I was shocked March 13 while watching Gold Rush when Yukon gold miner Tony Beets said people who retire are already dead but they don’t know it.
I like watching Beets do his thing. There is no doubt his wish is to die while sluicing for gold. One of his trademark sayings, “Go, go, go!” fits him well. Beets is like a hummingbird in a garden searching for nectar. No quit in him!
Those who have retired like to tell me to go back to work after morning coffee at A&W. With a smile, I may add!
“I haven’t earned my retirement,” I tell them.
I just had a birthday. One year closer to retirement.
“I’m so far over the hill I’m picking up speed going down the other side,” I like to say.
I wish!
Some people will find Beets’ comment rather insulting and I do not blame them. What is good for Beets may not be good for another. Beets enjoys good health, but what if you are not healthy? Going to work is not an option and you make the best of it you can. Unfortunately, many seniors are not capable of working. Life does not end at retirement.
Insurance companies like to sell you the dream of retirement at 50. Maybe 55. I have a brother-in-law who said years ago the Good Lord got it all wrong. It goes something like this: “You should enjoy retirement when you are young and can enjoy it. Then work the rest of your life to pay for the retirement you had early.”
Kind of a nice thought but totally impractical! Does that mean you go to college at age 40 to learn a trade?
Life is kind of odd. As children, we are already enjoying our first retirement. For many of us, very few responsibilities and little worries. Such problems! Does the soccer ball has enough air in it or can I get that new hockey stick. Leave the problems to the adults! Love the commercial where children are looking at the basketball stuck in the hoop high above them. A real kid problem indeed!
It is similar in retirement. Little to do unless you find some activity to engage in. No longer the dog-eat-dog world of working for a living. Being a child and a senior is similar, except for a few decades of living.
Let’s face it. Life does not end at 50 or 60 or 70. It is what you make of it, God willing. Beets chooses to “go, go, go!” and loves every second of it. Others take on charity projects or join charity organizations to give back and keep busy. We are lucky to have so many of them! Some people paint or take up a different hobby.
If I’m lucky to get to retirement, I’d love to write some books. I have three where most of the research is already completed. I have to create time to finish the job. Retirement may be the only chance I get.
But it just might be nice to first sit down, take a deep breath and relax. Watch the rest of world whiz past you and have no worries. Let the rats cope with the rat race!
In the end, as it has always been, life is always what you make of it. You can enjoy life at age 10, 40 or 80. Ther is always something a new challenge to take on if you desire, or just sit back and watch the sun go down! All excellent choices!
The only problem is, for Tony Beets you can’t find any gold that way!
Chris Clegg