In Moteuka NZ

12-02-2008

Having a cappuccino in the bakery down the way from the motel: Had a travel day Monday (8 hours of championship driving NZ style) and a day of riding water taxis and tramping in the Able Tasman Reserve. Today we will probably hit the beach and some springs. It sure is nice knowing that my job is still putting money in the account because we are spending it.
Jobs - next year I will be faced with a choice of "retiring". I will probably have to continue. It is sort of funny that people who have jobs that have responsibility have more grounded opinions. It is one thing to say you are in favor of wind power for instance and another if you are actually basing your future on its success. I am engaged in this open space thing. I have to do things I don't always like to do (not immoral, just unpleasant and time wasting) but I believe I am making a difference. When you are retired all you can do is sit in the stands and have opinions. I would rather be a player. That is why my friend the chiefdude is still working; beside the fact he probably can use the money.
We stayed with some nice retired people. You could tell that money was an issue even though they said that their quality of life was much better since leaving work in their late 40's. They had built a small complex including a house that was very nice - and now they are renting them out to people like us. The guy said that he has to negotiate his purchases with his wife. Who wants that?
I still want to do some traveling. I don't want to have to worry about money. Like everyone else I lost about 25% of my equity in real-estate and savings in the last 4 months. I was relatively poor when I was a kid I don't want that again. My (perhaps unfounded) fear of being confined by lack of money is stronger than my fear of work.

Later