It’s been way too long since I’ve published anything here, but that doesn’t mean I’ve retired from blogging. Blame a mix of deadlines and personal stuff, plus the need to enjoy the last days of summer; even though it’s been raining almost nonstop, I still love these days of near-nonstop light.
I’m also getting ready to go to the Financial Blogger Conference, which is in Orlando* this year. Hearing all the horror stories about flight delays or outright cancellations, I’m hoping for the best. But I am also planning to observe the mantra of the stranded seal hunter: Go with the floe.
Taken together, this has meant an undeclared sabbatical. I don’t want anyone to think I’ve given up on this site, because I haven’t retired either from it or from writing for a living. It’s just that other things get in the way of my wanting to post here regularly.
That whole work-life balance thing: If I could figure it out, I’d become a millionaire teaching other people how to do it. But I haven’t. And as far as I can tell, few people have.
That’s because we want to do it all – at least in theory.
When I go to FinCon it’s common to encounter people who boast of how they’re crushing their goals. Great job, building their brands, developing their side hustles, working out every day. Or they’ve turned their side hustles into their jobs, and are crushing those, too.
Me, I’m at the point where I don’t want to crush anything. I just want to live my life.
How much work is too much work?
And the closer I get to being retired** for real, the less I want to hustle. This undeclared sabbatical has reminded me that most of what I truly want is personal, not professional.
My dearest partner and I are not spring chickens. Heck, we’re barely autumn chickens. Since we got together in late midlife, we know we probably won’t get the 50 to 75 years together that other loving couples can achieve. Do I want to spend 40 hours a week working when I could be spending some (or even most) of them with my soul mate?
Yes, I know how cheesy “soul mate” sounds. But we are – and acknowledging that reminds me of something my mother said late in her own life. She had a beautiful home in a safe neighborhood, plenty to eat and nice clothes. “But I’d trade it all for a soul mate,” she told my sister.
Mom knew, and now I know, that some things are more important than work. Heck, most things are more important than work. I’ve been blessed with work I enjoy*** and it’s been fulfilling. But there are other things I’d like to do. Chief among those things is to spend time with DF, my niece and her kids, Linda B. and other people I love.
That includes you, the readers, of course. I love sharing info (and bad puns) with you folks, and I really love the way that you share tips of your own and have conversations with one another in the comments. Thus even when I’m retired, I’ll still be writing here. I want to keep those conversations going.
*Not planning a meet-up at this time, because it’s going to be a busy conference. However, I will be back in the Orlando area again in November, to celebrate my brother’s birthday with him, his wife and some other family members. As we get closer, I will float the idea of a reader get-together.
**Not likely any time soon, although I am slowly scaling back. These days I aim for quality, not quantity.
***Most of the time, anyway. Some personal finance writing just isn’t enthralling. I consider those articles to be what we called “green vegetable stories” back in my newspapering days. We did them because they were good for the readers.
HA! I thought you were going to say that green vegetable stories were the ones you dreaded but took on just so you could buy food!
I cannot believe that I am still harvesting raspberries in September in Fairbanks!! And I grew full sized corn this time, for the first time (other years they have been as large as those tiny cobs you find at salad bars)! Our freezer is overflowing with stuff we grew and harvested and processed. Still have potatoes and leeks to dig up.
Since prices are going up, I am especially thankful for a good harvest this year.
We are, too, although our peas suffered a bit in the drought. Apparently we didn’t water them enough because they’ve given us only two quarts thus far. But the plants are covered with blossoms and pods, so I hope that DF remembers to pick every couple of days while I’m away.
I never thought you would retire completely. I HAVE enjoyed your posts so much. Keep up the good work Donna.
Thanks for your kind words, and your readership.
see you soon!!
i will also be there to not crush anything 🙂
Can’t wait.
Glad to see that you have not retired, and that you are fitting work into your life, rather than trying to squeeze life in among the work. At age 66 and a half, I am doing the same.
As a retired reader I’m just glad you are still at it. You’d be surprised at how readers like me have no concept of how often you post. We probably all read several blogs and while you produce interesting and very well crafted content it still would be impossible for me to come up with even a halfway decent guess as to how many of your posts I’ve read in a month or a year. My mind just doesn’t work that way. Just saying, I think popular bloggers like you and lesser read ones like me both have a lot of latitude to take some time off without most of our readers even noticing it unless we tell them. Kind of like when a public speaker starts out by saying how nervous they are in front of a crowd, the crowd would have had no idea if they didn’t admit it.
Thanks for this. But I definitely want to post more often than once every two weeks. Balance is…a balancing act.
I understand, Donna. The older I get, the less I want to hustle. I think most people feel that way.
I’m glad that you are going to FinCon this year, not sure if Abby is going too. Anyway, have a blast!
So very happy to see this in my email. And even happier to know you will still be writing this after an official retirement.I have been reading your columns for so long (and I love to look back in the archives at times) . I wholeheartedly agree that time with your loved ones is time well spent. If nothing else, these past few pandemic years have really emphasized that point. Here in NY, we’ve had drought conditions that finally are eased by rain the past few days. Our garden has not given as much as normal and my peas were not hearty, but the freezer has a good amount of beans, corn and peppers so far.
Safe travels to Orlando
So happy to see your post before I started working earlier today. Been following you for years. It’s great there are many of us who enjoy getting the most enjoyment and value out of what we have. I am now down to under 3 years until retirement and I can’t wait. Living a frugal lifestyle will allow this to happen for me since we could save even more retirement. My hubby retired late last year. So many things I want to dive into that don’t cost a fortune with the main one being keeping our large gardens tidy, growing new and interesting things to enjoy and share with others and working on soil improvement and getting my daily walks in. Lots of things to do that don’t cost a lot.
DF has been retired for several years, and I really want to join him. At some point I’ll scale WAY back, instead of somewhat back. But I do want to keep my business open, so I’ll do a little here and there.
I missed you but think a bit of time off occasionally pays great dividends. Enjoy Orlando!
I think it goes without saying we would all miss your writing if you retired for good. But I am retiring at the end of the year, despite people saying that I need to stay to pass along my knowledge to the next generation. But, like you, I find myself less willing to take on new work or projects, and it is time to let younger people take the helm. Above all, follow your heart. You have been a great resource, for so many of us who not only enjoy your tips on frugality, but laugh out loud at your comments. Best of luck!
It’s always a happy thing to see a new post from you, but hey, life happens. Hope you have a great trip to the conference.
I aim to retire in about two years and not have a part-time job, having always maintained that frugality at the level at which I do it actually IS the equivalent of a side gig. 😀
Ruby, Loved your comment about having always maintained that frugality at the level at which I do it actually IS the equivalent of a side gig. I also do the frugal life and enjoy living that way very much and it will enable me to retire somewhat early. Never quite thought of it equaling a side gig, but your right. Havea great day!
I remember when your Dad died you mentioned that in the future you would be taking time for yourself if you needed it (or words to that affect). I just assumed you were doing that. Although I missed your writing, I was glad you were doing what needed doing. Have fun in Orlando! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for your flights to go as planned.
Do you what you need to do, my friend; your faithful readers will always be waiting. Enjoy Orlando!
Always enjoy your writing. Enjoy your trip to Orlando.
I was just wondering if you had retired. I’m glad life is treating you well. I too will miss your blog posts when you decide you’re done.
I saw news footage of floods in Alaska and hope you and your DF and family are all OK.
Thanks, but that was way up north and west.