What Is to Come?

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In my younger days I often thought about what I would do next. Not next as in when I get done with what I'm doing (e.g. "when I'm done mowing the lawn, I need to wash the car"), but next as in the next phase of my life (e.g. "what will I do once I retire from the Air Force"). A weighty question indeed. Now, as I enter the "home stretch" (if you will) of my life's journey, the question looms larger.

I seriously plan on retiring no later than the end of this year. Yeah, yeah, I know, I've said that before, but damn it, this time I'm serious. While I still enjoy the job, I realize that I don't really need to do it any more. I can live comfortably on my multiple pensions. (And yes, it is very good to have more than one.)

Thing is though, I have lots of other things I would rather be doing, writing immediately springs to mind. I have one book I need to finalize and get published (just how many years have I been saying that? - two if you must know), another, the "prequel part one" which is written but is sorely in need of editing and continuity checking. Continuity checking is making sure a German tank gunner does NOT wind up crewing a British tank. Yes, that happened in one of my books.

Also there are kids and grandkids to visit. One constant complaint I hear from LUSH's kids is "Why don't you ever come out to California?" Well, I do go out there, been there five times over the past few years, but that was for work. Though LUSH's tribe did come to visit, it isn't the same. (I mean come on, we know that Grandpa is fun, but Grandma is awesome. Grandma didn't accompany me on the work trips.)

Having the time to go to California is one thing (being able to fly to California is another, thanks to Brandon and his chucklehead administration, fuel prices are crazy, jets now fly on unobtanium, apparently. A round trip flight from Providence to Fresno, for two, would run about $1300, and that's if I book a month in advance. Also doesn't count bag fees. It requires two stops and takes about ten to eleven hours. So it's a pretty long damn day.

Sure, if I flew out of Boston it might be cheaper, but I despise flying out of Logan. Depending on the time of day you drive to Boston it can be a living nightmare. Long term parking at Logan is ridiculous (DAMHIK). So that option is out.

So while, in theory, The Missus Herself and I could fly out to California for, let's say, a week,  it's a bit of a nightmare. Driving to Maryland is easy-peasy in comparison. Takes roughly eight-hours and even with tolls, fuel, and wear and tear on the vehicle, it's cheaper. (The stress levels go off the charts when driving over and in the environs of the George Washington Bridge in New York and driving damned near anywhere on I-95 is stressful but particularly in Connecticut and northern New Jersey.

The granddaughters out west understand that but still, "Why don't you visit us, Grandpa?"

Sigh. I get it, I do. If I was retired I'd have the time to go out and stay as long as they'd have us.

Other than writing and traveling to see family, I also have a pretty serious gaming addiction. Both on the computer and board games. Just dumped some fairly serious change for the following (and it's seven expansions) -

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I was first exposed to this game via a friend of mine out Chicago way (we'll call him David, because that's his name). He had posted (on the Book of Faces) some photos of himself and a friend playing this game and it intrigued me. It intrigued me enough to go out and buy it.

I've had the game for probably ten years, more or less. It still sits in the box, pristine and untouched. Why? Well, I just haven't had time to break it out and try it. So of course, last weekend, I went out and purchased all of it's expansion kits. The Austrian, Prussian, Russian, and Spanish armies (the original has the French, British, and Portuguese armies) and the two expansions which allow one to play really massive battles.

Some day I'll have time to break it out and play it. (No doubt I'll attempt to convince The Missus Herself to play against me, she'll kick my ass - she's very good at games - and that will be that, but hey, a fellow can dream, right?)

The other game (well, honestly it's once again an "original" with a bunch of expansion sets) that I haven't been able to dig into just yet is this one.

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I have played around with this one, a bit, and I have all the expansion sets save one.

Which is coming via UPS this week.

Time, I need more time!

So yes, I am rather looking forward to retirement. (Damn, I forgot my drum kit, need to spend more time on that as well!) But ...

It hits me, every now and then, that I'm in the home stretch (as noted above). There is no "next phase" after this, unless one counts the afterlife. So I will need to be "in the moment" more than I'm used to. At least I have a lot to occupy my mind and my time.

Which from all I've heard and read, is important.

(OMG, I have a ton of books I need to read as well! Why am I still working, there is no time for that! Oh yeah, paycheck is bigger now than it will be when I retire, need to keep pumping up the reserves.)

Be seeing you, gotta see a man about a new computer ...