One life to live

Zeke · 12-08-2003, 06:58 AM

In response to statements in the 911BBS thread about one's reply to the mid life crisis comments, some have advocated living for the present not knowing how long life may be.

I live exactly that way, but I wonder how many really do. I may be showing how foolish I am here, but I put nothing off that I can. I have no children and I have no retirement except for equity I have in material posessions. I spend money on tires instead of shares in a mutual fund. I could go on and on, but you get the point, I'm doing what I want to do as fast as I can accomplish it and holding nothing back for the future. I'm 58 years old.

Are there really others who believe in living for the present, or is it just a bunch of lip service depicting a 'don't give a damn' lifestyle while in reality they are preparing for the future? (As most should).

Moneyguy1 · 12-08-2003, 10:10 AM

Not me, Milt...and as a retired financial consultant, I can say that you may find life a bit tough should something go wrong where you are unable to work. My wife and I live modestly but not frugally, moving to Tucson from the cold Northeast. We saved as much as we could, but did not skimp on important things like dinners out and vacations. There were financial setbacks over the years due to illness and other factors, but we never lost sight of our goal which was to live somewhere without fifteen feet of annual snowfall. At least you don't have to face that!!

Ask yourself what will happen if you outlive your "usefulness"...Who will take care of you? Have you ever visited a state operated "old folks home"? Very dismal. Do you have a pension available? Social Security will pay less than 2k per month at best which, if residing at a care facility will be turned over to the facility with only a small stipend to you for necessities such as shaving cream, etc.....

The amount needed to live comfortably will very from one individual to another based upon what they are used to and expect. But, about 3k to 4k per month would not be unreasonable for a middle class individual to maintain their lifestyle. I have consulted with folks who did not plan well, and suffered for it.

Your situation is not unique. There are many in your age group (read boomers) that have no idea what the future holds. True, life is usually short but what if it is longer than you expect? You may hit the age lottery and if not prepared, you are definitely not a winner.

I would start now on a two pronged approach. (1) Start investing or saving and by doing this (2) spend less on non essentials, learning how to do mire with less but not to the point of totally going without.

Good Luck. I sincerely mean that....

turbo6bar · 12-08-2003, 10:24 AM

Milt, start saving. If you had started earlier, you wouldn't need to sock away more than $200-300/month, but now you've got to make up for lost time. You've got to find a balance between present happiness and your future. You've got to make some sacrifices for tomorrow, or you'll never leave today.

jurgen

Zeke · 05:09 PM

Jeez, who wants to live beyond being useful? Old folks home? I think not. My father-in-law (ex Marine Colonel) was put in a home. He stopped eating. Game over. I admired him for that. He was one tough ol' bird, but he had dignity. My uncle, also a Marine, suffered from emphysema. When he couldn't climb the stairs to the bedroom any longer, he just used a .357. Now, that was a little messy, but he made his point. I didn't fault him.

Hey, thanks for the advice, but I wasn't looking for any. I explained my philosophy. What I want to know is are there any others, or is this 'live your life the fullest' mentioned on the 911 BBS just a smoke screen?

Hey, if I make it to 75 in year 2020, do you think my S would be worth about a $100,000? According to your estimate of the cost of living beyond Social Security (I assumed that was what you meant). that would be almost 3 years of subsistance @ $3000/mo.

"You've got to make some sacrifices for tomorrow, or you'll never leave today."
I think that's a crock.

WOODPIE · 12-08-2003, 05:25 PM

Well golly, Milt, you're probably going to catch some s hit for that suicide thing. I doubt any of the "live your life to the fullest" crowd subscribe to any DIY cash-out mags. To have a lifestyle at all takes money, I've always thought, so it's more likely they'd contract with a modern-day Dr. K .

Tell me why you visit the 911 board, Milt. Seems like you get bent out of shape when you do that.

You know, if one winds up too poor to afford a bullet, one can always fuss at a cop real bad, and then, quick like, reach into your coat pocket.

Ed

turbo6bar · 12-08-2003, 05:30 PM

I hear McDonalds has flexible hours for old farts who can't afford to retire...

Zeke · 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WOODPIE

Tell me why you visit the 911 board, Milt. Seems like you get bent out of shape when you do that.

Ed

The cop thing was noted, LOL

BUT, on the subject of my attitude, I'm concerned. I don't mean for this thread to be antagonistic, at least any more than my regular cantankerous self. Honestly, I'm not trying to rub anyone here. I just want to know if anyone really believes he/she can live as if life's duration is so uncertain that they must live without regard for the future so that they can do everything now before it's too late. The comments caught my attention because I can and do that. I just didn't think there were many others. Still don't.

Yes, my personality reflects my philosophy. I don't give a damn and haven't for years. Why pretend? I come off acerbic, but I don't mean to be rude. Don't have time for that either.

I'll walk away from anything/anyone if I don't think there is a benefit for me. And I try to reciprocate. However, I digress.

I'm not a bad guy to know. But I didn't promise my life to anyone but myself.

Now, where are the players?

Edit: "I hear McDonalds has flexible hours for old farts who can't afford to retire..."
Hell no, I was thinking more on the lines of welding on Turbo flares for the young whippersnappers that have no skills but to be money changers. (Money changers being the term from the Bible; you understand my drift on that one.)

WOODPIE · 12-08-2003, 05:54 PM

I don't know any players.

Tell me if this isn't sort of a contradiction. I have read your posts where you are talking about the quality of work you do. I know there is an amount of personal satisfaction that comes with doing something well, but don't you also deliver high quality because you hope to get another job tomorrow?

Ed

Zeke · 12-08-2003, 06:07 PM

Ah, good point. We must quantify what constitutes the future. If there is a benefit (as in making things easier), I will indeed invest in the near future. I'm not going to reduce this to living one hour to the next. I've got an order from Pelican that's coming in a few days. There's a canyon run or two coming up this weekend and next. But, when my purpose wanes,.........well, lets not go there. My purpose won't wane.

My dad worked until 2 weeks before he died. Hellava two weeks. Thankfully it wasn't any longer. He suffered from emphysema too. All those cigarettes that were so glamerous during WWII. The government passed 'em out to the troops.

So, what am I saying here? I don't smoke, I'm a vegetarian, I'm in shape. And I do good work as mentioned. No need to make tomorrow miserable. I might wake up tomorrow.

You say, "Ah, that's precisely the point." Well, it is, and it isn't. Bottom line here: I will draw the line when the time comes. I'm not going to project my life into the unknown.

Schrup · Schrup's Garage

I have been working double shifts the last two days because my shift partner expired on the job Saturday night. He was 54 years old, had no family (except an 80yr old mom), lived in a tiny apartment with no phone & drove a POS old truck. He was a very private man & from what I can tell had no vises. The only things he collected were odd stamps & books. He made it abundantly clear that if anyone came to work & found him dead he was not to be resusitated. He hated his life, but his religious conviction prevented him from ending it. People around him strongly suspect he found purpose through philanthropy. I found him extremely kind hearted & equally bitter. I believe he was probable too intellegent for his own good. He will be missed more than he imagined, but all agree that he is in a happier place. Rest in Peace Randy.

WOODPIE · 12-08-2003, 07:19 PM

Honestly, I'm still not real clear about what it is we're babbling about. If the question is, "Do the people who sing 'Sha la la la la la, live for today' check with their broker each afternoon?", I'd say yeah, most likely.

Thinking about it, I'd say it's hard to draw the line (not yours; another, less somber one) between one's personal actions regarding either the near or distant future. I mean, of course, you're a vegetarian so you can wake up tomorrow and take a glorious fiber-filled dump. But you're also a vegetarian so you can take a similar dump in ten years or so, right? And right up to the last one you take the day you die!

Wait a minute, I'm on to something here...the Meaning of Life! Yeah, that's it.....

Somebody help

Ed

Zeke · 12-08-2003, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WOODPIE
Honestly, I'm still not real clear about what it is we're babbling about.........
Somebody help

Ed

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Schrup · Schrup's Garage

I don't find anything noble about suicide.

dd74 · 08:37 PM

Living for the moment? Well, we all do to an extent because we have these crazy cars we like to drive very fast and spend butt loads of money on. Personally, I don't see a problem with whatever a guy living for the moment. If a man has a family, it's a different set of rules, but that's a given.

Believe it or not, you're in a good spot: single, very little family obligations, living for one's self - man, you could get up right now and live in Europe, Alaska, Hawaii or wherever your fancy takes you.

I think L.A. might be hardening up on you. Do like my friend did, and go to Hawaii. Get drunk, get laid (he didn't get laid, the poor sod, though he had the chance - the bum) but he did get drunk...

...and he swam around, bobbed in the waves, over ate and came back tan as hell, fat and so happy he shorted out light bulbs. If it worked for him, it'll work for you. Put it on the goddamned Visa. Who cares? Pay it off when you can.

Moneyguy1 · 12-08-2003, 09:39 PM

Sorry I tried to make an intelligent analysis.........

Zeke · 12-09-2003, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
Sorry I tried to make an intelligent analysis.........

And you did. It just didn't sell very well on me.

Quote:

I don't find anything noble about suicide.

No? OK. You would have sat in the old folks home and watched the guy across the hall drool and soil himself all the while mumbling incoherently and been satisfied? Allthough my wife was extremely sad at the loss of her father (who said I was single?), she didn't blame him for what he did. If he were here today, I think he would take exception to calling not eating suicide. On my uncle's part, it's tough to rename his act.

Oh, did I tell you my dad ripped out the ventilator tube after breaking restraints they put on him? I guess that's suicide, but I never thought of it that way.

Hardened by LA? You think? Jeez, it's such a beautiful sewer. How can I be not seeing the palm trees for the murders?

dd74 · 12-09-2003, 06:19 AM

Well, tell us what you decide...before we read about it in the papers...

Doug Zielke · 12-09-2003, 06:40 AM

Zeke....
Right on!
No stinkin' old folks homes for us.
Die with your boots on!

Zeke · 12-09-2003, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dd74
Well, tell us what you decide...before we read about it in the papers...

You know, as it often times happens on these BBS's, you miss the point entirely and I'm afraid that's my fault. I'm a very upbeat person with a bad attitude, that's all. Nothing is pending, OK? THAT IS the point, nothing is pending.

I was simply looking to see if there were really others in my camp. Indications pointed to that in the 911 thread about mid life crisis. I shouldn't have brought it up. Obviously, I took a comment or two a little too seriously.

Paul, I stepped away for a moment and had a thought: If you allow yourself to die, that's not suicide. I'm going to keep that one. Your interpetation is, of course, yours.

And you know what? This thread is not serving any purpose for me, so in keeping with my creed about walking away from things that don't serve me well, I'm out of this one. Let it die and it will pass on to the next lfe, er.... page. I crack me up. Later, gentlemen.

dd74 · 12-09-2003, 07:56 AM

You know, as often times happens on this BBS, you make no sense. Whatever your point is, to me you sound like a guy who's feeling sorry for himself - typical Xmastime B.S.

I take back my advice to you. Why? Because you probably couldn't get laid in Hawaii, either, and undoubtedly you'd be wasting a good airline ticket.

In the meantime, get over yourself!