I have trouble getting excited about my retirement that may or may not occur 25 years from now. A few weeks ago, I received my annual statement from Social Security Administration, informing me about how much my monthly benefit would be for each of following scenarios: working until age 62, age 67, age 70, and upon becoming disabled. I wasn't impressed with those figures. Also, so what if I might have hundreds of thousands of dollars in my various retirement savings accounts by then? I'm not impressed with those figures either. In fact, I wouldn't be impressed by any dollar figure. The two main reasons that I can't get excited about retirement only serve to highlight money's lack of intrinsic value.

First, I know that, not even counting inflation, time devalues money for almost every individual. Here's an example of what I mean. At my current age, I can now afford most of things I wanted at age 20 but could not afford. However, I have not gone out and bought them because now I no longer want them. At age 60, I'll probably be able to afford most of things I want now but cannot afford. But, when that time comes, will I still want them? I doubt it. I fear that when I finally reach retirement, I'll no longer be interested in spending any money on anything except basic needs of life like food, clothing, and shelter. While it's important to be able to afford those things in your twilight years (many seniors can't), I can't gleefully anticipate retirement to live a life of mere existence that all money in world can't remedy.

In honesty, no amount of money of can sufficiently make up for damage done, both physically and psychologically, by aging process. The old saying goes that "youth is wasted on young." Well, I'm going to add following corollary: "High incomes and large bank accounts are wasted on old." It's too bad we can't have our retirement (along with retirement money) when we are young and can still enjoy it. But such are consequences of money's lack of intrinsic value.

“A Character with Flaws”

Why are relationships hard to maintain? What is it about people that stifle relationships? I think I know answer. And that’s why I’m writing this document. It’s no mystery. The reason relationship in marriage, friendships, committees, groups, and so on fail is because someone important to relationship is sporting poor character. (I didn’t say this was going to be a popular topic.) It takes a well-developed, strong, mature, and steadfast character to maintain a healthy relationship.