Getting off the 2x monthly or weekly payments is a little bit unnerving at first. I mean, for years, it was “can I make it till next Friday?” On the other hand, I’m glad to leave the uncertainty behind-“Will I have a job next Friday? or even “Will my unemployment check be approved next Friday”? Tradeoffs, Tradeoffs. A bit less money for certainty.
However, unlike employment, there isn’t a whole lot of room for expansion for say, emergencies or those once in a lifetime big things. There’s COLA, but these days its a bit more like decaf, in that inflation is a bit tamed so increases are small. Retirement doesn’t give you raises or promotions either or employee of the year awards where you get a big check and a pat on the back by supervisors.
What’s left? The lottery? Could work, but that’s pretty uncertain. Besides, in gambling, the house ultimately wins, even when there’s payouts. There is a reason why there are 20 year lottery employees after all. Getting another job? I don’t mind working temp assignments, but every time my mind goes to regular 40 hours a week work, I almost cringe a little. Even if I could ramp up mentally, the push is gone. Why, before, the push is getting to-and going towards that day-the day you already had.
So I learn a little towards self-employment of some kind. Writing is the ultimate in flexibility. Can start and stop at any time of the day. No manager, and the opportunity for self-expression. No commuting or leaving the house-which was often the hardest part of my day. Ever get up at 6am to stand at the bus stop at 6:45 am in the middle of winter?
Now, looking back towards the end, I found myself envying bloggers an podcasters and such. Not so much for the self-expression, but the freedom. Sitting at the table at 8 am drinking coffee instead of parsing bus schedules or waiting for a call from somebody-anybody regarding work. Now past the end, I’m aware that it takes a lot of work to get going even with writing, and even harder work to let the world know-let alone appreciate it.
So, help me out here. Hit the paypal button on the sidebar. I would much rather do this than clutter the blog with a lot of advertisements that I did not choose to have. As for Patreon, at the moment it’s a placeholder, because I haven’t decided just what to offer and how often to offer it. I’m a believer in reserving real estate while I figure out what to do next.
Also, if you like what I write, I do have comments by Disqus. Beats having to figure out memberships and membership levels. I can keep out the trolls.
And I do have mail subscriptions as well.
In the end, I find myself coming to terms with it all. It is what it is, and may well be. It’s no longer as unnerving as it used to be.
Tags: About the Benjamins, Essay, Rejoicing in Retiement
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