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Episode 535 What Money Can't Buy
This is Retirement Talk. I'm Del Lowery.
Retirement is a period in life when time becomes premium. Certainly money is important in daily living but time is definitely a commodity that is in limited supply. We know that our time is drawing to a close. We are in the last major phase of life. Whatever we may wish to do takes on a sense of urgency. When I told my daughter of a plan I had for when I got older she responded with, "Don't wait to long, Dad".
During the last eleven years this podcast has ranged over literally hundred of topics. When launched I had no idea that it would run for this long and be published almost once every week. Time keeps ticking. The range of subject seem to be endless. I'm sure there is much left.
"What Money Can't Buy, the Moral Limits of Markets" by Michael Sandel is the name of a book I am currently reading. The title caught my attention. These podcasts have been shaped around a similar premise for the past eleven years. When I launched this project I was discouraged with information available on retirement that did not have to do with investments and finances. It appeared that the only concern in retirement was money. My own experience of being retired told me that there was much more to retired life than money. I wanted to explore it in my own mind and hopefully make contact with other people who thought in similar fashion.
Michael Sandel is a philosophy professor at Harvard. I watched 13 Episodes of a class that he offers entitled "Justice: What is the Right Thing To Do". You can find it in iTunes or YouTube. He has a way of teaching that appeals to me. When I saw his latest book and that title that was so similar to the very thought that launched me into doing this podcast I knew I had to read it.
His thesis is that the movement of market place economics into the world of morality and values is not on firm ground. Letting the market determine our values is a colossal mistake.
HIs thoughts range a bit further afield to consider a morality based on reason and a variety of historical traditions. These may contribute to a better life for all. He gives many examples of how morality can be corrupted by money and the market.
Money certainly can influence your judgement under certain conditions and at various times. But it does not follow that money and the market place should, or need to dominate or even influence your morality or values.
I have some friends who retired five year ago. She was set on sleeping in a bit and helping other people in the community who are shut-in or in need of end of life care. He planed on writing a novel, reading, walking and becoming more stress free. They were an excited couple.
She has met her goals. She does helping work in the community and does sleep in. He did write his book. It went in the bottom drawer and has yet seen a publisher. He is satisfied with that at the moment. Goals can shift.
It has been thirty years since I retired. I sometimes feel like it is time to turn the page and move on to another adventure of one type or another. I tried to write and publish a book on retirement a few years ago. I did work at it for a year or two. Sent a first draft to a publisher and was rejected. I never rewrote. I never looked at it again. Why is that?
We make plans but sometimes they just don't seem to materialize. You may find yourself in the same boat? What is my excuse when it comes to a book? There are several reasons. I'm reminded of what an old friend of mine in Alaska who responded to a choice I was trying to make with, "Well, you'll do what you want to do. That's what we always do". I think he is right. I had moved on. Lost interest.
For me, time with my guitar outweighs my desire to write a book. I do not short myself time with the instrument. Paying attention to detail and being relaxed are two of my biggest weaknesses. The guitar and music requires both and thus has a very strong appeal. I have always like the challenge to improve. It agrees with Spinoza's theory about the nature of happiness being the continued movement towards something greater than that which we have. The guitar will challenge me into the grave.
Another excuse I give myself is the thought that the world is awash in books. I see them setting in libraries or garage sales for free. I see them thrown in the trash. They seem like dandelions: flowering and quickly fading away. I had to admit that I am not a writer. It requires a finely honed skill to turn a phrase and wrap tens of thousands of words together in a meaningful fashion. I don’t have those skills nor desire them enough to work on improving them. I challenge my writing skills with these thousand word podcasts each week.
It would be nice to check off my life list the goal of writing and publishing a book. But at this stage in life I find more satisfaction playing the scales on my guitar.
It has been the basic premise of these podcasts that there is more to life than money. Thinking carefully what we are doing with our limited time seems much more important. Do you harbor goals that seem to be ever evasive? It may be that you now have other interests that hold greater value. Perhaps you no longer desire what you may have ten, twenty or thirty years ago. No need for shame. No need to feel guilty. It might comes as a relief to carefully consider my friends admonition that, “We are doing what we really want to do.” You have move on.
This is Retirement Talk.
If you have question, comments or suggestion contact del@retirementtalk.org
You can rate/review this podcast on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.
A resource from a listener: Best Free Online Degrees for Seniors guide is designed to assist seniors who aspire to enhance their intellect or consider starting a new career path. It features an overview of the top online degrees for seniors, emphasizing their numerous advantages, and a broad range of subjects to choose from. A friend's website: Terra Firma Designs: Fine Furniture, Stained Glass and woodworking workshops. Copyright 2010 RetirementTalk.org |
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