People are always saying to me, “Rick, how come you are living like there’s no tomorrow, travelling (some parts of) the world, buying all the stuff you want and generally having the time of your life? Why?” They’re not asking me really. This is just a cheap device to attempt to persuade my loyal reader into reading this blog. But there is a more serious point to it because who knows if, for all of us, there will be a tomorrow and even if there is, what if there is no day after tomorrow? And the comment I made up is based on a simple truth: I am trying to live life as best I can because in my little world I am seeing too much tragedy and heartbreak. If I don’t do things now, will I ever get to do them at all?
A fool I may be, but I am not fool enough to imagine I will live forever. An ongoing health scare, which appears to be coming to a satisfactory conclusion, has reminded me of that. However, having lost no less than three good friends last year, two of whom were much younger than me, my mind is concentrated on what the future holds. As someone with no religion, who does not expect to survive my own death and journey on to Heaven or Hell, depending on the decision of a supernatural dictator somewhere above the clouds, I’m of the view that I’d best get my arse into gear and live my best life, my only life, as best I can.
I finished in the wacky world of full-time work some nine years before my state pension age and, despite the loss of a relatively substantial wad of cash, I am certain in my own mind that I made the right choice. I liked my last full-time job but I enjoy far more being the boss of my own time. I have worked with people who worked into their seventies – I know one person who is still working despite being far closer to 80 than 70 – and I am glad it’s not me. During my working life, I worked with numerous people who died in service, never having the opportunity to enjoy life beyond the workplace. They spoke of the things they would be able to do. “But we can’t afford to retire now.” Well, neither could we, which is why I took on some dead end part-time jobs in my final working years. With the power of foresight and hindsight, I’d put it differently. “I couldn’t afford not to retire.” With the still accumulating tragedies all around, from people I saw as superfit and super-healthy to those who were not quite so, unless you live to work – and I know some of you do – then maybe it’s worth thinking about what you intend to do with the rest of your life?
Today’s blog was prompted by yet another shocking, terrible piece of news, about which I shall not elaborate on here for obvious reasons of respect and privacy. All I can do is to repeat a cliché that never ceases to be true: you’re a long time dead. And there’s no time to waste. That’s why I’ve been to Canada and the Netherlands in last four weeks and why, assuming I live long enough, the travels won’t end here, nor will plans for my special music room at home, which will be a man cave on steroids.
I do live for today but with an eye on tomorrow with a view to what I will do and where I will go next. Sure if your job is the thing in life you love best, then work all the hours you can. That makes total sense. But if there’s other stuff you want to do, other places you want to see, then best do them before it gets too late. And life has taught me that you never really know when it will get too late.
