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What's retirement going to look like for you?
Some of us here are retired, others not. As you all know smileycreek and I have an Acupuncture practice, but I wonder if I'll ever retire. Should I? Can I afford to? I don't know. This is something I probably should consider doing in about decade or so from now. What would it look like? The most important thing for me is how would it feel? I want to be able to live simply and be content and that's it. For that to be I need a place to live and food to eat. On top of that I need to be able to get medical help when needed.
I'm under no illusions about the money I've put into social security my entire working life being drained away into the bank accounts of the rich as is the wish of the GOP's policies (being self-employed I must pay 15.3% of all I make each year towards social security). And I'm also fully aware that if there is anything akin to medicare, when I'm eligible for that, it will be almost surely be some sort of voucher of some few thousands of dollars that I'll then be expected to pay towards buying an insurance policy from a for-profit health insurance company.
You know there was a contract I had growing up and working my entire adult life. I put money into social security and medicare all along, however since the GOP has been gutting the government's ability to collect revenue, that contract is being rendered null and void. That chart of how the middle class (that's me) has been doing isn't looking good. It's been going sideways-downward for a long, long time.
I'll never see anything remotely close coming back to me to support me in my retirement years compared to what I've paid into the system. It just won't happen and that chaps my hide. To think I would have been much better off if I'd hid that money in a mattress simply irks the crap out of me because I played by the rules and rules have been drastically changed during the past few decades.
Yeah it ain't fair, but life ain't fair. Jimmy Carter was honest about that and told us the way it is. So this most likely scenario of what my "retirement years" are gonna look like causes me to really look at alternatives to living in the USA. I just don't want to simply struggle to survive (rice and beans again?). I want to be able to enjoy living as much as I'm physically able to during those years.
We had a week-long vacation in Mazatlan which is always restful and relaxing. It's a week-long fantasy. Really, it is. Most folks at resorts are rich. I get a hoot hearing some of the conversations going on because they just blow my mind. There is no where else in my life I get to rub up against the truly rich...only at a resort. A small percentage of us are middle class folks, or what I call normal people. Every time I go to Mexico I always talk with folks. Most of them, obviously, are on vacation.
Some people I talk to however are Americans living in Mexico in retirement. These are the people I always hope to find. They aren't rich but they did well enough. What I learn from them is quite fascinating to me. It costs about 1/2 as much to live in Mazatlan in retirement as it does in the States and that's one of the reasons they are there. Obviously they are getting their full social security payments and will continue to since they are in their 70's for the most part. Who are these folks?
One guy had we talked to worked for the CDC his whole life. Another gentleman was the vice president of Kelly Services (that company that provides temporary workers). A women had taught english literature in the East Bay. Her family came to California during the Gold Rush days. That ancestor was friends with Levi Strauss and they worked together. Levi made pants from canvas for gold miners while this women's ancestor made boots for the miners.
Why are these folks living in Mazatlan? They love it. They love the culture. They love the ease and lack of intensity. Some live there year-round while others live there half the year and split in May because the summer there is hot and humid since it's the rainy season. But the thing that always strikes me is how open and honest they all are...always. These are my kind of people. They are accepting, gracious and generous. They live an incredible life filled with art and music and community. In the old part of Mazatlan about 40% of folks are Canadian and American, which is truly amazing to me to be honest.
We met musicians playing in a sweet little restaurant owned by Americans. One guy was a famous keyboard player from Nashville. Another was from Chico, CA (small world). The women playing guitar and singing (what a voice!) had a mother-in-law who lived in Magalia, CA (that's right here next to Paradise). The husband she divorced lives in Magalia today (freaky small world!)
One thing you have to get used to is time is way different there. Family comes first...always. In the States people are expected to show up for work on time and do their jobs. In Mexico time is fungible. All the folks we talk to always tell us if you expect things to happen in a timely fashion, don't live there. You can hire someone to work on your house and you have no idea if they'll show up or for how long. They may not show up for days. They might show up and leave in a few hours. Family and friends comes first. Everything else including work is secondary.
Well, this is all I have to write about today. I'm just thinking out loud really. If we stay in the States after our mid-60's, I'm pretty sure I'll keep on working. I don't know how I'd be able not to. The days of what retirement looked like for my parent's generation is so over. Being able to depend upon a pension, social security and medicare to live a comfortable life in old age is not going to work for us like it did for dad and mom.
We all know what we're really doing and have been doing since Ronald Reagan was president. We are fighting to slow the degradation of what once was the "contract" we all had growing up, living and working in the USA. It continues to be changed and taken away, yet fight against those taking it we must. Being old and living in Mexico would be a serious challenge, but it would be affordable to be able to have a roof over our heads, eat well and enjoy living. We'd also be able to get health care when needed as well. I wonder about it a lot.
What do you want retirement to be like?
Latest Updates on Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
List of All Existing Meatspace Groups
Where the Kogs Are: Index/Directory of the 130+ Localized Daily Kos Groups
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
by AndyT ♥ for Dallas Kossacks
For our first Meet-up we kept it social for the most part. We discussed our histories in activism and what got us involved. Our lurker, CJ, had some questions about how Daily Kos works and we were happy to explain the basics. Some of the topics discussed were fracking, trans teens, LGBT activism, police violence, increasing the minimum wage and income inequality. We also got to know each other a little bit.
It's always a treat and privilege to meet fellow progressives. I personally feel right at home with them almost immediately. I had a great time and I believe everyone else did as well.
So come see us on May 23rd at Ojeda's!!!
Texnance, dalfireplug and Andyt photographed by lurker CJ
Please visit
AndyT's diary. You can still REC it. You can join
Dallas Kossacks by sending a
Kosmail to AndyT.
by randallt ♥ for DKos Asheville
DKos Asheville brought its eighth community meet up to life this past weekend with a historic appearance of a civil rights icon, Dr Fergie Reid, in Roanoke Virginia.
As reported by Roanoke's NBC Station, WSLS10:
A living legend was honored in Roanoke on Saturday. A special event was held at Hotel Roanoke recognizing William Ferguson Reid. Dr. Reid was the first African-American elected to the Virginia General Assembly in the twentieth century.
In March of this year, Reid celebrated his 90th birthday. In an effort to continue his long history of expanding voters' rights, people are taking part in a campaign called "90 for 90." The goal is to register new voters for the election. People across the state are working to register 90 new voters in each of Virginia's precincts.
randallt (Connect! Unite! Act! State Leader for North Carolina), Chris LaGrant (Campaign Manager for Virginia State Senate candidate Mike Hamlar), Dr. William Ferguson Reid, Sr. (Civil Rights Leader & 90 for 90 Icon), Freeda Cathcart (Democratic Activist), Dr. William Ferguson Reid, Jr. (Son of Dr. Fergie, Sr.) and Gordon20024 (DKos Meet-up Benefactor)
Please visit randallt's diary for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join
DKos Asheville by sending a
Kosmail to randallt.
by Chris Reeves ♥ for Kansas & Missouri Kossacks
&
by navajo ♥ for Connect! Unite! Act!
More than 140 readers of Daily Kos and friends came together in Kansas City to discuss the future of Kansas, Missouri and the Democratic Party - as well as what they can do about it. All of the speakers were excellent and many of the attendees loved meeting the writers at Daily Kos and underlining the fact that we are there for them. We had a great day starting with a continental breakfast and enjoyed the spaciousness of a really swell theater for the presentations. There was a greeting by navajo, a presentation by Chris Reeves and Reuben Eckels, a speech by David Nir and a talk by Joan McCarter. We had a casual pizza buffet for lunch. We resumed with Markos giving a preview of DK5 and then an Ask Me Anything session. Next up was an interview by Monique Teal of Patricia Bynes, Dr. Jacob Wagner spoke next and then we finished off with a Meteor Blades's summary of the purpose of the event and then we Skyped in the Roanoke event and an address by Dr. Ferguson Reid, Sr.
Markos addressing the crowd
Markos chatting during a break
Please visit Chris Reeve's diary for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Kansas & Missouri Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to Chris Reeves.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast the date of your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Saturday, May 16th
NYC Kossacks Welcome Peregrine Kate!
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Spitzer's Corner
101 Rivington Street (corner of Ludlow) • NYC
ORGANIZER: Send kathny a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. kathny
2. peregrine kate
3. belinda ridgewood
4. asterkitty
5. ericlewis0
6. Design the Future
7. mattc129
8. blue jersey mom
9. rubyr
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Maybees:
Its the Supreme Court Stupid
wader
NancyWH
garth
joan brooker
thirty three and a third
followyourbliss
Catskill Julie
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Latest diary: REMINDER: NYC Meetup May 16 - Can you help PEREGRINE KATE find a place to stay??
Saturday, May 23rd
Dallas Kos Meet-up, Let's Build Community!
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Ojeda's Mexican Restaurant
4617 Maple Avenue • Dallas
ORGANIZER: Send AndyT a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. AndyT
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Dallas Kossacks Meetup Report and Next Event
Saturday, May 30th
Seattle Puget Sound Kos Meet-up with Guest Speaker Yoram Bauman
Connect, Unite and help plan Action for 2015!
Cost: $20.00 with selected menu
LOCATION: Pyramid Alehouse, Brewery & Restaurant
1201 First Avenue South • Seattle
ORGANIZER: Send John Crapper a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. John Crapper
2. John Crapper's SO
3. bleeding blue
4. LarisaW
5. momomia |
Maybees:
tenayaca
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Latest diary: S&PS Kos - Take the Initiative with Yoram Bauman
June 26, 27 & 28th, 2015
EPIC Glacier National Park Meet-up II
ACTIVITIES:
June 26: TBD
June 27: TBD
June 28:
Day - TBD
Evening - 5:00 PM, BBQ potluck with Jen Hayden at the lower picnic area at the Historic Tamarack Lodge, 9549 U.S. 2, Hungry Horse, MT 59919. Entertainment at 6:00 PM by Truckstop Honeymoon
TIME: 24/7
LOCATION: Exact location inside park TBD
[Address] • Glacier National Park
ORGANIZER: Send Ojibwa a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Ojibwa
2. state of confusion
3. Thinking Fella
4. side pocket
5. Mrs. side pocket
6. navajo
7. jakedog42
8. paradise50
9. Jen Hayden for 6/28 only
10. Joan McCarter
11. peregrine kate
12. BoiseBlue
13. Mrs. BoiseBlue
14. figbash
15. mcmom
16. MTmofo
17. woolibaar
18. markdd
19. Mrs. markdd |
Maybees:
NormAl1792
winifred3
dharmasyd
foresterbob
714Day
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Latest diaries:
• A 2015 Glacier National Park Meetup?
• The 2015 EPIC Glacier Park Meet Up: Travel and Lodging
• The EPIC 2015 Glacier National Park Meet Up: Camping
• The 2015 EPIC Glacier National Park Meet Up: Tours
• Glacier National Park: Red Rock Falls (Photo Diary) and Meet Up Stuff
Announcing Asheville, North Carolina as the location
for our next Regional Event! 9.26.15
Asheville, N.C. is the destination for September 26, 2015! DKos Asheville, the In-Real-Life group under the leadership of randallt, has been setting the example for other IRL groups across the nation regarding registering people to vote, getting out the vote, having a state open thread and setting up strategy conferences for their region. Because of this impressive leadership we've asked randallt to be the State Leader for all of North Carolina. We've got important work to do on the ground there and randallt has shown he's the person to make that happen.
All states are welcome to attend this event and if you do you can expect to meet Markos Moulitsas in person, as well as some of the Daily Kos staff. More details regarding this regional event will be shared in the future so please stay tuned to Connect! Unite! Act!
For now, SAVE THE DATE and spread the word!
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.