Retirement rant

I am of the age where retirement news and information is repeatedly thrust at me.  So the topic is often in my thoughts.

Recently, I overheard a woman saying "I'm not unemployed.  I worked for 20 years.  I'm retired."

Working doesn't entitle you to retirement.  Saving enough money entitles you to retirement.

If you've got enough money to retire, great.  If you can't live on your Social Security (which you paid into so it's not an entitlement) and your pensions, then you have to keep working.

Simple as that.

When did retirement become the goal?  People didn't always expect to retire.  In many places, they still don't.  Work is what you do to survive. Or it's what you do to keep active and engaged.

My mother complained about being bored. I suggested she find a part-time job.

She was aghast.  "I'm 70 years old.  I deserve to not work."

Not if being retired is boring.

Not if you can use the money to support your activities, hobbies, charities.

Not if you can't afford it.

Not if you would miss the conversation, interaction, mental stimulation of work.

Retirement is an option, not a requirement.

When did working into your 70's and 80's become so newsworthy?  When Joan Rivers died, a fuss was made over the fact that she still worked.  She loved her job.  Why should she quit?

Betty White is 93 and still working.  Bob Newhart is 86 and still working.  When I started with my current company, one of the developers working there was 78.

People talk about When I retire, I'll do this.  I'll do that.  There is no guarantee that you will be able to do all the things you plan after you stop working.  Your health or finances may prevent it.  If it's important to you, do it now.

I've realized that if I retired I would spend time with the dogs, Bogie and I would visit the hospital, I would read, work on stained glass, putter in the garden, watch movies.

All of which I do now.  Work is my stimulation, the place I get my intellectual challenges.

Maybe it's different because I like my job.  I can understand why people would want to leave a job they hate.

Even so, retirement is something you have to plan for.  It's not something you are entitled to.  It's also not something you are required to do.  Work if you want.  Retire if you can afford it.

The Big Bang Theory Lego set

I had to have the Big Bang Theory Lego set.  I mean it's nerds.  And Legos.  And seven mini-figures.  And cool items on the shelves.

Here it is set up.  I added the Christmas tree for the holiday.

My Lego Christmas Tableau

This combines Gingerbread House, Santa's Workshop, and Toy Shop. 

I just noticed a skier is hidden behind the big tree.  Next year :-)

From Nexus 5 to Nexus 5X

Definitely a first world problem.  But in case anyone else wants to know how well the upgrade went, here's what happened to me.

I like the Nexus because there isn't the bloatware that other devices have.  Straight up Android.  And one of the first to get any Android upgrades.

Setting up the new phone was slick.  It transferred data from the 5 to the 5X, downloaded and installed all the apps I already had. And set up all of my Google stuff automatically.

Pro - Fingerprint recognition is nice.  I can pick up the phone, unlock it and log in with only a couple of movements.  I scanned 4 fingers, just in case.   This was my main motivation for upgrading.  I didn't want to leave my Nexus 5 unprotected, but I never typed in my password correctly the first time.

Con - SIM cards are different sizes.  I couldn't just transfer the card.  I had to go to T-Mobile for a new card.  For $15.

Apps all installed, but I still needed to look up all my logins.  And Words With Friends brought over my games with people, but not my Solo Play games.

Con - I had to reset all of my Llama profiles and events.

Pro- Remembered my work WiFi setting and password.

Pro - King games ported over fine once I signed up for an account on the Nexus 5.

Con- Hangouts did not.  The history of my texts didn't carry over.  I still have them on the Nexus 5, but I don't know why they couldn't have transferred.

Con- Disney's Frozen Freefall progress did not transfer. I didn't feel like starting over so I deleted it from the 5X.  I had the same issue when I first bought the Nexus 5.  I couldn't port over all of my progress in 3 different Angry Bird variations.  I figured I could start over, but found that starting over was tedious and boring.

Couldn't get Fitbit to connect.  I could have troubleshot the issue, but it still works with my Nexus 5.  I planned to keep the Nexus 5 anyway for an alarm clock and game device.  Not enough resale value and no trade-in with Google.

The charger connection is a USB-C connector.  Which meant my spare micro-USB charger and portable charger didn't work.  Until I bought an awesome little adapter from Amazon.  Worked great. USB-C to Micro USB Adapter 

Very happy with the Nexus 5X.  The fingerprint scanner is a godsend.  The camera quality is great.  The battery life is better.  I find I can read the screen better without having to grab my reading glasses.

Overall, I'm glad I upgraded.

Garden reality

Some cactus I had in the kitchen window had grown in size where they now needed to be transplanted.  So I created a planter on the west side of the yard.

I moved each block and each shovel of dirt myself.  I am tremendously proud of the work I did.

I even put in a section of river rock to catch the dirty water when I cleaned out the bird bath. 

river rock filter

However, the dogs had different uses for the garden. 

Hole and pot blockade

This is the very deep hole that Bogie has decided needed to be dug in this new soft dirt. I filled it back in three times before giving up. 

Next to it is the "pot blockade" that keeps this cactus from being dumped into said hole. 

unlevel ground

I spent considerable time ensuring that the ground was level across the front of the rocks.   Not time well-spent, apparently. 

And finally, 

Tomato cage

The tomato cages that keep the dogs from walking all over the newly transplanted cactus.  

Not the garden that I envisioned, but a garden the dogs and the cactus both enjoy. 

Updated:

Came home from work and saw that the pot blockade didn't exactly save the cactus. 

I put the big piece in the ground.  We'll see if it survives.  

Scent Overload

I hear more and more people talk about being affected by scents. I've had issues with scents for decades.

My sinuses close up.  My neck clenches.  My nose gets stuffy.  The reaction varies depending on the scent and strength of the scent.

I don't know if it's an American problem or a global problem.

But people seem eager to cover up their supposedly smelly selves with a hodge-podge of scents that waft into the common atmosphere like second-hand smoke.

I like to walk the dogs outside in the fresh air.  Well, okay, fresh air and Phoenix may not go together, but it's reasonably fresh.

I pass a house and am overwhelmed by the Spring breeze dryer fragrance.  Yes, dryers vent to the outside.  It's not just your clothes are that becoming dryer fresh. It's the whole area around your house.

People stand in their bathrooms with the air freshener spewing out its fragrance.  They apply scented moisturized and put scented deodorant on under their laundry scented clothes.  They comb their scented shampooed and conditioned hair and maybe spray on some scented hair spray.  They spritz their mouths with breath freshener.  Top off the whole combination with cologne or perfume.

None of these fragrances match.  They walk out the door a simmering concoction of mixed scents.

I've pulled into work, with no one in sight, gathered up my belongings, walked to the elevator, waited for the elevator, and stepped into a cloud of cologne.  No one has been present for at least five minutes, but the smell is over-powering.

What must it be like to stand right next to this person?

What started this devotion to chemically-produced fragrances?  Are we so convinced that our natural, clean selves smell unpleasantly?  I've not had anyone complain.  Or avoid me.  So I assume that regular bathing is sufficient.

Why are we so convinced that adding a scent makes everything better?

Trying to nap

I injured my shoulder last weekend and have been in a lot of pain.  It's a recurring issue so I didn't bother to go to the doctor.  

But the pain has been very wearying.  I came home from work on Thursday, exhausted. 

I fed the dogs so they wouldn’t interrupt me.  Then I laid down to nap on the couch.  

Angel put her wet nose in my face as soon as she was done eating.  I petted her a moment, but she was in a playful mood, doing spins and wanting her butt scratched.  Finally, I told her No and pushed her away. 

She decided to get her attention from Bogie.  They wrestled.  Right next to the couch, bumping it repeatedly.  And Angel was happy, her tail thumping the couch right below me. 

Bogie laid down in front of the couch.  I assumed playtime was done and closed my eyes.  Only to be interrupted once again.  This time by Angel breathing heavily into my face. 

I opened my eyes and she was staring right at me, a big grin on her face. 

Sighing, I pushed her away.  

I moved to the opposite end of the couch, hoping Bogie’s bulk would be a barrier to Angel.  Not so.  

She climbed over him, onto the couch, and sat on my head.  Seriously, on my head. 

I pushed her onto my chest, petted her for a bit, then gave up, and got back up.  

Total elapsed time: ten minutes.  

Total minutes of sleep: zero. 

Angel

Bogie