So thinking about my previous post and considering what we
have recently been through with her parents, my wife and I need to take a look
at our own situation. Seems like a good place to start is with an honest
assessment of health and health care needs (reality), followed by dreams and
desires for our future, and time. I think I’ll start with time.
Hyrum Smith, of Franklin Planner fame once said, “We have
all the time there is!” It’s true, but his point was that it’s entirely up to
each of us how we use that time, hopefully to do those things that are most
important to us. I met Hyrum at an Executive Excellence seminar back in 1985
and he told some great stories about managing time. One of my favorites was
about his mother who decided at the age of 62 to go back to college and
complete a degree. Her friend questioned her plan and said, “But you’ll be 65
when you finish!” Her response, “I’ll be 65 anyway!”
Exactly! Not one of us knows how much time he has left, and
many of us let life pass us by while making other plans. Too many of us don’t
spend enough of our time actually living, loving, sharing, and enjoying life,
and shame on us for that. I’m sure that’s not God’s plan for us. I want to use
my time wisely, but always with the realization that this could be my last day
so my goal should be to live it well.
It’s a desire of mine to live well into my eighties and
maybe even reach my nineties; but frankly, I’m a 63 year old overweight man,
borderline diabetic with metabolic syndrome, heart arrhythmia, and coronary
artery disease. I’m taking medication to manage cholesterol, glucose, hormones, and heart
function. I’m working on lifestyle changes to mitigate or correct these health
issues; but it’s likely considering my current health and my family history
that I will need assistance with living at some point.
One of my dreams, owning a ten acre hobby farm in the
country a half hour from the nearest hospital, is probably not a wise choice of
lifestyle for me, but it could work and maybe even contribute to an improved
health outlook. It’s been a dream of mine to build and live in an energy
efficient home my wife and I custom designed for us. It’s also been a dream of
mine to live in a home that would welcome grandchildren and other family
visitors with enough space for large family get-togethers. Those dreams require
a physically able person or couple to maintain the home and grounds. For a time
we can handle that. However, over the long term, if I’m to achieve those
dreams, my health needs imply that I have enough financial resources to arrange
for in-home assistance with living, and for hired help in maintaining the place.
I’d also like to canoe or kayak, hike, bike, and write more,
as well as camp, travel and be able to visit my children and grandchildren
wherever they decide to settle. The latter three suggest some sort of RV living
in my future. My wife and I have been campers for over forty years, the RV of
choice being a pop-up camper. But I wouldn't relish the thought of living in an RV for months
on end. I think I’d prefer four to six week stretches of travel, returning to
home base after each trip. Having the flexibility to travel and exercise like
this suggests a trade-off with time required for home and grounds maintenance,
hence my wife’s inclination toward condominium living.
What’s this assessment telling me? Well, maybe a nice sized
condo with ample room for visitors and family get-togethers, decent parking,
and access to local park and trail systems might be a reasonable compromise
(see Sweetie, I’m getting there). What’s interesting about the condo idea is
that many transitional living facilities present condo style living as their
approach to “independent living” and the entry point to transitional living
options. In other words, when you’re in independent living you’re in the system
and have top priority for moves to assisted living and nursing care as the need
arises.
Ouch, this all seems like quite enough to consider for one
post; so for now, that’s what’s in the mental hopper. Besides, I probably better
clue my wife in to all this pondering, she’ll need to catch up … hmmm … or maybe
I’m finally catching up with her!
No comments:
Post a Comment