Month: November 2011 (Page 3 of 3)

So. Retirement. Everybody tries to do it. But how long has it been around? Well, a little Googling and it seems that retirement before the mid 1800’s was more or less working until you no longer could and then living with your kids. That’s if you lived ‘below the salt’ as they say. And, it wasn’t that much of a problem for most of human history, because we all didn’t live that long. Old was a lot younger than today.  But, if you were a member of the wealthy class with a little money and property, you might find yourself dead at the hand of an ambitious son or daughter who really really didn’t want to wait around for you to die of natural causes for the inheritance clause of your will to kick in.

Now. Did you know there is an Encyclopedia of Aging and the Elderly? Well, see there. Learn something new all the time. Drs. Hampton and Russell wrote it. It seems that in the 1880’s to stave off the encroaching socialism in Germany, Otto Von Bismark introduced a social security system for folks over the age of 65. The consensus of all the articles I read was that Otto was not being generous, he figured that few of those who needed the money were still alive. But if you want to know where age 65 came from, blame it on Otto.  Otto’s social security money was a small compensation for not being able to work. Giving people the ability to live.

By 1935 life expectancy in the United States was about 61.7 years. A social security system would not have looked like an ‘entitlement’ but more like a payout from petty cash.  The problem was that they were still old people.  Meaning they had problems; arthritis, constipation, hearing.  You’ve been around old people. You know.

The question is when did it go from stopping working, i.e., retire as defined by the OED: leave your job and stop working, especially because you have reached a particular age, to, well, how can we define it now? When people are retiring from full time work at 55. Starting new businesses. Or devoting time to family. Or their own activities [see Golf, as the most common].

Well, we’ll see…

One of the hardest things about a blog is why. Why would anyone write their thoughts outloud for everyone to read, although, some people do have better thoughts than others. 🙂  Why would I live my life on a website? So. I guess the best thing is to find a reason to blog. And I have been searching. Do I want to review books I’ve read. Do I want to talk about the things I’m learning about writing? About voice? About style? What about the work I do for SCBWI as RA? That’s a lot of my time.

Well, they may be interesting and a way to record my thoughts, but I could just as easily write a journal on my computer.

Awake at 4:15 this morning, actually, it was closer to 4:12 AM, as if that matters, and thinking. Thinking wakes me up. And this morning’s thought centered on how well I was progressing with Aaron’s story, but beyond that:

• 1. I should be getting editors/art directors for the contest in February,
• 2. writing to speakers for the fall conference,
• 3. and not necessarily in this order, getting the Graphics Novel workshop on track and
• 4. follow up on an offer by an editor to do a program in May in Chapel Hill.

And, while I’m getting a headache from lying there thinking of all the things NOT GETTING DONE! the thought occurred to me that what was probably more important to me right now is the upcoming retirement of Sir Thomas. Who deserves to retire. No question. He has created a quality of life for us and for the girls beyond wishes. He has lots of great qualities, and I love him, and now in just 60 days he will be home, full time, all the time, not going to work, here.

Here. Home. This has been my universe since I stopped working in the early 90’s. Good decision or bad decision, it was a decision made so that more time and energy could be spent on the girls. And now this universe will have another full-time permanent citizen. Not just some person here on a visa for the weekend. Or, dropping in for a holiday and then returning to the corporate world planet.  No. No. Moving off the corporate world into my house world. Whoa!

And this won’t be strange just for me. But for Tom, too. He’s in the process of winding down his job. He’s never before had months, well, three actually, to leave a job. He’s always had another position to go to. Another mountain to climb, a challenge, an opportunity, an upgrade. This time when he leaves, he leaves and stays. We’ve always, well, almost always, moved when he left a position. Not this time.

Why is this important? First off, it’s interesting. This is new. This is different. Exciting and scary at the same time. Second, this blog is about writing. Early, I say, Often is what I want, Lord, just Something would be great!   We’ll see…

…back to tennis. Life is good when you can get outside in 32 degree weather and play some tennis. Although, sometimes I feel a bit like Charlie Brown in the snow, because I’m bundled trying to keep my neck and shoulder warm so I don’t hurt. Otherwise it’s all good. I’ve been ignoring everything, well, almost everything, for the month of October.

Had to go to Baltimore for the shower. Meghan did a super job of making her living room into a Victorian Tea Room. Ah. Ya gotta love talent.

Up next is making the shawl for the wedding. Yes. Mom can be multi-talented :-).

Now we’re into November. The only month where we are going to be home, well, I’ll be home for the whole thirty days. Yeah! Lots of writing up my sleeve since I’ve figured out the story. And, more SCBWI stuff to do. New website design. Plan the 2012 conference.  Get editors and art director for the contest. Yikes! gotta go.