ElderChicks

I’ve always marched to my own drummer, and at the ripe old age of 13 had decided my life’s goal was to work hard and save my money until I was 30, then “take my retirement out of the middle”….retire for 10 years, then go back to work until I died.  Thirty was, of course, a completely unrealistic age, but after a 20+ year crazy, hectic career as a municipal bond trader and underwriter, at 43 years old I did just that.  I retired.

I had bought and renovated a neglected little row house with 3 tiny apartments in it on a couple years earlier with the hope that it would help to supplement the savings I planned to live off of during my retirement years.  I didn’t anticipate that the majority of my renters would be University of the Arts students who would move every year and who, quite frankly, could accomplish no greater domestic task than changing a light bulb, and I frequently even get calls with questions about those “complicated” energy savings bulbs.I’ve learned over the years that they have no concept of what it costs to repair, repaint, fix things to make the unit rentable again, so I’ve learned to be much clearer about my expectations before signing leases.  I also didn’t anticipate that it would be such a money pit, so it’s not helping out much on that end, but I enjoy meeting the kids, getting the units up to par each turnover, and learning what I can through the wonderful stable of handymen I have finally accumulated.

Having worked the 9 to 5 ish schedule my entire time in Philadelphia, one of the most rewarding things about my mini retirement is discovering the entire cadre of people who are out and about in the city during the day.  I love to walk, I’m very curious, and I love sleeping in in the mornings, having a couple leisurely cups of coffee while reading the news and checking email, then just doing whatever may come up that day.  I visit construction sites to check on daily progress, stop and read the menu in the window of each new restaurant, and now recognize my mailman, UPS driver, and many other “day” people in my neighborhood that I had rarely, if ever, seen during my working years.  It often feels like some parallel universe, and let me tell the ladies, there are some people out and about during the day that are very easy on the eyes!

Now in my 9th year of retirement, I have determined that there’s a reason for every season.  I had the gift of time to help my father, mother and a very dear friend throughout their entire losing battles with cancer and learned to value each and every moment that I have good health.  I have read novels to my heart’s content.  I volunteer with a wonderful group of people, including Dr. Reese, on a Youth Aid Panel, have taken odd jobs of gardening for a couple who spend summers on Cape Cod and don’t want their Philly garden to look neglected, acting as rental agent for a friend in the neighborhood as needed, working the polls every election day, and my most recent joy is being a dog walker/pet sitter for Fetch! Pet Care.  I have a darling little pit bull mix that I walk every weekday at 3pm and various other sweet things to walk and board in my home on an as-needed basis, as well as the occassional cat visits while people are away.  I love the pets, they’re always happy to see me, and their owners appreciate that their furry friends are in good hands while they’re away.

My wants and needs are simple.  I want to feel needed and to feel free.  I travel when I can afford it, and visit family when I can’t!  Life is good.  The bumper sticker on my ancient little GEO Tracker says “Wag More.  Bark Less.” That is my new goal in life!

My retirement will soon be at an end and I’ll have to look for a more serious job; but in the meantime, I’m just enjoying every moment and counting my blessings every day.  I hope you all are, too! Thanks for letting me share on this wonderful site! [Leave a comment here.]

By, Deb Ragan (age 51, aunt, sister, friend, volunteer, former bond trader turned landlady, gardener, dogwalker, pet sitter, younger chick)