when I have a productive list and I cross things off. And when I edge.
The rate of recidivism is high in Afghanistan. They asked me to go back for 4 months at a very fortuitous time for them - I had just finished edging the lawn. And they called. I think the edger was still quivering in my hand when I answered the phone. I was weak. Perhaps with a bit too much excitement in my voice, when asked nicely if I'd consider a return trip I said, "Oh, pretty please sir, can I have some more?" So, here I am in Dubai, getting ready for another 4 month gig in the sandbox. For now, I'm just another recidivist, still working out the retirement formula. And a few more shekels won't hurt the plan, but I've been told that I have to figure out how all this retirement stuff works. Look for an ad on Craigslist for a used edger to kick things off.
