#16 – Volunteering

Unfortunately I let two weeks slip by without adding a new post- again. The good news is that I’m two weeks closer to retiring than I was before, when I can spend more time posting, but I’m trying to get smart BEFORE retiring, not during. A little more on that later.

This is a short note. I’d really like to hear from some of you your thoughts on volunteering- on just about anything. I’m sure those of you who are retired gave some, or considerable, thought on what you might want to invest any volunteer efforts on. And if you didn’t, I’m not trying to shame anybody into doing so. Some of you have been doing volunteer work for years, well before retiring. If you’re retired, have you been approached by organizations seeking volunteers? I know one friend who’s spent years doing volunteer financial counseling, and others who did considerable volunteer work at their children’s school. Hospital work? Housebuilding? Homeless shelter work? Others?

Back to my retirement status. Beth and I just got back today from a short visit to Tennessee (see previous posts on my ever-changing retirement plans). Construction on our retirement home started four weeks ago, and Thursday was the first time we’d seen the lot without trees. Lot’s cleared, footers are poured, and cinder block foundation is almost finished. It’s exciting to see. The more I think about the near term future and imminent retirement……well, it’s a slippery slope, those thoughts. Not long ago retirement was almost two years away, but we’re thinking less than a year now. I’ll need to dedicate a full post on how that time line shrunk so quickly. I promise to try and add some pictures to the blog- they’re more interesting than anything I could write.

In the meantime, there are some interesting posts (and comments) from the past three plus months worth checking out if you just found this blog. I have my buddy Vinny Balderrama to thank for mentioning the blog in Shipmate magazine and few more folks are checking it out. Then again, I’m trying to get wiser from you and your comments!