This past year, I turned 63 years old. In this day and age it’s not uncommon to find many people over the age of 60 living useful and productive lives. I’m very grateful to have been around this long and I feel that I’m one of those people who still have a lot to offer.
I’m in relatively good health and I’ve worked hard over these years to keep a positive perspective on life. I’m a true believer that the way you think can determine how you live.
As I look back over the years, I’m amazed at just how fast the time has passed.
As a young man growing up in the Albany Houses in Brooklyn, New York, there was no thought of being in my 60’s. It’s not that I didn’t think I would get here, it’s just not the thing that young people think about. I thought that I would stay young forever. During that time all I thought about was finishing high school and playing basketball.
I’m at that stage in life where the reality of retirement is getting closer. I have 29 years at the Us Postal Service. My goal is to put together a serious retirement plan when I get to the age of 65. I could go out now but I still really need to work and if I claim social security benefits now there’s a lot of money that I would leave on the table. At 65 I will also be one year away from being at full retirement age. That means I would get my full benefits and I wouldn’t have to worry about being penalized if I decide to continue working.
There are some mornings when I get up, that I really feel my age. On those days, it takes me awhile to get this body moving. There are other mornings I hit the ground running.
Overall I have no regrets of how my life has turned out so far. There were some choices I made that I wish I could do over but I feel that overall I turned out pretty good.
Although my relationships weren’t as successful as I would have wanted, I do have three great kids that I am very proud of. As they are getting older my role as “hands on dad” has diminished. They are doing well and doing their own thing. They know I’m always here if they need me. With the kids moving in their own directions, I think it’s time for me to redefine what direction I want to go in.
I call my plan “The Next 60”.
It is my goal to stay around for at least another 60 years. I plan on using these next two years before I turn 65 to get myself together financially and I also plan on using this time to get my mind prepared to be in retirement mode. My dad always used to say that moving into retirement is moving from being in control to a place where one is out of control. What he has said makes sense. After all I will be receiving a fixed income which will mean that I will have to tone down all my wild partying.
The truth is that my life is pretty hum-drum. On most nights I’m in bed by 10PM. I think that I have partied enough for a few lifetimes so spending the evenings at home is something I look forward to.
I don’t plan on having a retirement party. I think I want to say goodbye to my coworkers and quietly leave the building. This is a job that I have truly enjoyed. I’ve been blessed to work with some of the best people in the world. I don’t care what people may say about the Postal Service. I know that these people that I have spent the last 29 years with care about what they do and have given great service to their customers.
I’ve been taking off some time in an attempt to get used to being at home. I don’t think there will any problems adjusting to my new life. I’ll probably still get up early and that’s because I do my best work in the morning.
I won’t have a problem finding something to do to fill the time. I have a host of things that will keep me very busy.
One of the things that I plan on doing is this blog. I’ve been writing for 7 years and I look forward to continue talking about my life with my kids. I have other plans but I think I would like to talk about them as I do them.
My past relationships have not worked out as well as I would have liked. On New Year’s Eve a childhood sweetheart and I got reunited and I hope that this will be the one that will take me into the next 60.
These are just a few of the things that I plan on doing during my “next 60”. I’m looking forward to giving my life a reboot. I want to use this time do some of the things I didn’t do and finish some of those things I started during my “first 60”.
In any event I’m anticipating a positive future and I look forward to sharing these experiences with you.

I\’m the guy whose glass is always 1/2 full.

I LOVE BEING A DAD!!