Planning for our old age

Today, on the radio I listened to a financial wealth manager. His advise was that we should live sparingly, putting as much money aside for our old age as possible. He suggested that if we wished to travel when we got old we would need extra money for that purpose.

His advise while fitting for some I suppose it struck me as wrong for us. We know so many people, not many years older than us who have health issues that keep them from travel. Others who do travel don't have the energy to to do the things they dreamed of. Still others travel alone as the person they wanted to travel with is now gone.

I firmly believe we should definitely live within our means, and save for a rainy day. But I also am a firm believer that we should travel, if we are so inclined, when we are as young as possible. In my opinion we should live life as a grand adventure and collect as many wonderful memories along our journey as possible.

As for us, we are planning our next trip, soon to take Phoebe and Becke to DisneyWorld, for their first visit. It's going to be fun! One more set of memories will be gathered to retell in our old age.

My your next year be (even) better!

Through the decades we've had great years and years that were a little more challenging. I think it started when the kids were small and we were just starting our business. If someone wanted something and we couldn't swing it the promise was 'It will be better next year.' That little saying was stated often and eventually became our family motto. 

Now, at our house instead of Happy New year we say 'next year will be better. The last year was great but it's our hope for an even better one in the coming twelve months.

Ready for next year.

I had made it my goal to finish my Sign Challenge piece before the New Year. But like all goals the world conspires to keep you from them. I had made a good start early on, bringing it very close to finish. Then I got sidetracked with all manners of other projects. Peter who finished his piece last week (and enjoyed beating me immensely I might add) was egging me on at every opportunity. I knew if I let my piece go into next year by even a day I would never hear the end of it. So this afternoon, I applied the last bit of lettering and with Angie's help we applied the final glaze. A couple minutes past our normal quitting time (and seven and a half hours before the beginning of 2016) I announced the piece DONE! Happy New Year!