Time Marches On, But Am I Marching with It?

Photo by Adrian Hartanto on Unsplash

I am using a lot of cliches recently.

What I am trying to understand as we go into 2024, is whether I am moving in tune with the times? It is easy for me to see that this year is going to be different than last year. But it is not as easy for me to see how I will fit in.

My focus, as the year dawns, is how can I retire again?

I have a tentative date of Halloween, October 31^st. Will I be ready then? I’m not sure. When I tried retirement in 2019, it was my depression leading the way. Depression felt I was just too comfortable and that things were going along just a little bit too well.

So, my depression hatched a plan to have me throw 30 some years of planning out the window.

And then it had me be very secretive about what I was doing. I did mention retirement to my family once before I made the announcement at work. But having any sort of discussion about my intentions was not even on the table. My depression had cooked up this plan, and after it worked its magic on me, it became my plan. But I am still painfully aware that the last time I retired, I ended up in 5 East.

I am trying to be above board and open about my ideas, this time.

There is the lure of RSU’s and bonuses, plus health insurance at my day job. But then there is the more pressing matter of grandkids. As they grow, I want to be a part of their lives. And I want to have the time to spend visiting or having them, as they get older, come, and visit us.

So, the question becomes, how do I get to my goal of retiring again?

And is the end of October 2024 a realistic date? Is it too soon, or not soon enough? Today all I seem to have is questions. There are very few answers coming to me. So, I will stop here and take care of my “day off list” and then think more about the big picture.

Sometimes, I just have to take action and get stuff done.