| Planning for retirement presents an odd series of | | | | game four days a week. When not playing, he is |
| questions related to how one intends to spend one's | | | | often found practicing or buying buckets of balls at |
| money. Does one desire retirement as an opportunity | | | | the driving range which he describes as his way of |
| to acquire new merchandise or to do new activities? | | | | growing physically and mentally. |
| Certainly, this question is posed as an "either-or" and | | | | For the fun of it, find a few minutes and take this |
| in reality it often is a combination of both, but the | | | | quick self-discovery exercise and see how you come |
| question remains---where are your spending priorities? | | | | out in terms of your personal preferences. The |
| Does acquiring possessions give you a thrill or does | | | | results may surprise you. |
| experiencing new activities give you the greatest | | | | 1. When I find I have a few extra dollars in my |
| pleasure? | | | | wallet, purse, or checking account, how do I spend |
| Take Jill, Sam, Joyce, and Pedro: | | | | the money? Examples: I go to the movies, get |
| Jill will love spending Thursday evening after | | | | tickets for a sporting event or concert, or I go out |
| work going to the mall to find that perfect dress for | | | | to dinner or go shopping for new clothes or |
| the cocktail party scheduled for the coming Saturday | | | | electronics. |
| evening. She has plenty of dresses, but wants to | | | | 2. How likely am I to set aside any extra money in |
| show her tan in a new dress. | | | | my checking or savings account to purchase a bigger, |
| Sam also loves to acquire new possessions for | | | | more expensive future item or activity (like an |
| his myriad collections ranging from collecting thimbles | | | | expensive vacation) rather than spending as I go? |
| to tools for his workshop. Every Saturday he is out | | | | 3. If not retired yet, do I foresee my buying habits |
| very early visiting dozens of garage sales to pick | | | | changing? To what extent will I consider the |
| over what they have to sell. | | | | ownership of possessions to be pretty much |
| Joyce, on the other hand, has sold her house | | | | complete? |
| and moved to smaller quarters setting aside the | | | | 4. Write down 6 anticipated expenditures you will |
| profits from the sale to buy trips to see her children | | | | make to position yourself for a happy retirement. |
| on the other side of the country. She also plans to | | | | So, what did you discover about yourself? What will |
| rent a small apartment in Florida for two months | | | | it take to make your dreams come true? The logical |
| every winter so she can avoid the tough winters in | | | | answer is easy to see---identify your goals and |
| her home town. | | | | develop the plan to make that journey of doing or |
| And finally, there is Pedro. He is addicted to golf | | | | acquiring, a reality. All the best for a successful |
| and has taken a full18 strokes off his golf game. As | | | | outcome and a thrilling future. |
| he describes it, "Golf is my life" and he plays the | | | | © Donald C. |