How many New Year’s Eves has it been? I remember the year I said that I had no expectations of anything happening in the coming year. Funny, before the year was over, I was married. The one and only marriage I have ever had. While that may be a subject of future posts, it is not now. I felt obligated to do at least one post tonight, one more New Year’s Eve. How many more will there be?

All around me, folks are retiring. I am always asked when I will retire. My answer is always: retire to what? I learned of another colleague’s retirement tonight. Again, I ask: retire to what?

Travel? I have traveled more in the last three years than I have in my entire life. Grandchildren? Of course. But that is not a full-time occupation. What else? Needlepoint? OK. Not that there is anything wrong with that but is that it? Who says you cannot do needlepoint, photography or travel or, or, or? I intend to do it all.

This holiday weekend I moved into a new office. Does that sound like retirement? My new office is a launchpad for whatever I choose to be in the next year and the next few years. A home office just does not cut it. A home office, for me, is a variant on the retirement theme. I want to get dressed, interact with colleagues, and get out there. Retirement? I don’t think so. Gardening? Are you kidding me? I live in a dark, gloomy, sunless, always looking like it will rain during the winter part of the country. Gardening? I think not.

Writing? Of course! But what does one write about once one is retired? Gardening? Grandchildren? Needlepoint? See above. Writing means having something interesting to say. Call me judgmental, but I do think that if you are going to write, you need to live.