The end of physical existence is a guaranteed thing (science says: Heat Death … yeh that) but civilization will likely collapse long before that \u2026 methinks Armageddon as prophesied in the Bible but you do you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That being said, Christ Jesus tells us {Matt. 24:36<\/em>} the coming end of time is known only to the Father [kinda pretty much shoots down all those false messiahs … pun intended] so in the meantime before the endtimes might as well be productive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thus, retirement. Ugh. Everyday? YES<\/p>\n\n\n\n So! where to begin. At the beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Realistically, at the current rate of inflation (umpty-wat per \u2026 each \u2026 cent<\/em>) if children are a decision the responsible parent should start planning for the kid’s retirement prior to conception. But that’s just me, still a bit bitter moving on<\/p>\n\n\n\n Conventional wisdom suggests getting started with first job, putting away a little something with each paycheck, whether part-time at 16 or full-time post-grad (hopefully no later than 22? 23? the 28YO senior is so not the hot) … personal experience: wizened 20YO visited my 9th grade classroom and told the students to put away half of everything … 50% of every dollar earned. Period. Automatic. Unthinking. Just do it. Start with the first job and never quit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tried it, worked for a while, then life interluded. \u00a0Such a pesky bish. \u00a0Oh look, a car \u2026. \u00a0Hey, there’s college \u2026. \u00a0I was supposed to do that, right? \u00a0And I have to spend for special clothes? to work?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Slight mention: the guy looked … nomadic, as if living on 50% of income was actually quite difficult, if a certain consumeristic standard of living is sought to be maintained …<\/p>\n\n\n\n … but that’s the problem, isn\u2019t it? The expectation. Don\u2019t really need running water … dip a jug. Got sunlight, what’dya need electricity for? Sew(so?) those clothes, got plenty of rags and fishing line make it happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reality is a certain liestyle (yehahseddit) has been sold to the masses to maintain that monkey … propaganda is powerful, and isn\u2019t just used in war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Or is it? Masters of mankind, indeed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bernays said that control the opinions and habits of the masses and control society, \u00e0 la \u201cengineered consent\u201d \u2026 debt is a societal habit engineered by the liestyle <\/em>go figure \u2026 anyway point and back to retirement is a nice idea, achievable for some, most will die in poverty so there\u2019s that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BUT! Important to mention: don\u2019t have to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Right now, current money (from work) is going to old debt (from past stuff) so cannot spend new money for future stuff … yehwatOK<\/p>\n\n\n\n Which is what retirement is … the ability to get stuff and not work. Use old money to make a little new money to buy new stuff, maintain old stuff, pay for the inevitable DID YOU KNOW A FUNERAL IS TEN GRAND AND CASKET RENTAL IS A THING and annuities and life insurance and pensions and 401Ks and yehwatno …<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s an interesting topic, actually took a class once, but I plan to die at my desk \u2013 that\u2019s what I got the degree for\/duh<\/em> \u2013 and have no concrete plans for retirement. \u00a0If not death by desk then in a hospice bed oblivious and pumped full of the very best, highest quality, chemically-pure pharmaceutical drugs on earth. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n How morbid \/ how excellent moving on<\/p>\n\n\n\n So it is important to plan for some sort of future, but we\/me\/I\/us have life insurance up the wah-zoo (where is the wah-zoo located, exactly?) and long-term care coverage in case death is pro-looonnnged<\/em> … but kicking back? Rushing home to catch mah show? \u00a0Traveling in the har-VEE? Or better yet, quarantined on a plagueship? \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t need to travel the world. There\u2019s got pitchuhs. And vid-yos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ergo \/ to wit: a vision of the future of one\u2019s non-working self is in order before can even decide how much retirement is enough. And then, it probably won\u2019t be (see above: poverty) but it is certainly worth the effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some professional help (financial planner, retirement consultant) but they all want money for what\u2019s in their heads \u2013 compensation is key but value \u2260 cost \u2013 and Bernie Madoff \u2026 made off<\/em> HA! notfunny\/hedead \u2026 with billions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The financial markets (stocks, bonds, dividends, derivatives, etc., ad nauseum) are the biggest racket in the history of human value exchange, it is propped up with money = math = magic, those selfsame financial experts predict the entire market system is doomed to fail, and the alternative is what<\/p>\n\n\n\n Masters of mankind, indeed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I prefer prayer. Prayer works. Because even in the face of a declining, spiraling, immoral, corrupted world, I know this and my faith is unshaken \u2026 God has everything under control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But think about retirement anyway \u2026 something about lamps & oil?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The end of physical existence is a guaranteed thing (science says: Heat Death … yeh that) but civilization will likely collapse long before that \u2026 methinks Armageddon as prophesied in the Bible but you do you. That being said, Christ Jesus tells us {Matt. 24:36} the coming end of time is known only to the … <\/p>\n