What would it take for you to have a better quality of life?
I had to think about that question for awhile because, truthfully, my life is pretty danged good. Still, I want to have a happy retirement, with my wife, so this idea of improving the quality of my life is worth some serious thinking-time.
My quality of life growing up
I come from a lower-middle-class family. Both parents worked, and I mean worked hard, long hours, just to pay the bills and stay afloat. My parents had few extras. They did not, they could not, splurge on extravagance. I doubt seriously if they could spell the word, let alone spend on it.
A memory which has stayed with me for over six decades is my dad going to the bank, every December, to take a loan so my parents could purchase Christmas presents. They would then repay the loan in twelve installments over the next year, then do the same thing every December that followed. It was the only way that Christmas presents could be bought. That’s just the way it was.
Still, despite the lack of any extra cash to speak of, I lived a good childhood. I have many more good memories of those years than I have bad, so I have to conclude that my quality of life, childhood and teen years, was pretty darned good.
My quality of life as an adult
I cannot say the same about the quality of my life as an adult, say age thirty through fifty-five. Those years were filled with marital difficulties. Those years were filled with excessive drinking. Those years were filled with working my tail off to have bigger homes, nicer cars, and more playthings. Yes, there were good times, like the adoption of my son, but by and large, there were about three decades of emotional and psychological struggle for me, a tough period where the quality of my life, although secure financially, was lacking, and left wanting, in every important category.
My quality of life now, in retirement
It took, for me, running into an emotional brick wall to see the light. Until I had reached rock bottom, until I had backed myself into a psychological corner with no good possible outcome, I could not embrace change and finally find peace of mind . . . and with that peace of mind came a better quality of life.
I had been taught a valuable lesson as a child, but the lesson did not stick in my psyche. I had been taught that money and possessions really make very little impact on happiness, but I had forgotten it as I tried to stay above water as an adult, struggling against a current of my own making.
Today, it has all changed. Today I am happy. I have returned to a simple lifestyle. Less is more for me today. I am loved, I love in return, and I am wanting for nothing, and having reached that point, I can honestly say my quality of life has never been better.
So, what would it take to reach a better quality of life?
I honestly don’t know the answer to this question, but my wife and I are going to try and find out. We purchased a travel trailer with that goal in life. We are going to adopt a part-time RV life, get out and travel, and experience the wonder of it all on the road.
Will it improve the quality of life for us? Maybe, maybe not, but even if it doesn’t, it’s nice to know that we are starting out from a great place, emotionally and psychologically. If life improves for us with this RV lifestyle, that’s great. If not, life is already great.
It’s a win-win situation I can live with.
You are an inspiration to me, Irish. I think your move was fabulous and I totally understood why you did it. Bravo to you, my friend, and thanks for leading the way.
BILL , you have come through the ringer as we say and this new adventure with the RV will only enhance the great quality of life you and Bev already share. I can honestly say our moving to a new country where we were not fluent in the language may have seemed crazy to some but for us we have embraced it and life could not be better! The best move ever so I totally understand your new path and all I can say is go Bill & Bev!!
Thanks, Linda! It would be like some Greek tragedy if one of us died early on, and all of this planning and dreaming were a waste of time. LOL Just my sick sense of humor, dear friend.
Bill, I’m so darned happy for you and Bev. Your positive outlook is infectious; we certainly need more of that kind of infection. Nothing in life is for sure–each and every day is a gift and I hope to goodness that you are able to enjoy many months and years to come.
Andrea, I hope that sixteen years goes by quicker; better yet, I hope you find a solution that does not involve you working sixteen more years. 🙂
I’ve got to that point where I can hear the clock ticking, but I still have another 16 years before I can officially retire and get a pension!! I’m no longer focused on my paid career and starting to explore how to get the most out of this next phase of my life. You have a great philosophy in terms of where you’re starting from.
Thank you, Liz, ands I appreciate you following along. You are a good person and friend, and I hope this finds you well.
I appreciate the positivity and honesty of this article. It’s great to have the ability to comment too.