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Blogging, Exercising, Grateful, Gratitude, Joy, Learning, Loving, Reading, Retirement, Service, Writing
When I was in the Army, particularly when I surpassed 10 years of service, I knew I was going to retire. It just didn’t make sense to leave the service and walk away from retirement. Boy, I’m glad I did.
I am grateful for the time I served, and if young enough, and faced with the same choices when I was younger, I’d do it all again. It was an adventure of a lifetime and it offered me the opportunity to do things I would have never had an opportunity to experience any other way.
I served in Europe for 6 years. I was in Berlin, Germany when the Berlin Wall came down. I was at the retirement ceremony for Checkpoint Charlie. I got to see Reagan give his famous “Tear down this wall” speech. So many memories.
Because of my service, my medical care is literally free for life. I had the opportunity to retire early and come home to help my folks. This has been a great thing. How many people get to celebrate their parent’s senior years? Not many. In fact, most people will never retire.
Honestly, I am not retired either. The key difference between my working life and my “retired” life is that I can do what I want. So, I am.
What do I love? I love reading. I love writing. I love exercise. I love serving. I love meeting new people and having impromptu conversations with people. I also love learning. So this is what I do every day.
What is something I discovered pretty quickly? I learned that I couldn’t just hang out and do nothing. Netflix is entertaining, but watching it all day every day—No thanks!
My military experience has bled into this retired life. I need structure. I don’t need a minute-by-minute schedule, but I need to do the same things daily. I do all the things I enjoy each day. I love blogging. I love working on my book projects. I love learning new things. All the things I do every day are an absolute joy. I hope all of you are in a position some day to do the same if you wish to.
So this is what I’m grateful for. My retirement and the new adventure I’ve embarked upon.
Have a great Thursday everybody!
Until next time…
Dave
Daily Ramblings... 
My husband retired from the USAF after 22 plus years of service. Our medical care was not free until we reached 65 years of age and went on Medicare and Tricare for Life. Until that time, it was about $500 a year, not an insurmountable sum but not the free care that was promised to us when he was in. Now, he can have totally free care, including medication if he drives over 60 miles to the closest base. Congress continues to vote freebies for themselves and screw the rest of us who really serve in the trenches. I moved 25 times in order to support my husband’s military career. We were apart over 15 years of that married life.
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Wow, I don’t know what to say. I have copays if I get treated, but I do not pay any monthly bills for my care. My last physical in October with blood and lab work cost me a $60 copay. I pay a $5 copay for meds whenever I need them.
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