Retirement Plans, Or The Lack Thereof

I’m sitting here at my computer at eleven o’clock P.M. trying to come up with a blog topic. I’ve already written my business blog entry of the day; it’s about the value of networking. This is supposed to be a personal blog, and everything I think of has to do with business.

What does that say about me? That I’m obsessed?

In today’s networking meeting, a financial planner stood up and asked the group “who here plans to retire?” Everyone sort of laughed, because…well, who wouldn’t? I thought about it, and wasn’t entirely sure I actually did want to retire. Retirement doesn’t look all that great to me, to tell the truth. What on earth would I do if I no longer had to work for a living?

We all think that when we retire, we’ll have endless days to relax, play with our grandkids, take vacations, paint watercolors, fish, or improve our golf games. Get real.

I watched what happened when my parents retired. Neither of them was terribly enamored with their jobs, but I expect they did miss them when they left. Suddenly they had to live with each other all of the time. There wasn’t any real reason to get up in the morning; they did so at five-thirty a.m. out of habit, and filled the days with naps. Depression came next, followed by health problems. My dad died three years later. My mom’s doing all right, but her life lacks structure and she usually doesn’t know what day it is. She doesn’t need to.

Nope, retirement doesn’t look all that good. I think I’ll just keep working for another fifty years or so. After all, I’m doing what I love.

American Idolatry

I'll admit it – I’m an American Idol fan. It’s weird, because I watch very little TV. But there are usually one or two shows I try to follow, and this is one. House, which follows AI on Tuesdays, is the other right now.

I was unhappy about Constantine getting booted tonight. I like him, in a way. I don’t think I’d run out and buy a CD he recorded, but I respect his talent. He’s experienced. His PR makes him out to be the leader of an alternative rock band, but his true strength is in drama. I missed the show during which he performed “Bohemian Rhapsody”, but if my husband says he did it well, it must’ve been spectacular.

But the six remaining contestants this week were divided into categories: Rocker, Glitzy Country Singer, Black Diva, Pretty Boy, and whatever Scott Savol fits into. Note that there’s only five categories listed above? Evidently the rocker fans didn’t vote twice.

In the end, it doesn’t really matter – Constantine wasn’t going to win. At this point it’s a matter of order, and it’s irritating to see the better talent ousted first. When Scott was pronounced “safe”, I thought sure it’d be Anthony leaving. Could’ve been anyone but Bo and Carrie, who will be the final two – I’d bet cash on it, but I probably won’t find any takers.

I adore Bo. He represents every man I crushed on during the late 80’s and early 90’s, including the man I married – long hair, easy grin, laid-back style. My husband’s none of those these days except in theory, but, well, we all change. Bo’s got the Gen X vote, which is formidable.

Carrie could be Lisa Marie Presley’s sister – or daughter, maybe. At least a cousin. Hubby doesn’t see the resemblance. I think it’s unmistakable – she’s surely related to Elvis, somehow. Anyway, she’s cute as a button and totally polished and classy.

My prediction? Bo will be runner up, Carrie will win it all. And like Clay Aiken, Bo will be much better off coming in second. I sense that he has producers champing at the bit, hoping he’ll get voted off the show ASAP so they can catapult him to the top of the charts unrestricted by AI crap.

Oh, and as for “House”? I used to like it, but Hugh Laurie's “Dr. House” is a character just a tad too extreme. He hates people, yet is fascinated by their quirks and is obsessed with doing what’s right. He drinks too much and takes pain pills because of his leg injury. But why is he so negative and antisocial and such a damn smart aleck? We don’t get an explanation and we’re getting tired of trying to figure it out glimpse by glimpse.

OTOH, I didn’t know till I watched this show that I might enjoy medical mysteries. Maybe I’ll check out that genre at the library. It’s gotta be more interesting than the crappy romances my mother gives me to read.

Shopping

I went shopping today, and for once, it wasn’t all that bad.

Now, we’ve been led to believe that women are supposed to enjoy shopping. I always thought I was weird for not liking it until I read an interview of a local businesswoman today in Women’s Business Cincinnati. Ms. Sanborn doesn’t like it either, so I feel vindicated. If my clothes, groceries, housewares and gifts would just deliver themselves and bill me accordingly, I’d be thrilled. I don’t like bargain hunting and I especially hate haggling.

I guess there are two things I do like shopping for – shoes and office supplies.

The shoes, well, that’s a given. Most women like shoe shopping, even if they’re anti-shopping like I am. Shoes don’t make you feel fat when you try them on. Well, not unless you happen to be seven months pregnant with swollen feet and need shoes because none of your shoes fit anymore…but I digress. That was nearly ten years ago, and temporary.

Why office supplies? I have no idea, but I love walking into the Office Depot and browsing the aisles of paper, folders, pens, envelopes, boxes, dry erase boards…etc. I get all tingly, thinking of how I could use this or that, dreaming of needing those other products one day when my business grows, sniffing the leather desk accessories.

Today, though, I went clothes shopping. That’s something I do on a need basis only, often hunting frantically for an outfit the day before an event. It might not be so unpleasant if I were built differently, but it’s so hard for me to find clothes that flatter me – they’re either too tight or too sloppy-loose. I’m short, and while I wouldn’t say I’m fat, I wouldn’t say I’m slim and trim either. My waist is a little wider than it ought to be, as are a few other measurements. So generally speaking, if the length fits, the "width" doesn’t.

I did well today, though. I was looking for “professional attire” – things I could wear to a client meeting or networking event. I bought two skirts, three blouses, one dress, one pair of black dress sandals, and three pairs of pantyhose for under $100! Hooray for Target!

…and I didn’t buy a single thing for the kids. THAT is the real breakthrough!

Growing Things

Here in Ohio we had a late spring cold snap, complete with slushy snow. I don't know when the average last frost date is here, but I'm guessing it's right about now. At the end of April we should feel fairly safe in putting out all but the tenderest of plants. The tomatoes, peppers, and many other veggies should wait a couple of weeks, which is a good thing because I'm way behind on my seed starting.

Hubby promises me that Real Soon Now I will get a real greenhouse. We'll buy the kit from Harbor Freight, and it's going on the concrete pad where the shed stood before he tore it down and built a new, bigger one. For now I make do with the little three-shelf things covered with zippered clear vinyl. Do they work? Yes and no. They extend the season about three weeks. Sometimes that's enough, sometimes not.

My "tomato plants" are now approximately one inch tall. The peppers have yet to even sprout. This does not bode well for the planting season. The cucumbers show a little damage from the cold, but they'll recover. The squash is very happy but running out of room in its little cell pack.

The kids are growing too. I just hope they'll hold out till the end of long pants season before shooting up another inch or two. At my son's last doctor exam, we found out he'd gained three pounds in a month. This is good because he was skinny and it's due to improved control of his allergies, but I must admit it seems surreal to say "hooray, you gained three pounds!" when I'd like to lose thirty.

Yes, my son is allergic to the world. We had him tested and our cats are among the very few things to which he is not allergic. That's a relief, at least, as we have four of the creatures. He goes for weekly allergy shots, takes two pills each night, and has a nasal spray each morning. But it's helping tremendously.

My son is playing soccer, and also advancing rapidly in gymnastics. My daughter is a level 5 competitive gymnast, so it's lots of fun to see her little brother following in her footsteps. Two more levels and he's eligible to join the team, which will be funny, because he'd be the only boy. Technically it's girls' gymnastics -boys' gymnastics are different. But since there's no boys' equivalent offered nearby, they'll let him in. There are at least two other boys in the YMCA teams in this region. Not much, but, well, I'll leave it up to him. Mostly I want him to take gymnastics because it's so great for physical conditioning. I've seen what it's done for my daughter - she's healthy and muscular with lots of stamina. Dear son could be a couch potato if we let him. We won't, but we'll make the alternative lots of fun.

As for me, well, there's always laundry day. Two flights of stairs with each load. Doesn't that count?

Breaking Ground

It's spring. That means it's time to change things around. Twice a year, in spring and fall, I get really restless. These are times to think about my plans and re-focus. As a result, I'm diving into the blogging world once again.

There's my business blog, Wayswriters' Weblog. And now, a more personal blog, because writing about business all the time gets dull.

Not that I don't love what I do - I do love it! It's such a relief to have finally figured out what I wanna do when I grow up. At the age of...well, at my age...I should know.

I've been asked some pretty darn personal questions today, for reasons that baffled me. My mom's financial planner asked my age. I couldn't see what that had to do with my mom's money, but I told him anyway. Then he asked me how business was going. And he wouldn't take "pretty good" for an answer - he wanted details. Granted, he's thinking of becoming my client, but still...it's none of his business. Later, a window salesman in our driveway asked how long my husband and I had been married. Why? He claimed that he was thinking of getting married and wanted advice. From a sales prospect? Is this a new marketing tool they're teaching in Salesman School?

Ack...TWELVE YEARS. We've been married TWELVE YEARS.

Seriously, though, salesmen are sneaky. I’ve been to some sales seminars, and I always felt like taking a dozen hot showers afterward. Make the prospect your friend, they say. You’re just like him. You’re doing him a favor, letting him in on this awesome deal just because he’s special. The window salesman said we were selected to showcase his company’s work because our yard was so well maintained. Such flattery!

And my husband, the Yard King, fell for it hook, line, and sinker. He’s ready to write the check.

I’d like new windows. But I’ve never heard of Joe Bob’s Window Emporium, or whatever this outfit is called. Fifty percent off, the guy said. Off what?

Call me picky, but I’ve learned to steer clear of statements like “fifty percent off”, “forty percent better” or “thirty percent more”. Off, better, more than what? Next these folks will ditch their usual fake testimonials in favor of “they”, as in “they say we’re the best.” If “better” and “more” works without “than”, why bother clarifying who “they” are?

I’m a tough sell. I made the decision long ago that if I wanted something, I’d do the shopping – and anyone who came to me instead could go hang. If I get “sold to” I don’t get to compare prices and features. The salesman’s job is to interrupt that process. Nine times out of ten, the products or services that “ask for the sale” are no bargains at all.

And every time this happens, I have a selling job of my own to do, which is to convince my husband that his new friend really just wants to rip us off. He’ll thank me later.