Living the dream while you can.

Chris was living a good life in Napa.  A nice family with four adult children and looking forward to an early retirement with her husband, Lou (who Chris calls "the love of my life"). That was four years ago.  It is also right before Lou learned he had pancreatic cancer.  Three years ago, Chris, who is now in her fifties, became a widow.

Terry was also enjoying life, living in a small community on Prince Edward Island in eastern Canada with his wife, Danielle.  Both are in their fifties. Then, Terry learned he had skin cancer.  Last year, surgeons had to remove his entire right ear, and he is in that critical period where he hopes the cancer doesn't return.

I met both Chris and Terry (and Danielle) on the just completed cruise, and in fact spent a lot of time with them.  They are fun people and real people who faced life changing events that have influenced their drive for living and prompted them to reset their priorities.  Chris wishes she and Lou would have taken the cruise before he died.   Terry is doing things now while he is still young enough and relatively healthy, with the future somewhat uncertain.

Suze Orman may not agree with them, but these are people who are now spending money as they realize the clock is ticking when it comes to completing their "bucket list."   It is a lesson that many learn only after it's too late or after a traumatic experience has reshaped their lives.   With that in mind, a few questions to ponder.  What is most important in your life?  What do you want to do that you are not doing?  What is preventing you from doing it?  What can you do to remove the obstacles and accomplish your goals? 

For those interested, a few little stories about what made it possible for me to 1) retire early, and 2) still do things that bring me pleasure.  

This cruise was one that we had been thinking about for two years.  We booked it ten months ago.   We estimated the cost of it and a while back, we began saving for it, setting aside $350 each month for the cruise fund.   To meet that goal, it meant cutting back in other areas (a few less dinners at expensive restaurants, a car trip last summer, etc).  They weren't sacrifices, just adjustments that had no impact at all on our day to day quality of life.  But the cruise ... well that had a huge impact on our outlook of life, an experience we will always remember.   Planning and saving and setting goals are all part of achieving what you want.

Also, those who know me know that I search for bargains.  I'm not cheap, and there is a difference.   For example, for work, I always wore the cotton Oxford Polo shirts from Ralph Lauren that laundered sharply and lasted forever (I still have some of them and wear them years later).  I had dozens of them, and people would comment, "How can you afford all those shirts, they are $80 each!"   I really couldn't.  But, at $40, I could afford them.  So, I stocked up whenever I was at a Polo Outlet Store.  Same quality shirt, but a bargain.  Shirts were just one example. 
 
The same with this cruise.   I booked through Celebrity which guaranteed the lowest price.  I also subscribe to a lot of travel websites which feature weekly discounts from travel wholesalers.   Every time I would get an offer for this cruise, I would call Celebrity, explain the offer, and they would match it.   Again, plan (set goals), save, and research.   By the time we left, they had cut our fare by $5000 and upgraded us.  So, I always try to be wise in what I do (or spend).   It's not hard.

Since retiring, I've received comments from people (mostly on Facebook) including  "Who died in your family and left you money?"  No one.   Or, "You must have made a ton of money at KXTV."   In reality, I made much less than most of my graduating class in college (but I really enjoyed my work more than most of them enjoyed theirs). I also often hear from people (again, especially comments on Facebook), "I want your life"  (I wonder how many people have told Chris and Terry that not knowing the circumstances).  They likely mean they want the parts of my life that are appealing to them.    The reality is you have your own life, you have the capability to make it grand, and do it before it is too late.  If you want to see that sunset on a Mexican beach, remove the obstacles and create the pathway that allows you to do it.


So how do you make it happen?  Well, here's what I have done throughout my life (going as far back as high school).  First (and this is very important), sit down with a pen and paper and write down what is most important to you (do not use a computer, write it out longhand.  It is more personal and meaningful).   Spend more time with the kids?   Go on an African safari?  Become more in touch with your spiritual being?   Seriously, write down what is most important to you, your goals.  Then, write down what you need to do, changes you must make in your life, to make it happen.   Look at it every single day, maybe several times a day.  Live by it.   Make it your mantra.  Make it a map for living.   As you progress, mark the milestones, the successes in reaching your goal.  And soon, before it's too late, you can live the life you want, instead of telling someone else you wish you were living their life, from retiring at 55, to watching a sunset on a Mexican beach, to setting sail on a 35 day cruise.   You can live the dream before it's too late.  And soon, your friends will tell you, "I want your life."  What's stopping you?

Correction:  In my last article, I wrote that Aussies call the hood of their car the boot.  I stand corrected.  The bonnet is the hood, the boot is the trunk.