The Home Stretch

I looked at the calendar the other day and realized several things. First the year is almost half over and second we will elect a President in less than 6 months. And you know what those two things have in common? I CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT EITHER!!!!!

So instead of regaling you with a tirade against Obama, the Democrats, the Republicans, or even the moral corruption of America, this blog is going to be about another favorite topic: ME! I give you this warning so that you can ignore the rest of this if you don't want to read some narcissistic drivel. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!

Last September I attained the ripe old age of 60. Such a milestone brings with it the obligatory retrospective look at one's life, accomplishments, failures, great moments, terrible moments, and everything in between. It also prompts one to look at your bucket list a little closer, maybe revising it, so that you can focus on the things you really have a shot at doing. For example, will I walk on the Great Wall of China or see the Pyramids in Egypt before I die. It seems doubtful now as my career got thrown a curve ball last year. Traveling to China or Egypt are probably not in the budget. However, riding a motorcycle across Texas could happen just as visiting those remaining 18 states that I haven't. Only time will tell.

The fact of the matter my time may be shorter than anyone might think. When I look in a mirror I see my Dad. He died at the age of 61 years, 2 months and 5 days. He was at least 100 lbs overweight, didn't exercise, ate crap that was real bad for him and a couple of other habits I won't mention here. He had two heart attacks in one month. This first one weakened his heart and the second one took him out. The snapshot of my life isn't much different. He set such a fine example for me you would think that I would take his lifestyle and do the exact opposite. NOT HAPPENING!!

For the sake of argument let's say I get the religion and start eating healthier, start exercising, using my C-pap machine, and generally leading a better life. Do I get more years? Maybe but there are no guarantees. Jim Fixx, the father of the modern-day jogging movement, dropped dead at 45 WHILE HE WAS RUNNING!!!! Does a steady diet of straw guarantee a longer life? Conventional wisdom says that I have better odds of adding more years at a healthy weight than at my present 300 plus pounds so lets put that on the new bucket list. I'm not telling anyone how much I will exercise or how much I will lose but both need to happen so I will.

Okay, it is now Spring of 2013, I am svelte, well rested, and still gainfully employed. What else needs to happen? How about career goals? At this stage in my life I should have that worked out but things are much different now than they were even 20 years ago. I know many people still very active, living independently, into their 80's or 90's. That could be me! Do I want to work until 66 or 70 or 75? If so, what do I do? County Auditor is what I am doing now and the challenges will be there for a couple of years. Do I stay at that for 5, 10 or 15 years? My investments are not at a point where I can retire early so I know I will be doing something. I still have my Nursing Home Administrator license do I consider that? Or do I do something totally different? I need to assess this and see if there is anything in the area of career that I need to do.

One of my wishes was to see our grandson Dan graduate college. He is 3 1/2 now so we are talking about me living into my 80's. Likely? My genes wouldn't say so but who thought my Mom would have lived as long as she has? I would love for this to happen but what I would love more is to be a part of his life WHILE he is growing up. We just returned from a visit to NY and we had a good time. But when I see my contemporaries with their grandchildren, daily or weekly interactions, I realize that our relationship will never be that close. He sees us two or three times a year for short periods of time. How can he really know us?  I would have no problem relocating but I am not the only one to consider in the matter. Suffice it to say that what we have now is probably the best we can hope for. So other than a possible motivation to live into my 80's.........

One final area to consider is where we will spend the rest of our lives. Emma is content to stay right where she is for as long as she lives. And circumstances favor such a decision. We have lived in the same house for over 33 years, it's paid for, it's a great place to live, and I have a job 1 mile from the house. But what about after work ends? Do we cash in our chips? Move closer to Dan? By that time he will be past the point of needing Grandpa and Grandma so what would that accomplish? Or do we leave the country? Become ex-pats in Costa Rica or the Caribbean?  As I said Emma is happy right where she is............

So I am going to create a new bucket list in the next week or two and share it with you. Some of the items will come from my current list but some will be new. Things I have done will be gone so that I can start to plot a strategy for completing this new list. Of course, you know how to make God laugh? Make a plan! In the final analysis how much life, who I spend it with, and the quality of said life are really in his hands. I will continue to live the best life I can until he has had enough amusement from me!