Picture from Retirement Party 2014 and from Cruise 2023. Retirement fits us well.

This could be a little long with pictures and some verbiage but I tried to keep it to some important events that happened while retired. Most likely missed a lot. I want to make sure anyone sitting on the fence understands the freedom, relaxation, and enjoyment one can have in retirement. Jackie and I both officially retired March 1st 2014. THAT IS 10 YEARS AGO NOW. Jackie worked contract after but was always able to be included in whatever we were doing in most cases. And we have done a lot. I can honestly say I have had a wonderful time that has past a way to fast.

TEN YEARS is a long time but it feels like just yesterday. I am very fortunate to have kept in contact and have had some great visits with my fellow workers which is nice as they are part of your life for years. I spent many hours over the years with these guys and gals. I enjoyed everyone of them. Well most of them.

There is a list of wonderful people that I worked with. These are great memories to keep. There is a wonderful list of customers that became friends. I have a great group of friend’s, great group of golf friend’s and a wonderful family that has filled our life.

The way I look at this is 10 years from normal retirement is 75 yrs old with only 5 to 10 years left to enjoy. I have had 10 years already and still have that 10 to 13 years of enjoyment left.

My company ripping me off on my final bonus cheque is the only negative memory I have in the 10 years of retirement. It is double edge sword to retire early. Your money has to last a lot longer but if you don’t retire early, you will have missed out on the ten best years of being healthy and active. No regrets there but do wish we would have saved more but not worried yet. By the time we are 75 we may need to change our lifestyle.

I urge everyone do not let death be your retirement age. If I was sitting in my boat eating a P& J sandwich and not working I would still consider it golden.

Ok, here are some of the best things we experienced during our adventure. To be able to spend as much time as we want in Arizona for us is number one. We plan to do this for as long as we can afford it and are healthy enough to be able. It is an amazing lifestyle we thoroughly enjoy and we have met some wonderful people. Sitting on the back deck in the sun in Feb, sitting outside on the patio playing cards until 9pm ( midnight in AZ.) project works, game nights, golfing three times a week, potlucks, fishing, and seeing new sights is wonderful and never boring. I could sit on the back deck and read a book and not think about the cold at home. We could travel extensively instead of being in Arizona but I am not a beach person anymore, I tire of looking at castles over and over again, museums are boring and it is much more expensive and I like to understand the language, customs and food of where I am at.. I like to stay here and fill in with shorter trips overseas etc every once in awhile not for a couple of months or so. I think the worst part of travel is packing and unpacking and moving is why we choose cruising.

I am going to post pictures of certain things I loved.

How can you beat sitting in the sun and this was in 2014 before I built the deck or patio.

Family and friend’s visiting was awesome.

My Mom & sister Darlene for a visit along with Keith & Jenny.

Picked up my new fishing boat from the factory in Stony Plain in 2014

So many wonderful trips

We loved our New England Cruise from NYC to Quebec City

Family and friends visits are always welcomed and fun.

9 years of sitting on the patio for St Paddy’s Day. Missed one due to Covid

Many many fun golfing trips

Numerous projects

Again so many fishing trips that are so much fun

We took some amazing trips. NYC, Quebec, England twice, Europe, Mediterranean , Sask, BC , around Phoenix, and Alaska. Every trip was amazing.

Camping trips to many places each year. The one thing I want to do more of in 2024.

The birth of two grandkids with August and Atticus joining the family.

I had to add a few more golfing pictures

We used our RV lot many many times to have fun.

One of our most enjoyable expenses was our investment in life at Viewpoint Resort in AZ. We bought a manufactured home in 2007 and have enjoyed it every year since, spending at least 3 to 4 months there every winter since 2014. Except covid year.

Many family gatherings

Below just a few random things we experienced or did

The only thing I dislike about retirement is the reduction in your money. I like to budget but I will say this. You spend more than you think if you want to do things. If you have the money spend it before your 80 years old as I know very few people that are 80 plus and are mobile or haven’t fallen into the senior thinking of shrinking their world.

I have said this from day one of retirement. Do not waste time waiting for a certain dollar amount, or the right time. It is alright to be selfish in your retirement. Don’t get to 85 and have money left as it will not pay back the same enjoyment as now.

Just enjoy yourself. Wish that everyone you know can do the same and make the best out of what ever circumstances that presents itself.

Here is a list of some interesting items that happened in 10 years.

• Major events
• August being born ( not in August) but July
• Atticus being born
• Audrey getting married
• Victoria, Jessica, Corey and Penny all celebrating 40 years of age.
• Jackie turning 60 years old
• My Mom turning 90 years old
• Audrey turning 80 years old
• Myself turning 65 yrs old
• Losing Peter
• Losing Carol
• Audrey getting divorced
• Jackson hitting double digits of age.
• Alfred hitting 70 yrs old
• Alan hitting 60 yrs old
• Darlene hitting 65 yrs old
• Dave hitting 65 yrs old
• Hole in One at Speargrass ( second hole in one)
• Covid interrupting our lives
• Major trips taken
• England
• New England Cruise including NYC, Boston, Maine, New Hampshire, PEI, Nova Scotia, Quebec
• England, Wales, France, Switzerland
• Alaska Cruise
• Mediterranean Cruise – Spain, Gibraltar, France, Italy, Monaco
• Disneyland family adventure
• Projects completed
• Complete lot construction at Oasis
• 2 decks at Oasis RV LOT
• 2 decks at Fred’s Pineridge RV LOT
• Saloon at Oasis
• Gazebo at Oasis
• 2 sheds bunkhouse at Fred’s Pineridge RV Lot
• Huge Pergola at Jessica’s
• Fence completion at Jessica’s
• Cedar deck addition at Jessica’s
• Complete basement development at Jessica’s
• Gazebo at Fred’s Pineridge RV Lot
• Large she shed at Jessica’s
• Underground sprinkler system install at Jessica’s
• Large deck at Victoria’s
• Composite deck at Fred’s AZ
• Outdoor kitchen at Oasis
• Outdoor Kitchen in AZ
• Deck and gazebo at AZ
• Privacy fence at Jeff’s
• Complete exterior house painting at Alfred’s
• Patio paver install at Victoria’s
• Deck install and correction at Audrey’s
• Secondary Trips
• Waskesiu SK
• Moose Jaw, Manitou, Chinese Caves, Swift Current, Cyprus
• Kananaskis Prov Park
• Dinosaur Prov Park
• Writing On Stone Park
• Waterton Nat Park
• Glennifer Lake
• Crawling Valley Lake
• Pembina Prov Park
• Pinehurst Lake
• Travers Dam
• Calling Lake
• Keho Lake
• Park Lake
• Sylvan Lake
• Wabumun Lake
• Jasper Park adventure
• Sedona ( did not find my Vortex)
• Jasper ( Maligne Lake did not find my centre )
• Tucson
• Roe Lake fly in fishing
• Sturgeon fishing trips

Just some random pictures of different things

It has been one the funniest decades of our lives. So much more we have done and that had impact on us but this could go on forever.

I look forward to the next years. Future plans are a cruise around the UK, cruise in the east Mediterranean, cruise around Hawaii, cruise in the Baltics and many many trips to lakes and campgrounds around the province. I would like to take a trip to the east side of Vancouver Island, a golf trip in the Columbia Valley again and if anything else comes up. I have no interest in a Mexico or Caribbean island trip as we are no longer beach people and loved the hot spots while working but we get a hot spot for at least 11 months with Canada and Arizona.

I will conclude with this. The last 10 years have been amazing. It was the best decision to retire early and no regrets what so ever and I can say without a word of lie never bored. Maybe 10 days in 10 years of anxious waiting to get out of Calgary but that is it.

I looking for the next 10 years to be just as good then to settle in to a relaxed state of retirement