When Are You Going to Retire?

Nothing to say about the garden and no photos of what is in bloom as with this dreary weather it is hard to make anything outdoors look cheery.  No cute photos of the creatures of Menagerie Manor.   Just a trip to my long time dentist for my six month checkup and cleaning.   Dr. H has been our family dentist since the very early 70’s.  Now I’m getting old but that makes him really old.  After my hygienist removes her hands and equipment from my gawb and our long one sided conversation about house painting has come to an end, Dr. H comes in for the final inspection.   He stops at the door, a very meticulous white haired gentleman, tall in stature and always a gentle smile.  “Well now I thought you would have been retired by now."  I turn to him with an incredulous look on my face and say in return “You're one to talk."   He chuckles and takes a seat alongside me as he performs the final inspection.  As he is gently prodding around I think why should he retire?  Here is a man who has made his mark on life, runs a very successful business with a large staff that has been with him for many years and who basically do most of the work.  All he has to do is show up for these final inspections and his day is done.  Oh sure there is the little surgeries here and there, but mostly it is those final inspections and then back to his plush office until duty calls again.  MaryKate my hygienist leans in to tell me, “Always clean your paint brushes and they will be with you till the end!"  I look at her with puzzled look until I remember her, er our one sided conversation. “Thank you.  I will go and do that straight away." I smile and walk out the door knowing I don’t have any paint brushes but I do have the marvelous Lee’s, the ninjas of the paint world who do all my painting for me.  On my drive I remember Dr. H’s question as to my retirement and I think of him sitting in his plush office with his gentle smile.  Why should we retire or give up something that “fits” into our lives? If it makes us happy, keeps us motivated and doesn’t keep us from doing familial duties or hamper our health.  Why should I or Dr. H retire?  Tomorrow I will drive to my office sit down at my desk and eventually one of our many employees will walk in needing this or that and they will ask “Doc….when are you going to retire?", and I will smile and think of Dr. H.