T - 49: Making a List, Checking It Twice

I now have only six more Mondays in which I will earn a paycheck.

That isn't the worry. The real concern is the question I keep hearing - "What are you going to do when you retire? " And when I say I keep hearing it, I don't just mean the people at work, the friends we visit, or even complete strangers in the street. I mean, I keep hearing it because Linda has started waking up in the middle of the night and whispering it in my ear over and over again.

I have decided I need an answer to the question. Or, to be more honest, I need to be able to say something that sounds like an answer to the question. So, I hereby dedicate my last six working Mondays to help me. Every Monday I am going to put five things on a list that I plan to do when I retire. By the time I get to the starting line (notice I didn't say finish line?), I will have 30 things I plan to do when I retire. That should shut them up.

So, with no further ado, and in no particular order, here are five of the things I plan to do when I retire. And in keeping with my recent birthday, today's entries have a "60" theme.

1. I will walk 60 minutes a day.

The Positive -- This will help me lose weight, make my muscles and joints work better, and improve my heart.
The Negative -- I've never done it in my life, and nothing has been stopping me. What makes me think I will really do it now?
Plan B --- If it is all too hard, I will at least walk 60 steps a day and mumble when I tell people about it.

2. I will earn at least $60 a day.

The Positive -- Isn't it obvious?
The Negative -- It's hard to do it every day playing online poker.
Plan B --- Would you like fries with that?

3. I will diet until I lose 60 pounds.

The Positive -- The clothes at the bottom of the storage bin will fit me again.
The Negative -- I may not like the way my feet look.
Plan B -- Belly bands and liposuction.

4. I will write to 60 people who have written to me and never received a reply.

The Positive -- Some of them may forgive my rudeness in not answering.
The Negative -- Most will wonder who I am.
Plan B -- I will only write to the four people I actually know, and not bother with the 56 trying to sell Viagra, insurance and Russian brides.

5. I will post 60 pictures of my granddaughter Lily to Shutterfly.

The Positive -- She is beautiful, and family and friends will love looking at them.
The Negative -- It is so difficult to know what to do with the remaining 1,200 pictures.
Plan B -- Does Shutterfly have limits on how many pictures you can post?