I am going to do something today that as a 24 year old 40 years ago I told myself that I was going to do in retirement....today is that day!
In 1980 I was basically homeless, though today they call it wilding. Had a massive savings account so spent the first 7 months of 1980 sofa surfing. Helped my father with an august construction project, then he headed to Seattle to take his business to be with his girlfriend, I stayed at his place and mainted the yard. found a part-time teaching job in the remains of the Jimmy Carter Recession and Regan education cut. So no problem with rent, then Feburary of 1981 Dad rents the home and I have to move to Salem and find an aparment, utities and insurance....on half a paycheck...all of my college roommates had married and little room sharing available in early 80s.
so no TV. .... Spring break I walk over to the huge mall to a department store called Montgomery Wards. ( don't share that you shopped there, your age will show). The have this huge bank of TV sets and for the first time in my life I have a vacation from a job, so I spent the day watching the NACCA basketball tournament. no recliner, no snacks, just small chit chat with the occasional standing by customer. On that day I told myself, when I retired, I was going to watch those games....all four days from the comfort of my recliner.
Well, the chores are done, the wife ihas given me the green light, the recliner and snacks in postion, but the games don't start till 3
o, short covid tourney.
but hey, it is covid paying the cable bill that we have not had since retiring to YUma....go OREGON STATE.....who in 1981 were the number #1 ranked team in nation....our hopes were high....and they go beat in the first round of the tourney, a #16 seed beat a #number 1 seed
and oh, by the way, after the school year ended, I was homeless again for another 5 years....and yes...US army is a very wild experince!!!!!!
for a nice visit. So hard when you can't see them right away
