In Honor of My Dad

[mikefixac]

My dad retired when he was 47 years old. He was USAF for 27 years as a non commissioned officer.

I just realized today, if he was still alive, he would have been retired now for 40 years.

After he retired, he was offered good jobs, but he refused. He budgeted carefully and knew he and my mom had more than enough to live on the rest of their lives.

Things I remember about Mom and Dad: While on vacation, taking a hot plate and making sandwiches in hotel, and eating hot wings from the cooler (that's an oxymoron). He played golf almost everyday, sometimes 2 to 3 rounds/day. The membership costs around $200/year for both he and my mom. (I always wondered why he never went to the range to warm up before a round, until realizing it cost $1/bucket). Knowing my dad, there's no way he'd pay a dollar, when he could hit all the balls he wants for free on the golf course.

And he had wonderful friends. Always getting together for card games and dinners.

Even back then I often said to myself "Most millionaires don't have it nearly as good".

 

[gooki]

Great role model.

[Bigote]

Great role model indeed.  Thanks for posting that.

[Us2bCool]

Your dad sounds like he must have been a great guy.

My grandfather was like that. He retired from the NYFD at 40, although to be realistic, my grandmother started her career when he retired, so they did have a regular paycheck.

I remember once he took a job at JCPenney just to fill his time. Whenever anyone wanted to buy a major appliance, he sent them to one of the younger guys who actually needed the money. He got fired after two months for not selling any major appliances, and he was less than heartbroken.