Winter Moon of the Winter Solstice
With Kate fully retired and our income coming now from Social Security, my pension and our IRA 2013 will be the first year fully in the Third Phase. This both changes everything and nothing. Everything in that our forward scan has to take into account not only personal and marital growth, but the inevitable physical decline. Already the markers of the latter have made themselves known. Nothing in that none of this is a surprise nor does it impact, at least so far, our capacity to continue creative, full lives.
Money is not exactly tighter, but our flexibility has grown more constricted. That is, we have sufficient assets and income flow for our needs; but, since they have to be managed as resources for an indeterminate amount of time, we can no longer flush out spare pots of cash for sudden trips or splurges. This is a bit of a surprise. This mild surprise lies over against the relief and gratification of having enough. Enough is enough.
In return for somewhat less fiscal flexibility though we have very flexible time. Kate can focus on sewing, quilting, the grand kids, reading, cooking. We can both spend time on the garden and the bee hives. I can spend more time reading, writing, learning Latin, learning art history and going to museums. The trade off is more than worth it.
So, what questions arise for the third phase given these realities? I’m not sure right now, but I’m open to suggestions.
