Deferring Gratification

When I was 68, one of my coworkers had had four heart attacks, including flat-lining during open heart surgery, then received a heart transplant. She was trying to return to work to build her savings and pension. I rhetorically asked another coworker, “How much money does she want to have when she drops dead at work?”

A few days later, I realized I should have been asking myself the same question. I started preparing for my retirement at age 69. (My plan for 35 years had been to retire at 62, but I was enjoying my work too much to want to leave.)

I love planning and implementing plans. But I always remember the saying, “If you want to make the gods laugh, say you have a plan.”

I have a list of over 20 previous colleagues who had retirement plans who never made it to their retirement date.

We had a retirement dinner for one of my coworkers. After the laudatory speeches he gave his “response” speech.

“What a great night. Good food, and lots of it. Good drink, and lots of it. Good friends, and lots of them.

“This is like an Irish wake! All we’re missing is one dead Irishman.”

He had one dance with his wife of 50 years… had a massive heart attack… and provided the dead Irishman right then and there.

It is very nice when deferring gratification works out… when it works out.