A Wrinkle in Time

This week has been all about getting myself retirement ready. It took me until my mid 40’s to finally decide to. I’ve always thought of retirement & retirement planning kind of as “A Wrinkle in Time.” A far off, long way away, ‘for the wrinkles in your future’ kind of plan. I can still hear the echo in my head, my parents voices telling me, “Save it for a rainy day!” “Bah humbug!”  was pretty much my constant answer.

I never really understood the logic behind it – so I should put it all aside, in case something bad happens? I should not enjoy it now? ‘But what if I’m hit by a bus tomorrow? Nothing is guaranteed!’ I’ve always just lived for the moment – the only time we have is Now – so I’ve always pretty much done what I wanted when I wanted.  I discussed the importance of spending money on experiences, not things, in my previous post: To Spend or Not To Spend: Experiences vs. Things.

And then what? Roll my wheelchair onto the cruise ship, shouting ‘WooHoo!’ through my dentures, hoping I don’t fall & break a hip, as I finally get to enjoy the fruits of my labor? If I even make it that far … “Oh I don’t think so!”

I’ve never trusted & been a rebel against the system for as long as I can remember. I don’t trust banks. I don’t trust the people who run banks. What if I put all my money in there, & then one day, ‘Oooops, Sorry, we’ve gone bankrupt, no more money for you.’ How many people have dedicated their lives to their employer, only to find out their pensions are no more? How many times has the gov bailed out big banks or corps, but the little guy – ‘Sorry about you!’ If there wasn’t so much corruption, they’d be more trustworthy ..

But – I must admit, it feels good to build. That wrinkle in time is getting closer & I think it’s wise to have a plan, just in case I’m not hit by a bus tomorrow!

I guess sometimes having a plan & being prepared is not such a bad thing after all 😉