Retirement ThoughtsJune 30, 2004

All New Post Will Be To Frequent Musings Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:22:00 +0000

Due to Blogger's elimination of FTP uploads, all new retirement posts will be to my Frequent Musings Blog available here:

http://jimtravis.com/wordpress/?cat=110

Older posts will remain on this blog for reference.

Started my retirment five years ago today

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:17:00 +0000

Hard to believe that five years have passed since I started retirement. It has been a heck of a ride, thoroughly enjoying my retirement. I want to continue enjoying my retirement, but after five years, I should start my retirement projects which have been in limbo for five years.

I absolutely have to loose substantial weight. Being overweight is never good for your health, but as you get older, it is essential you get your weight in-line.

As much as I am a night owl, I do have to work on getting to bed earlier, and getting up earlier. Getting to bed between 4:30am and 6:00am has to stop not matter who much I enjoy being a night owl.

I am still spending like the proverbial drunken sailor. I still want to feed my gadget addiction, but show some semblance of budgetary concern.

My review of ever paper, file, etc. that I own, and scanning the important ones to PDF before trashing (which has been on hold for 5 years) has got to start, and continue until I am done. My goal is to eliminate about 90%+ of the papers, files etc. that I have accumulated over the years.

Tempus does indeed fugit. It feels like a year ago at most, not five years since I retired. I am very fortunate that I am enjoying my retirement as much as I am. I just have to start spending an hour or so a day on my projects while still going out everyday, and enjoying myself.

Five years since my last workday - tempus fugit

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:33:00 +0000

Hard to believe that is was five years ago today when I last worked. Tempus does indeed fugit. It seems like five months, not five years since I last worked. I am enjoying my retirement immensely. Before I retired, I wondered if I would be bored, and have trouble finding things to fill the time formerly used for work. Boy was I wrong, I sometimes wonder how I found the time to work. I had all these grandiose retirement projects; none have been completed (some barely started) due to my daily activities. I go out every day, visit friends, love movies (200+ a year), live theater, geek meetings, and just sitting out on a nice day enjoying the moment.

Before I retired, I had plans to review all my files etc., discard most, and scan to PDF the important ones. Have barely scratched the surface on this one. It is still a project I want to complete, but currently having too good a time to devote the time.

I also had plans to be get up by 7:30am each day. Of course, when I made this plan, I was getting up for work at 5:00am each day, so 7:30am sounded like sleeping late. I am lucky if I am in bed by 4:00am, so getting up by 7:30am is not going to happen.

I love my gadgets, and fortunately I made a good salary when working. Although I have a good retirement income, it is less than my former salary. When I retired, my plan was to cut back on gadget, and other discretionary spending. Boy was I naive. With all the extra time available, and high speed Internet shopping available 24/7, I have increased my gadget spending, not decreased. Sometimes I thing my house rivals an electronic store display area. :-)

My major disappointment is my failure to loose significant weight since I retired. Today, I weigh 30 pounds more that on my last workday five years ago. Unfortunately, I am also the highest weight of my life today. I am not only disappointed for carrying the highest poundage of my life today, but embarrassed by it. This is a goal I have to implement immediately.

Other than the lack of weight loss, I am OK with not implementing my retirement goals. I have not implemented them because I am enjoying myself, and have many activities I like fulfilling my former work time. I will have to eventually seriously start efforts on the other goals, but they will get done over time. The priority goal is, of course, a major weight loss.

Not much progress on retirment goals, but having a great time!

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:24:00 +0000

The lack of posts is unfortunately indicative of a total failure in accomplishing my retirement goals. I have gained weight, not lost weight. I still go to bed way too late, and of course, get up too late as well. Although I have had spurts of reviewing all my documents etc., I really haven't made a dent in that goal either. And, last but not least, I am still spending way too much on gadgets, aka toys. I am definitely proof that the only difference between a man, and a boy is the price of his toys.

I still want to go out everyday, and attend all the movies, and geek meetings I currently do; I definitely do enjoy those activities. I just have to be more disciplined while eating, actually review all my "stuff" when home rather than playing with all my gadgets/surfing the web, get my butt into bed at a reasonable hour, and keep the "plastic" in the wallet.

Last workday was four years ago today

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:21:00 +0000

It is hard to believe that my last workday was four years ago today. The time has certainly flown by, and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. Unfortunately, my retirement goals have been on the back burner. I have gained weight rather than loosing, I get to bed way too late, and my "review of every document" project is still in the planning stages. I sometimes go to bed at the time I used to get up for work. I have been fortunate that overall my health has been good, and I go out practically everyday which was one of my retirement promises to myself.

I want to continue going out every day, and attending my movies / geek meetings. However, I must start my "review of all documents" projects because it is definitely an intensive project that will require quite a bit of time to accomplish. I can certainly work on my project for an hour or two before, and / or after going out for the day.

I hope to enjoy many more years of retirement; however, I hope the future years are as a thinner man who gets up by 9 am, and works everyday on the "review of all documents" project.

Retirement is still great - need to make changes though

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:43:00 +0000

I am still enjoying retirement immensely, and still wonder how I found time to work. I attend many movies, 8 to 10 geek meetings a month, and enjoy meeting friends for lunch/dinner. The downside to my enjoyment is I am not making any appreciable progress on my retirement goals. I have gained weight rather than loosing it, go to bed way too late, and have only made minimal progress on my "review of all documents" goal.

I want to continue going out every day, and attending my movies/meetings; however, I also want to get to bed earlier, work on my "review of all documents" goal at least an hour a day, and loose at least 100 pounds. I can work on my retirement goals while still enjoying myself, I just have to find the right balance.

Thoroughly Enjoying Retirement

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:33:00 +0000

Retirement is fantastic, anyone that can should try it.

I am enjoying retirement so much that I have put my retirement goals on hold. I thought that I would have plenty of time to fill, and had some intensive projects.

Eventually, I will have to start my projects, but in the interim, I am having a great time.

February 1, 2008 - New Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:43:00 +0000

February 1, 2008 will be the start of my 44th month of retirement. Frankly, I am still enjoying retirement immensely, and don't know how I found the time to work. I go to 250+ movies a year, 8 to 10 geek meetings a month, meet friends for lunch, and am basically thoroughly enjoying myself. The problem is I haven't made substantial progess on my retirement goals. I still have not lost significant weight, still go to bed / get up too late, and haven't made much progress on my review / discard of all the "stuff" I have accumulated over 60 years. The stuff is neatly organized, but it is still clutter unless you really need it.

February 1, 2008 marks the 9th anniversary of the start of my last major weight loss. In addition to starting another major weight loss on this 9th anniversary of my last loss, I want to start getting to bed earlier, and make major inroads in my "stuff" review goal. I still want to go out every day, and enjoy my meetings / movies; however, I have to be more focused on my retirement goals when I get home for the night.

New Year - Same Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 02:38:00 +0000

I haven't posted to this blog for about six months. Basically, everything is pretty much the same. I am still enjoying retirement immensely - movies, geek meetings, meeting friends for lunch, my electronic gadgets, etc. Unfortunately, all this enjoyment has caused me to delay my retirement projects such as reviewing all documents, looking into Florida relocation, and of course, weight loss.

I just received news that my former boss passed away New Year's Eve. Carol was a great person, and one of the best bosses I ever had. We frequently had different pov's on things; however, Carol always asked my opinion, and always respected my opinion. I will certainly miss Carol, and I will always be grateful to her for hiring me, and giving me the opportunity for a very rewarding career while working with her. Thanks Carol, you will always be remembered by me.

Carol's passing was also a wake-up call for me. We don't know how many healthy years of retirement we will get to enjoy. I must refocus on my retirement projects, and make a decision about where I want to spend my retirement years. The last two winters were mild in Boston so the Florida relocation plans were put on the back burner. This winter started out cold, and snowy. I am leaning toward mid-October to mid-April in Florida, and mid-April to mid-October in Boston. I do like living in Boston, but the winters are too cold for me. I must make a decision, and then make appropriate plans.

Enjoying the holiday - New goals

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 22:52:00 +0000

I am starting my fourth year of retirement, and enjoying the July 4th holiday. Despite a long bout with the flu, I have reviewed quite a bit of the "stuff" I have accumulated over the years, and discarded a significant portion of it. Even though the material is neatly organized, and stored, it is still clutter if you don't need it. The days of being a "pack rat" are over. I intend to continue my review until everything in my house has been looked at, and hopefully the majority of it discarded. Other than loosing weight, this "everything review" is my priority retirement goal.

I have fallen into a schediule of getting to bed around 4AM, and getting up between 11AM and noon. I want to start getting to bed before 2 AM, and getting up around 9 AM.

Retired 3 years today.

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 20:37:00 +0000

I retired 3 years ago today. The time has flown by; it certainly does not seem that long. I have enjoyed my retirement immensely. I am fortunate that I have been healthy other than a long bout with the flu, and a cold during the last 2 months. I am feeling better now.

On a positive note, I am 19 pounds lighter today than I was on my retirement day three years ago.

Last workday was three years ago today - still loving retirement

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 19:08:00 +0000

It is hard to believe that my last workday was three years ago today; time does indeed fly. I am enjoying retirement immensely, and sometimes wonder how I found the time to work.;) On the first and second anniversaries of my last workday, I weighed more than I did on my last workday. Fortunately, that trend has been reversed, and I weigh 16 pounds less on this third anniversary than I did on my last workday. The 16 pounds is a nice start; however, I realize I still have a lot more weight to loose.

I hope to enjoy many more years of retirement, hopefully as a thinner (not thin) man.

Progress Report on Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 17:28:00 +0000

Since we are almost three months into 2007, a progress report on my four main goals is due:

Unfortunately, I have made no progress on my weight reduction goal. I am very unhappy about this; I must focus, and get started on this top priority project.

I just started my "reviewing every filed document" project about two weeks ago. I have worked about 2 hours each day, and have made significant progress. I still go out every day, so the project is done before and/or after I have been out for the day. This is definitely going to be a long term project, but I am confident I will continue working on the project a couple of hours per day until it is completed.

I have slowed down on my spending; I am now spending like an "inebriated sailor", rather than a "drunken sailor". I am happy with my progress on spending reduction, but I also realize additional reductions are still necessary.

I have made some progress on my going to bed time. Some days, it is still 5:00 am or so when I get to bed; however, other days I am in bed between 3:30 am and 4:00 am. I still must work on getting to bed closer to 1:30 am, but at least I am making progress.

New Year - New Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 16:45:00 +0000

On December 31, 2006, I will be retired 2 and 1/2 years. My retirement has been fantastic. I am very fortunate that the initial two and 1/2 years of my retirement have been so good. I have traveled extensively, go out everyday, attend movies almost daily, regularly attend technical related user groups, and have shopped extensively, predominently for electronic gadgets. As good as my retirement has been, I do have the following goals for 2007:

Loose 100 pounds. This is my top priority.

Start my "reviewing every filed document" project, and discard most of the documents I have filed. I am the proverbial pack rack, but it is still clutter no matter how neatly it is stored. My original plan was to start this project about three months after retiring, but I postponed starting the project because I am having so much fun.

Stop spending like the proverbial "drunken sailor". I am fortunate that I have the resources for a comfortable retirement, but I have to refrain from purchasing every new gadget on the market, a few here and there will be fine.

Start going to bed and getting up earlier. I have always been a night owl; however lately, I have been going to bed between 5:00 am and 5:30 am. That is later than the time I used to get up when I was working. In fact, some days, I go to bed later than the time I used to leave the house for work.

I hope to have many more years of enjoyable retirement, and hope to successfully implement the above goals during 2007. If my future retirement years are anything like the last two and half, I will indeed be a lucky man.

60th birthday in 6 months - still enjoying retirement

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 16:37:00 +0000

I will turn 60 in 6 months; I guess I am getting old. I am still thoroughly enjoying retirement, and hope to enjoy many more years. I do want to loose 60 pounds by my birthday. Weight loss is my priority retirement goal.

Enjoying my summer vacation as always!

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 15:31:00 +0000

I am visiting Quebec City, Montreal, and Lake George, NY as usual for my summer vacation. It is hard to believe that this is my third summer vacation, and fifth vacation overall since I retired. I always enjoy my Quebec City, Montreal, Lake George vacation, and this year is no exception. The weather has been good overall, and I have visited my favorite attractions in Quebec City, and Montreal several times. Looking forward to the car show in Lake George, and particualry looking forward to seeing all the 427 Cobras.

As always when visiting the old Forum, I think of the great times my buddies, and I had attending the Bruins/Canadians hockey games there during the 70's. I also think about how two of the four regulars who went on the long weekend hockey trips are now deceased, and how at the time we were attending, both my parents were still alive, and healthy. So I am always a little melancholic when shopping, eating, or attending a movie at the Forum. The conversion of the Forum from hockey arena to movie theater/restaurants/shopping area is one of best reuses of a building I have seen.

Because everyday is basically a vacation day for me since I retired, my activities while on vacation are not too different from my daily activities at home because I go out everyday. The change of scenery, and the change in ambience are always a nice experience whenever you are on vacation no matter how many times you may have been there before.

Enjoying the Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 01:29:00 +0000

It has now been over 25 months since retiring, and I am still enjoying retirement immensely. Soon, I'll be taking my usual summer vacation. Although I am enjoying retirement immensely, I am still spending like the proverbial "drunken sailor", and have not started any of my retirement projects. I am not complaining since I am enjoying myself so much, and I am fortunate that I do have a comfortable retirement income. However, in the Fall when the weather is cool for lenghty outdoor activities, I will start my major retirement projects, and get my spending more inline with my retirement income.

Last workday was two years ago today - still loving retirement

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 16:37:00 +0000

It is hard to believe that I last worked two years ago today. I was the classic workaholic - arrived early, left late, frequently brought work home, and enjoyed most assignments. I was somewhat concerned that I may miss the workaholic lifestyle. I absolutely, positively do not miss work. I am enjoying retirement immensely, go out everyday, and sometimes wonder how I found time to work.

22nd month of retirement - still enjoying

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Sat, 08 Apr 2006 01:10:00 +0000

It is hard to believe I am in my 22nd month of retirement. It still seems like I retired yesterday. I am enjoying my retirement immensely; I go out everyday, attend many tech related meetings, see just about every new movie release, and meet friends for lunch. Although I was a workaholic, I don't miss work at all.

Because I have been enjoying my retirement so much, I have not started any of my retirement projects. That's ok except for the lack of weight loss. My 59th birthday is this month. I want to give myself an early 60th birthday present on my 59th birthday. I will begin an eating behavior modification on my 59th birthday with the goal of loosing 100 pounds by my 60th birthday in April, 2007.

A new year, new retirement goals

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 04:31:00 +0000

I have been retired a year and a half now, and I am enjoying it immensely. I was a workaholic, and thought I may miss my work activities. I miss the people I worked with, but I do not miss work at all. I sometimes wonder how I found time to work.

I go out every day, go to movies almost daily, go to 6 or more technical user group meetings a month, frequently travel, and overall, I am having a blast.

My main goals in 2006 are:

to loose 100 pounds
review all files / accumulated "stuff", (and hopefully discard a lot of material)
continue going out daily
continue attending movies / user group meetings
reduce spending on gadgets, etc. I do not need

My main transportation is the local transit, the T. I have only put 3100 miles on my car in the 18 months since retiring, and 2000 miles of the 3100 miles were for two summer vacation trips to Montreal, Quebec City, and Lake George, NY. I use the car only once or twice a month, other than the summer vacations.

The only area I have to change is my spending for electronic gadgets, etc. I spend too much on gadgets, etc. that I do not really need.

Major weight loss is my top priority

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 16:32:00 +0000

As important a retirement project as reviewing all files is, my most important project is a major weight loss. Since August, 1999, I have gained back the 70 pounds I lost in 1999 plus a 32 pound bonus. My most important retirement goal is to loose the 102 pounds gained since 1999 by October 1, 2006, one year from today.

Enjoyed the Summer of 2005

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Mon, 26 Sep 2005 05:04:00 +0000

I thoroughly enjoyed the summer of 2005. I attended the Macworld Conference in July and Photoshop World Conference in September. Both conferences were in Boston this year. I was able to vacation in Quebec City, Montreal and Lake George for a total of 28 days during August and September. I am very fortunate that I was able to attend two major conferences and have an extended vacation this summer. I am still enjoying retirement immensely, and don't miss work at all.

I hope to start a major retirement project in mid-October. I want to review all my files and other things I have accumulated over the years, and discard a lot, donate some to charity, and fully organize what I desire to keep.

Hard To Believe 1 Year Has Passed

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 03:07:00 +0000

It is hard to believe that 1 year ago today was my first non-workday. The year has flown by, and I do not miss work. I have thoroughly enjoyed myself, go out every day, and had the opportunity to travel. Hopefully, the next year will be just as good!

Had A Great Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Mon, 25 Apr 2005 02:51:00 +0000

I had a very enjoyable birthday. Went to the Sunday matinee for Phantom of the Opera at the newly restored Opera House in downtown Boston. Both the production and the restored Opera House were fantastic.

After a nice dinner, I saw Kung Fu Hustle, which was also enjoyable. From Phantom of the Opera to Kung Fu Hustle, a very diverse and enjoyable day.

On the way home., I am stopping at a friend's house for a nice visit.

Used car for first time in 5 weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Thu, 21 Apr 2005 02:35:00 +0000

I used the car today to go to the cemetery (my mom's 10th anniversary) and to attend the Boston Pocket PC meeting in Waltham. Today was the first time in five weeks that I used my car. The first stop was the car wash; the car really needed the wash.