The Donut Crew | Retirement

by RonKnowles

I was having coffee and donuts with neighbors this morning as we do every Friday when the fast-paced conversation suddenly jackknifed in the middle of the table just like a big rig would, causing a verbal pile up about the unemployment situation in Oregon. Presently we're at a little over twelve percent with rural counties running higher than that. Oregon! One of the first to get hit in the ass and the last to recover.

Consisting entirely of seniors, the donut crew as we call ourselves, are not immune to what I refer to as the Socialistic policies of the Obama administration and how it's destroying our economy. I realize at this juncture that who we voted for is water under the bridge and exactly who is responsible for the job losses and high prices remains unknown. What we do know is that we're all Americans and we all feel the results.

Maria, the 85-year old matriarch widow who sat on my right has a pretty good retirement income and for the most part doesn't have to worry. She can have a gardener mow her lawn, she take trips and really doesn't do without. But she is very concerned for her kids who all live in California, which is experiencing an economic meltdown.

On my left sat Pete, in his seventies who suffers from a type of palsy but has a great sense of humor and tries to live out his days not thinking too much about economics. His wife Doris however, is very concerned. They've already had to sell their home because they just couldn't afford to stay there any more and now they live in a much smaller apartment. I'm sure she wonders what will become of her when Pete dies.

Bob, the diabetic and his wife Paula sit together. Bob just had part of his stomach removed for some reason and lost some weight, too. He and Paula (both in their sixties) are officially retired but Bob still has to do the books and taxes for some local companies in order to make ends meet. It seems they're feeling the pinch, too.

Me? I'm sixty-six and supposed to be retired. Odd how folks think that when you reach that age you can really kick back and enjoy. Well people, here's a big news flash for you. A lot of us can not afford to retire, ever. As I see it, if the economy maintains its present course there will be no retirement for anyone.

Take me for example; I write articles. This is one of many that I have published all over the Internet. This is how I can still make a living. I can't survive on Social Security income and I don't have a pension. I'm not complaining but this is what I do and will continue to do until I can't anymore.

So, the donut crew will meet again next Friday, I suppose. We'll talk about whatever is of interest to us and life will go on. On anyway, until our measure of life is poured out. In the mean time we represent a microcosm of people up in years who are generally not talked about very much or considered to be significant despite the financial effects of a sabotaged economy.

The politicians all want our valuable votes and promise us the world, which is not theirs to give away. And when many of us are swayed by their sweet talk and vote them into office, they promptly dismiss us knowing that we'll probably die off pretty soon anyway and besides, there will be a new crop of seniors coming down the pike to bamboozle come the next election cycle.

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice.

Living in the Pacific Northwest, Ron Knowles reveals fantastic lessons on how to learn and earn at home from his website and even has an educational newsletter that helps people decide on the logical vehicle for doing so. For those who need to make more money and stay at home, his system is fantastic.