I started back to work this year after having retired in July 2011. In my first post for this blog, I quit calling it retirement and started calling it renewal. The Bible says we are "renewed" day by day.
Well, I was fortunate to land a job with the state of Texas writing air permits for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). I use the term fortunate because I found it difficult to land any kind of a job at my age. Age discrimination really exists. Of all the "protected" classes defined by the government, discrimination of older folks is the easiest type to get away with. I heard that in the past, companies had to prove they did not discriminate because of "age", but a Supreme Court case changed all of that. Now the individual has to prove the company discriminated against them. With all the lawyers at their disposal, most companies aren't afraid of losing that battle.
I found the state of Texas was different. They fully embrace these protections under the law and have a very talented and diverse work force. It was a joy finding so many professional and friendly people here at the TCEQ. The agency has a good understanding of what a "work-life" balance means and they provide their workers with adequate time off to spend with their families.
The job is not stressful. Well, it was at first while I was trying to learn the ropes, but it is getting easier by the day. I have a good Team Leader who understands us old guys. There are several retirees from the Air Force, Navy, Marines and Army working here. I think I will start a new club for old guys. We'll call it Club 60. If other groups can have their ethnic and cultural clubs, why not old folks?
One reason I think I got the job was the fact I told them I didn't want to make much money. I don't want to have to pay a lot of taxes and the Social Security Administration will penalize me if I make over a certain amount. So I did the math and what I lose in SS payments, I save in health benefit costs. It is a win-win for me. The other bonus is the TCEQ re-instated almost five years of service time for when I worked for them in the 1970's. I didn't think anyone kept records that long. In five more years, I will be able to retire.....er....I mean renew my life again. I will then have five small streams of income to finance my frugal life style.
There are times when I find the new job a little boring. I chose this job because it wasn't stressful and I get to go home every day at 5 PM. When I have worked here six months, I will get vacation and I can flex my hours to avoid the Austin traffic. But, not having the freedom I had before and the ability to travel across this beautiful country of ours, makes me a little sad. I used to brag "I had all the time in the world and money was no object." The truth is at some point you run out of both.
Getting old is not for cowards and neither is retirement. Being able to retire and maintain the same lifestyle is almost impossible today. Even if you saved enough money, your lifestyle will still change. You no longer work with the same people or have the same routine. You have less worries from the job, but you manage to have a whole new set of worries. Health becomes a major concern. Relationships change as you get older. You often get overlooked or excluded. Your older friends may have the same health problems that keep them from participating in all the things you once enjoyed. I was never very athletic, so I don't miss all that sweaty stuff.
But you do feel a loss. You begin to evaluate what you really want to do with the rest of your life and what is most important to you. A lot of activity that I once did doesn't seem as important now. Being with people seems more important than buying things or going places. I guess the only thing we take with us when we die are memories and relationships. I don't want to sound morbid, but I do want to be serious about the rest of my life.
My goals are to stay healthy and to work to get out of debt. Melissa and I have incurred some debt due to taxes and other expenses during our "RV days." We have a five year plan to get out of debt, achieve another pension from the state of Texas, help raise our new grandson until he starts school and make as many friends as possible. Plans are good, but I have also learned to live one day at a time.
We have sold our home and possessions twice and started over with nothing but the smiles on our faces and the open road. Most everything in our lives is temporary. We have very few "roots" in this earth, but we are looking for treasures in heaven. We are investing our time in our grandson and daughter and we still teach a Bible study for adult men and women. So, I guess we are giving ourselves away along with our possessions.
I read a book called "Die Broke" that teaches you to give away all your money while you are alive and literally die broke. One of its' sayings is "The last check you should write will be to the undertaker and it should bounce!" I think I will qualify.
In saying all of this, I am reminded that it is presumptuous to think we have complete control of our lives. So many other factors come into play and saying we will do this or that tomorrow or next week is just an exercise in self-will. God's will for my life may be different from what I planned. But I have come to know that God's will is always better than anything I could imagine. So.....I'll take it one day at a time and leave the rest to Him.
For now, I feel I am doing what I am supposed to do and living where I should be living. Although it is sometimes boring and I get weary with the daily grind, I have peace in my heart of hearts. As a Christian, I mostly have "leaving" on my mind. I do believe in heaven and I so want to go there. When I watch the news, I am convinced that I won't have to wait very long. My last goal is to cheat the undertaker and the grave. I want to make the Rapture and rise to meet the Lord in the air. These are more than goals or plans, these are God's promises.
So....when the outlook seems bad, try the uplook.
