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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

25 piece hand-built pottery project...






birdhouse consists of exactly 25 individual pieces


Due to the fact that I was the only one who actually had their project finished this morning, our Instructor gave everyone until Monday to finish. So-oo, I don't have any photos of the other projects at this time. But I should by Monday... hopefully. Normally the greenware would be fired before adding the perches and wood columns, but we had to show our work in its entirty at this stage.  Later, I will fire and glaze, then add the either stained or painted wood perches and columns.



Here is another view showing the words "Home Sweet Home" etched on the walls. 



Now back to our retirement topic from yesterday.  I'm probably too tired this evening to make much sense, but after reading the comments that showed up on my blog, I feel pretty confident that we are basically all in the same boat (and it doesn't seem to matter where we live).  Since most of us are already into our retirement years, saving now is moot (well, not entirely, but pretty much).  If there isn't much coming in, how do you save?  Unless one wants to go back into the work force? I, for one, am not there yet .

So-oo what do we do? We use what money we do have carefully - meaning meet our obligations and ensure for possible future medical emergencies by having adequate insurance. Will that be enough? Who knows.  But I choose to think of it as Plan A - live within our means.  If it doesn't work, then we'll go to Plan B - which could entail either or both of us going back to work in some capacity... or heavens forbid, moving in with our kids! (just joking.. our kids are wonderful, but have no plans on imposing on them) 

And unforseen events could happen, but when they do, I will engage philosophy #1 - "what is, is and we can handle it."

Then there's always the ACT philosophy:

1. A...  Accept the things you cannot change.
2. C...  Choose to envision the way you'd like things to be (and be realistic).
3. T...   Take action towards that vision. 

Also for me, the most significant factor about retirement is the 'freedom' it brings.  This is terribly important... more so than having money to travel or splurge. Our whole lives are spent doing things that need to be done because we have an agenda.... study hard & get through school, get a good job, raise a family, etc. etc. NOW these things have been accomplished, and we 'own our own time' as it were. 

We can now do what we want to do (example: relax and enjoy the family we raised (children, grandchildren, etc. ), take pottery classes, fly fishing, whatever! Yes, I've always wanted to try fly fishing, weird, huh?  Maybe we can't take a vacation around the world, but who cares?  There are wonderful things all around us... if we take the time to look (and wonderful online friends who share their adventures and lives in blogs and photos).   Choose to be happy.  

That reminds me.  There is one other quote that I will share here. I read it somewhere years ago and it 'spoke' to me. 

"Beyond the gloom of this world lies joy...  take joy."   I did.




  

23 comments:

  1. I am also trying to spend my limited funds in retirement to make the best of it. No traveling around the world either, but I am happy, content, and I've got the entire Blogosphere to keep me engaged! :-)

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    1. Djan, I think you've got it covered. From reading your blog and seeing your photos, I can tell that you are into a happy retirement. BTW, I just finished reading "Cutting for Stone".

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  2. I love the fact that 'my time is mine to do with as I like' part of retirement. We don't have as much money as we thought we would, but we can't miss what we never had. We really enjoy the life we have now. My one worry is for my children, but in the end I trust that they will find a way.

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    1. They will... and you are there to help them do that.

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  3. Congratulations on your accomplishment! Again, I bow to another Dear Reader in Blog Land, who is so able to do forms of crafting.

    Yes Ma'am, live within our means. And it really helps (I think) if one was wise enough, to have done this, in all our years. We did. It isn't like a wrench in life style.

    I too worry about having enough, in case of a health emergency. We have insurance. I mean, I can't see *blowing* saved money, in case it may be necessary, in the future. But this view can be controversial too. It brings up the question of; "What are you *saving* it for?" Well, I guess my answer is, for peace of mind.

    Great topic. Thank you for introducing it. I will have to make sure I read all your comments. Ideas. We can never have too many of them. :-)

    "Auntie"

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    1. "What are you *saving* it for?" Well, I guess my answer is, for peace of mind.

      I would never underestimate 'peace of mind'. I'm sure many of us have spent sleepless nights due to financial, emotional, medical, or kid-related problems. So peace of mind is high on my list of prioriities.

      But this is not to say that you shouldn't 'treat' yourself or your loved ones occasionally...

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  4. Oh and....... Why have we have come to be a society, which thinks we have a right to "live-high-on-the-hog", our entire lifetime???

    Remember working our way up???

    Remember not needing to keep-up-with-the-Jonse's????

    Remember doing with what we had???

    Remember not looking to the government to do everything for us???

    Where did those attitudes go????????????????????????????? -sigh-

    "Auntie"

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  5. Ah, yes!~
    Finding new things to do, trying our hands at new arts, new endeavors will bring joy, and companionship, and a sense of new accomplishment.

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    1. You are so right, Rosaria. The process of creating definitely brings joy.

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  6. What a great project! I would love to see the others if you get a chance :)

    We live from monthly check to monthly check, my hubby and I. With four kids when we were a young family, we just never seemed to save anything for retirement. Oh well...that's life.

    Jan

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    1. I will definitely try to get pics Monday.
      As for saving, well... we do what we can. But four kids are also an investment in the future!

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  7. Love your bird house ...what a great project ...cant wait to see it fired.
    Love your over view of retirement...I think we are luckier on this side of the pond than you ...health care is free and we all get a state pension ...plus what we might have put in to when we worked. Would I work again if the going got hard? ....no way....I'd rather live on the cheapest of foods and wrap up in blankets for warmth.
    I feel sorry for the next generation who are being told they will have to work 'til 70 before they get any pension rewards.

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    1. I couldn't say about 'luckier' since I'm not familiar with all the 'ins and outs' concerned. But with Medicare, we basically pay about $100 a month to have about 80% of our medical bills paid. Not bad as far as I'm concerned (and that's without a supplement plan).
      But you are right about the 'going back to work decision'. It would be a difficult one.

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  8. My parents did not plan to live as long as they have, and I am the youngest of a great many children. I help to financially support my parents now - which is not a burden and allows them some independence to live in their own home with in-home medical assistance. As a child helping to support parents who deserve every moment of their retirement (my father is a retired AF officer who served 22 years and was in both Korea and Vietnam. He went on to work an additional 30 years as a truck driver post-retirement and worked until he was 70) - your children and grandchildren can also provide some peace of mind for financial security in retirement. :)

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    1. Yes, I know this is true. I too am the youngest. My mom made it to her 94th birthday and lived 26 years past my dad. She moved in with us when she was 80 and we were happy to share our home with her. DH and I hope to continue to live in our own house(with assistance if necessary), but we do carry long term care insurance to help ease the burden.

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  9. Oh, yes - and most important:

    I LOVE your birdhouse. Can't wait to see it finished and fired.

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  10. Mr. Sweet and I are on Social Sec., medicare, and supp. insurance..we barely have enuf to make ends meet any more.
    All my life, I was taught "work and pay for a home", then you will be on easy street. I guess we are lost because we have NEVER found Easy Street.....:)

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    1. I'm not sure "easy street" is all its cracked up to be. Look for "happy street".

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  11. I think as we age we grow a little wiser and take it one day at a time. I for one am like you in many ways...I enjoy the simple things and truly enjoy my freedom and time. Your pottery project looks complicated...I look forward to seeing the finished piece.

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    1. Me too. The studio is on a college campus and there are tons of people in and out. If the larger pieces make it from the greenware, oxidation, and reduction carts to the kiln, we are lucky. Then they have to make it 'out of the kiln' in one piece. We shall see.

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  12. I have to agree with you Rian. My time is more important than money. I want to enjoy it as much as I am able.
    I like your birdhouse project. I made a wind-chime from parts of my old broken wind-chimes. It turned out pretty good.
    Here are my posts:
    http://johns-spot112948.blogspot.com/search/label/Wind%20chime

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