retirement Archives - Scooter in the Sticks

One Last Ride to Work

July 3, 2017 by Scooter in the Sticks 59 Comments

Convenient Vespa Parking

Friday was my last day of great parking on the Penn State, University Park campus. One last ride to work. Retirement would mean surrendering a sought after parking permit. Walking into the office I took one last look at the familiar morning landscape.

The weather was perfect. And the previous day I had new shock absorbers installed, preparation for whatever new riding adventures present themselves. After 35 thousand miles the ride was getting ragged.Continue Reading

Happy Ending

June 28, 2017 by Scooter in the Sticks 42 Comments

End of the Road

I often find myself at the end of the road when riding the Vespa. Continuing on isn’t possible or desirable. A change in direction is necessary for the journey to continue. It’s uncommon to arrive at the end of the road and think of it as a happy ending. Remembering miles and miles of gravel strewn dirt forest roads only to come to an impassible gate is something other than a happy ending. But that doesn’t happen often.

On a recent, meandering ride to work on a foggy morning I came to a place where I didn’t want to push on through the tall, wet grass replete with ticks and ground hog holes. Besides, it was time to get to work where I was nearing another end of the road.Continue Reading

Oddness and Other Life Experiences

May 11, 2017 by Scooter in the Sticks 35 Comments

Riding into the Sunset or Sunrise?

Today promises to be an odd life experience. I’ll be interviewing a person who may replace me at Penn State. Writing questions last night I found myself wondering if we need someone like me, or someone who can address gaps, pain points and a future I don’t even know exists.

And I wonder if I’m riding into the sunset of a life or into the sunrise of a new one. I prefer the latter.

Not scooter ride today. The cage may be called into service at some point during the day. But I know I’ll think of riding once or twice between now and when I fall asleep tonight.

Riding — it’s really a disease…

Dreams and Other Realities

April 26, 2017 by Scooter in the Sticks 17 Comments

The End of Things

I’ve been blessed with a cinematic form of daydreaming — sequences of images and narration that move seamlessly through time and space to tell a story. I don’t know whether this a common trait among people. It’s provided entertainment and distraction throughout this life. Riding at times provides a stage for a mini-series of adventures both real and imagined. Looking at the Vespa parked in the trees as the sun went down opened the door to a variety of mental adventures.

Recently many readers provided feedback, insight and suggestions in response to an online survey inquiring about possible products and directions that could appear on Scooter in the Sticks. The results will help discern wishful daydreaming from paths worth exploring. For those of you who responded — thank you. You’ve confirmed, rejected and illuminated the palette of vague ideas presented. The data collected will be useful in the decision making process.Continue Reading

iPhone Photography

February 25, 2017 by Scooter in the Sticks 16 Comments

Lily and Junior — garden wrecking crew

I have 7809 photographs on my iPhone. The writing prompt challenge today asks that I post the 25th image I come to on the phone. This photograph of our Belgian Sheepdogs is the 25th image from the end of the list. Had I started from the beginning you would below looking at a snow scene.

It’s amazing whats in the image collection. Familiar photographs that I clearly remember making, and others I’m left wondering where they came from. There or no captions or organizations — just a big collection.

Silver Riders

Stopped at the end of the day Friday to visit with an investment counselor regarding retirement. If there’s something I’m really, really good with, it’s not money. For good or ill, I’ve followed my father’s belief about money, “Money is for spending boy. When it’s all gone go make some more.”

Perhaps not the best approach. Thank god Penn State forced me to contribute to a pension plan for four decades. So I’m playing catch up, or perhaps learning to be an adult about things, and make some sound decisions regarding the next phase of life.

On the plus side — the counselor rides a BMW. That has to count for something. Looking at the silver machines made me think of Low’s song, “Silver Rider.” It’s a melancholy ballad that touches the right chords sometimes…