Tuesday
Linda
Working the good earth.
A few months ago, while at the still ripe old age of fifty-one, Sonny decided that it was time to retire from the outside work force and become a full time farmer. We had been planning for this event for a few years by gradually paying off all our bills. My father’s advice to us has always been to make sure that we were debt free before retirement. That is exactly what he did when he retired at the age of fifty-six back in nineteen-seventy-nine and it has been good advice.
When we told people what our plan was we had a mix of opinions, everything from “Are you sure you want to retire? What are you going to do all day? Your too young to retire and your gonna miss those big paychecks your getting.” Others had a more positive view of our plan and gave us full support. There were a few that wished they could do the same thing.
I have asked him if he misses his job. He replies with an emphatic “NOPE!” Are we sitting around eating bonbons and watching TV? NOPE. We are always busy and on the move.
Every season on the farm will have its busy times. Spring is planting and maintaining the garden, late summer is canning and preserving, autumn is winter preps and firewood cutting and late winter is maple season. We also have the care of critters and beekeeping. We still hope to have a few goats by next spring, which brings us to putting up fences.
There are always projects, something to be built, something to be extended, something to be repaired. We eat when we want to, take a coffee break when we want to and sleep when we want to.
Life is so very short. Time speeds by us leaving memories in its wake and we wonder where it all went. Sonny could have kept working. We could have had a bigger house, more money in the bank and more stuff. He could still be traveling the world with stress as his constant companion. But when is enough…enough? Were we a little scared to take the plunge? Yes, but we found that the leap was not as high because we were prepared.
We now live on a tight budget, but lack nothing. We awaken to the morning songs of birds instead of a blaring alarm clock ( unless we are going to the flea market on Saturday morning and have to get up at five o’clock).
The point is, we wanted to be able to provide for ourselves and enjoy life’s simple gifts before one of us became ill or too old. That is our dream and God willing we will have many years to come. Others may want to travel like my parents did or pursue their artistic skills. Its up to you. Sometimes you have to take stock of what is truly important. Everyones circumstances are different, and if you have to keep working the nine to five at least stop and smell the roses or whatever your favorite past time might be.
In the words of Sonny, “Everyday is Saturday.” Pursue you dreams while you can.
Off-Grid in West Virginia 
Sonny and Linda,
I too retired the same time as Sonny. I feel exactly the same, and sonny knows that we are moving to Delaware after we sell the house in VA. Keep in touch with us.
Your friends,
Don and Laurence Szejner
Don, you will enjoy fishing from the beach and crabbing. Work on your tan while your at it.
It’s about time !. I and Sallyann retired at age 55. Work was great, but retirement is much much better. We travel, do what we want too, answer to noone, and yes everyday is Saturday. We are one step ahead of being broke, but always find the extra to do the things we want. Now with a new granddaughter we now have another adventure that will keep us busy. Hope to see ya soon, your cuz, George & Sallyann
in january i went to retirement board to check on my retirement status
thought i could retire nov of this yr
found out that i was eligible june 1
but with vacation time my ”adios suckers” day was may 1.
accually this is family version of what i had wrote on work calender with countdown
the last 4 weeks have been filled with odd jobs that i had put off for yrs
have only had time for 3 days on my yacht, a 10 ft rowboat is a yacht,isnt it?
another guy waiting to see retirement lady said something similar to me,”everyday is sat, monday never comes”
i still set alarm, but do not start the morning cussing it out
have sent several sympathy cards to friends, telling them,”sorry you are still employed”
enjoy your retirement, and stay only as busy as you want to be
I am happy for you guys and totally believe in what you are doing! I am a stay-at-home while my husband works 4 days each week. I get the sense that some people look down at me for not working, but we have a simplistic lifestyle that allows me to stay home. It’s comforting to know that others out there have similar ideals with living simply, living debt-free, and not trying to keep up with the Jones’s. Congratulations to the both of you! I want to hear about your goat adventures and how you acquire them because we are also heading down that path and have no idea where to start!
Holly,
Just ignore those who look down on you for being a stay at home. What you do is as valuable and worthwhile as any outside career. You and your husband have a freedom that many people never experience. It will be a while before we get goats. I have to do some more research and we are thinking of getting a milk goat to start. Believe me we are learning as we go here. It’s always an adventure!
U go Uncle Sonny someday I want to retire but after the kids have made it through college
the good thing about Sonny’s retirement, is that he won’t have to leave his honeybun alone anymore……Spend all the time in the world together, take a vacation together to some topical island