A missive from the frontiers of retirement: I guess retirement is going well, but it’s terribly odd at times.

I’m still working part-time, which is great, and after the end of the year I will still be working but as a freelancer. I think I need business cards printed to that effect because when I’m out reporting, people stare at me and say, “I thought you had retired.”

Oftentimes, the tone of the remark is similar to “I thought you were dead.”

I’m not dead yet, despite the hopes of many.

Then I have to explain my situation, which is not much different than many people who have retired: you still work because you either want additional income or because you enjoy the work.
I have finally succumbed to joining AARP, after receiving almost monthly mailings since I was 50. I did it for the discounts.

With retirement I’m more aware about money than I’ve been in a long time, not that I threw it around before. After all, I was a journalist.

But now I’m questioning more about how I spend. I’m hunting for a cheaper cell phone service and walked into a dollar store – where everything I saw was actually $1.25 – and checked it out.
I’ve largely given up fast food breakfasts and donuts and have returned to going to the gym. I’m trying to improve my habits.

I’ve not completely adapted to the number of hours I spend alone. I keep busy and am proud to say I don’t sit around watching daytime TV – which is the worst. Still, I do miss the newsroom and my colleagues. Talking about stories in progress is a pleasure. (By the way, I’ve been given an open invitation to come into the office, but I just don’t want to wear out my welcome.)

I don’t miss the snarky remarks or the hate mail from readers who didn’t like something I wrote in this column, though. Sometimes their efforts amused me, while sometimes I wondered why they felt a need to hate me.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not regretting my decision to retire. It was the right time to make a change. I’ve got a new book out and four more planned. I’m still doing work for Focus Springfield. I’m seeing close friends and trying to see the grandchildren more.

It’s just this final chapter of my life takes some adjustment.

We can all get along if we want to

One thing that has needed no adjustment is my twice week trip down the hill from my house to the world-famous Smokey Joe’s Cigar Lounge. Some weeks it has been three times a week.

So, the other night at Smokey Joe’s a cigar buddy of mine brought in a longtime friend.

Now my buddy is a Republican and his friend is as well. We frequently chat about politics and have remained friends despite that. There are moments of agreement and moments of disagreement. It’s amazing how cigar smoking can allow people to talk about things without getting angry.

That evening the three of us had a great time talking about a number of things ranging from restaurants to pop culture.

Being new to retirement and Medicare I brought up the situation of a close friend who has suffered for more than two years from conditions that might have been brought about from Lyme’s Disease. His doctors have not been able to identify his condition properly and after much lobbying my friend has been given an appointment with a specialist who could help him.

The appointment is for August of next year.

Next year.

The two men sharing a smoke and drink with me were outraged and yet there was a collective acceptance that this is an example of the state of healthcare in this country.

We also all agreed that fixing healthcare should be a priority and my two companions seemed open-minded about considering a variety of approaches.

Now if three guys smoking cigars and having beverages can get along, why can’t people in Congress do the same? Sounds simplistic, I know, but the only way we fix things in this country is by abandoning extreme positions and seeking consensus.

I think we can all agree that healthcare is something that affects every American and right now there are huge disparities in service, availability and price. Isn’t it time to find solutions?