GB took his early retirement effective September 30, 2006. He’s been meaning to post, but his adjustment to The Retirement Lifestyle has kept him ever so busy. So, it’s up to me to describe the recent goings-on on this here boat.
GB said the first three days of retirement were full of anxiety and sleepless nights spent staring into the darkness, wondering “My God, what have I done??” But by the fourth day, he got over it. Now, he’s happy and appears to be adapting quite well. In fact, he recommends retirement for everyone.
To be sure, he’s kept pace with boat maintenance, repairs and outfitting, and continues his duties as The Propane Chef; but he has also been hard at work learning a new role as Retired Gentleman About Town. His responsibilities include:
1. Driving 10mph under the speed limit at all times -- while wearing a hat. Perhaps you’ve been stuck in traffic behind him when he’s been out and about?
2. During dry weather, sitting on benches at the local skateboard park amongst the other retirees, remarking about “kids these days.”
3. Strategizing the best time of day to shop at Trader Joe’s when everyone else is at work.
4. Arriving at the Ballard branch of the public library at the precise moment the librarians place the latest selection of DVDs on the shelves (free check out for all bearers of valid library cards!). This maneuver demands physical agility and a good deal of street-wise diplomacy, as GB must compete for the sweetest titles with other retirees and ne’er-do-wells who follow the same drill. GB says it’s a jungle in there.
5. Finding everyday low, low prices for exotic Asian food at the 99 Ranch Market. (For you Seattle locals, think of 99 Ranch as a more reasonably priced family market version of the more tourist-oriented Uwajimaya.) Everyone should take at least one trip to 99 Ranch - they have such an extensive selection of fresh, high quality Asian food, it’s like a trip around the Pacific Basin without needing a passport! GB and I consider ourselves pretty sophisticated for a couple of middle aged white Americans, but we saw rows of fine produce and very fresh fish, much of which we’d never seen before in any other market. 99 Ranch is great for provisioning. Go there!
As you can see, retirement is not for the timid or the unwary. It takes someone like GB to pull it off.
- m
See? I wasn’t kidding about the hat.
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