Retirement

This has been on my mind lately. Not because I want to retire right now, but because I want to start planning for it now. If I really start to think about the actual numbers - I am completely overwhelmed. The conversation in my head usually starts like this:

Mind: What age do you want to retire at?

Mouth: 55

Mind: How long do you expect to live?

Mouth: I would guess I will live into my 90's possibly. My first grandparent just passed away earlier this year and he was 98 years old. My other grandparents are all in their 90's and none of them are in a state where they can't get around. So....I will say 90 years old. Of course, I also know if I keep employing ice cream makers around the world, I may leave this earth a lot sooner.

Mind: That is 35 years to live off of your retirement!

Mouth: I know (slightly annoyed tone)!

Mind: Good luck, dude!

This is the part where I get overwhelmed and put off thinking about it seriously a little longer. Especially when I begin to contemplate what some of the next questions may be. How much money do I have in a retirement now? How much do I need to live off of it for 35 years? How much savings do I have right now? Can I pay off a home before I retire? What lifestyle changes must I make now in order to properly save for retirement, college, and missions for my children? What am I ready to give up? Will my kids want to and be accepted to BYU?

The list goes on and on. They are questions that need to be answered regardless of how young I am if I want a secure future. Soon I will be answering all of these questions because I refuse to put it off any longer. Wish me luck!

Christmas in July!

My wife can really get into things at home. Most of the time it is a good book that she just can't put down. I could come home from work, change my clothes, and have dinner cooked and ready to eat before she knew I was home. That is how engrossed she can become in a fine piece of literature. That is also why she can read books in two days that would take me two months to read (She always finishes the Harry Potter books first!!!). The other attention culprit is scrapbooking. Scrapbooking is great because I will come home to find my bedroom looking like the inside of a shred bin with my wife somewhere inside. However, she makes great scrapbooks for the kids.

Today was the best of both worlds for her and she was in heaven. It was the perfect combination of fine literature and scrapbooking - the NEW Stampin' Up catalog. I knew this was going to be a big deal when she mentioned something about it yesterday and wondering if she may get the catalog at church. Well, the catalog came in and she got it at church. I don't know if she has put it down since. I know in her mind she is figuring how much she can buy for the cheapest price. She is wondering what I could do as a second job to help pay for all of the things she would like.

I don't mind though. I love to see my wife get excited about little things. Mainly because I get excited about little things all of the time. A new action figure. A well written book or comic book. Finishing a long book. Coming home and finding a picked up house. Seeing the A's win. The list could really go on and on.

So, I am saving my pennies to pay for all of the items on the already well read and dog eared pages of the Stampin' Up catalog.