Recent Events
A couple of weeks ago, I said I’d touch on some of the things that had been happening in my long cycle of LJ inactivity. Here goes, then.
I had surgeries for cataracts, starting six weeks ago. Results are mixed. My vision with glasses is better now (the cataracts had been having a cumulative effect before I even knew they were there); however, my vision without glasses used to be just right for reading, and no longer is. Improvement overall, but I’m aware that my body is gradually losing its former capabilities.
Along with which, I got some pain (in my back) which became so severe that my wife Susan called an ambulance for me (and I didn’t argue). Turned out, even with no chest pain component whatsoever, it was a heart attack, and I had a couple of stents placed the following day. Back to normal almost immediately, and I can actually exercise now whereas it wasn’t really feasible before. On the other hand, my daily meds have doubled (and I’ll probably be on blood thinners and blood pressure reducers for the rest of my life).
Because of those things and other considerations, I’m considering retirement a couple of years ahead of the original plan. Part of that is that I thought my max-max for Social Security (deferring retirement till a later point) would be substantially larger than the standard max, but the difference isn’t actually that great. Part of it is that my work - which is the easiest job I’ve ever had in my life, and the best-paying outside a combat zone - is increasingly un-pleasing to me. And part is just that I don’t feel like waiting any longer. I’m ready to start trying out relaxation and travel as a lifestyle, and my wife, too, would like to get started before she’s too old to be able to really enjoy these things. Haven’t actually started the process yet, but getting ready to.
Today Susan and I set up an investment account using the proceeds from the sale of our home. With that and other things, retirement shouldn’t be much of a problem; I’m very cautious about such matters, however, so I’ll try to shore it up with some other arrangements before we commit completely. A further step, all the same.
As I had previously indicated would probably be the case, last year’s round of the Circle of Friends Remix (cof_remix) was, in fact, the last. From the very beginning, three of us - me, sroni, and eilandesq - participated in every round; last year, I was the only one remaining. Nothing lasts forever, and this one lasted ten years, but it had reached the point where the satisfaction wasn’t commensurate with the effort required.
(As an aside to that, does anybody know if eilandesq - M. Scott Eiland - is doing okay? As far as I can tell, he’s gone radio silent.)
Finally, my granddaughter - in China - is now a member of the Young Pioneers. Think a combination of Boy/Girl Scouts and a very toned-down version of the Red Guards. It’s apparently a routine thing, in that every member of her class went in at the same time; and, as a Catholic and an official American citizen, she’s already ineligible for the Communist Party (for which having been a Young Pioneer is a prerequisite). Still, that’s a step further into something that makes me uneasy as an American. I approve of patriotism; I approve of self-discipline and learning to work with others; I do NOT approve of the Chinese Communist Party, and would prefer to see my blood kin more distant from it. So, yeah, not all of life is completely to my satisfaction.
I’ll get to work on that.