Officially

I am officially retiring on 8/31 - which is a Saturday. I have spent my entire working life planning in 4-day intervals. Take off Friday and Monday so I can go to the lake house for a couple of days - take off Friday and Monday so I can go see my kid in Chicago, have day surgery, go to Dallas and buy a new car...everything in 4-days.

For the first time in my life - I'm thinking in terms of MONTHS - not days. Going to Mexico for 2 MONTHS, going to help my kid out when she moves for a MONTH, going to the lake for a MONTH...OMG - 30 days in a row.

I could work for another 14 Months and increase my retirement check/social security check/savings accounts - but having more than 4 days off in a row - is so intoxicating.

Letting It Go

I sold my favorite toy this weekend - my 1996 Honda Elite Scooter. I bought it a year ago to haul on the back of my RV so I could have some kind of transportation when I camp. She was a beauty - kinda beat up - a little worse for wear - but never failed to start. But I got a fair price for her - so here's to Letting Go of Stuff and paying off debt.

I am trying to become 'debt free' - except for the house - before the end of the year. I will be living on about 75% of my salary so I need to get rid of as many monthly obligations as I can. So far, I have eliminated all my credit card debt - but my car and my house payment still remain a worry.

Next toy up for elimnation is my 1992 29' Class C RV...bye bye toy - hello freedom.

Selling Stuff

As I progress thru this 'winding down' process - I'm beginning to look at all my possessions and put a price tag on them. $700 for my scooter, $3000 for my RV, all of which translates into time I don’t have to work.

I have a real love/hate relationship with STUFF. I love shopping for it, researching it, comparing it, experimenting with it, negotiating the price, and then possessing it - for a brief time. There are very few of my possessions that I maintain any kind of loyalty to over the long-haul. My STUFF is a brief distraction. Had I not owned half of my distraction STUFF – I would be a whole lot better off financially.

As I sell STUFF, family members and friends often say "I thought you loved that _________!" "How can you sell it?" The truth is, I did love it, but once I own it, I'm over it. So now, I’m trying a new way of possessing STUFF – second-hand only. If I can find it at a garage sale or thrift store – I can buy it – if not…..too bad.

What a strange society we live in. You are judged by two things: physical appearance and how much STUFF you own. When I talk to people who already live in Mexico, they always comment on how much further their money goes because there are fewer opportunities to buy STUFF. I hope that is true – but how am I going to fill my time?

It's Official

I will turn 63 in October - "if I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd taken better care of myself" - whatever.

I have officially signed up for SOCIAL SECURITY - what a hoot - who'da thunk it. And starting in October, they (SSA) are going to send me money every month - what a concept! I am also meeting with my retirement specialist to complete all the paper work and THEY will start sending me money. This is so foreign to me - THEY are going to actually PAY me for doing NOTHING. This Retirement thing is sweet; now if I can just learn to live of 1/2 of my salary for the rest of my life - I'll have it made.

I heard from a friend who is also driving to Ajijic in September - we are going to try and match up our departure dates so we can caravan. I'm looking forward to getting on the road....I have already started plotting out the route and what I'm taking. One thing for sure - I'm loading up my MP3 player with books and NPR interviews I've missed. I love audio books - I've spent a fortune on Audible - but I have enjoyed every single book I've purchased.

I LOVE the Internet

A few days ago - I was starting to get concerned - well not really concerned, maybe a little unsettled - about where I was going to stay when I get to Ajijic. There are a lot of great places - included Ajijic Suites (www.ajijicsuites.com) - for about
$450.00 a month. They said there was no problem bringing my little dog CK - so this
was a very good option. They are close to the town square - they have a very good reputation - and the price was reasonable. I hesitated to commit because I am not sure if I want to spend an entire month there - what if I find some place better - or what if I hate being that close to the square - all the music, fireworks, vendors, traffic, etc.

I got on a yahoo group called Comadres - which are a bunch of women from that area and posted a short message that if anyone knew of some place to rent that took dogs, blah, blah - to contact me. Within an hour, Joyce sent me a message saying I could stay with her for a week, free of charge, if I brought down a new set of linens for her new house.

http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac270/joyceraburn/Joyce%20New%20Home/?albumview=slideshow

Problem solved. Women are always so willing to help each other out...Thanks universe!

List of Lists

When you start thinking about spending 2-3 months in another country - the idea of making lists bubbles to the surface. Making a list of what to take (passport, camera, anti-diarrhea medication), list of what to do before you leave (get dog vaccinated, get oil changed), what to do around the house (turn off AC, install mail slot in door), what to kill (roaches, cats), what to create (will, blog), and finally a list called "What to do if all plans FAIL". This list is for emergency exits - Military takeovers, earthquakes, drug wars. Although this is probably the most important list - I have no idea what to put on it.

If there is a Military takeover or an earthquake - can I get out of the country - that requires a whole new set of lists. I need a series of clipboards attached to the kitchen wall.

This is getting complicated.

Starting the Countdown

It is about 2 months before I plan on leaving for Mexico and my plan so far is

1. Retire the first week of September
2. Leave for Mexico a few weeks later

Not much of a plan I grant you, but I've never been know for my detailed planning skills. Not that I don't try - believe me - it takes a lot of work to be this disorganized and live in chaos.

My ultimate goal is Ajijic in Central Mexico - it is about a 2-day drive from Austin - you can't drive at night in Mexico - well you can if you want to dodge cattle sleeping on the highway and local drivers who turn off their headlights to conserve their battery (WTF).

Why Ajijic you ask?? Well it is beautiful there, on the shores of Lake Chapala, very laid back, lots of ex-Pat's, you don't need to speak Spanish, and there are tons of single women about my age to hang out with - instant friends.

Okay - enough with the planning - I'm getting a headache.