The Old Soldier took early retirement when he was 62, mainly because after getting his MFA in fiction writing from the University of Pittsburgh in 2006 he could not find a decent job. By decent, I mean a job that paid my bills.
So, I took early retirement in 2009 and told the working world to kiss my ass.
I’m sorry. That last sentence makes the Old Soldier seem bitter.
Retirement (Photo credit: Tax Credits)
But it has only been this year after I started getting my military pension to add to my social security and my pension from Giant Eagle that I could begin to enjoy retirement.
Yes, it always comes back to money. Money and health.
Last Friday night, as I stood at the bar at Del’s and waited for karaoke to begin (it began after the Penguins and Flyers hockey game was over: 10:30 pm) I got a chance to talk to a guy named Mike. He was 47. He and I were two of the oldest people in the place. Most of the customers were in their 20s. Mike had a date: Stephanie who was older than Mike. (She did not like the fact that he told me that).
Some Of My Old Amateur Photography
But he and I got to talking. I told him, jokingly, that I wished I was taller (I’m 5,8 or 5,9), better looking (I’m okay looking) and richer.
He said he just wanted to be richer. He then said health and wealth is what it’s all about. And he said he had his health and he was happy.
Well, I’ve got my health. And instead of living in poverty I now live a comfortable lower-income life style. I’ve got the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette to keep me busy and karaoke to keep me happy.
The Old Soldier realizes just how luck he is.
Keep reading and keep writing that flash fiction.
*****
Read. Study. Write. Submit.
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Filed under: Senior Citizens | Tagged: amateur photography, Del's, joys of Retirement, Karaoke, life, Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette, social security, submit, University of Pittsburgh, writing | 1 Comment »
