Ask Annie for Nov. 5, 2003 Dear Annie,
My husband wants to retire, and I'm not ready for it! At our age, most people are both retired, if the wife worked outside the home, and my friends tell me that after their husbands retired, they follow them around and drive them nuts! I don't need that. It also makes me nervous when he keeps telling me, "When I'm retired, that's a luxury you'll probably have to give up," about virtually everything I like doing! He's going to be bored and I'm going to be fuming!
Dreading It in Orting, WA
Dear Dreading,
You're already fuming! I wish you had given me a little more information. Are you retired? Did you work outside the home? Just how ready to retire is he? (Is he seventy-five, or is he sixty-two?) Isn't there anything you two might like to do together? What are these luxuries? Weekly nail appointments, or cruises to the Bahamas? So many of these things are variables that would make a big difference in the way I'd see things. Going on what I have, I'm sorry to say, the tone of your letter is very selfish. Apparently, your husband has worked for years. Most of us who actually work, if we live to retire at 65 or so, will have worked for about 50 years. That's enough! Anyone who has made it to retirement age and has the financial where with all to retire should, if that's their pleasure. You are going to feel so bad if he's one of those guys that works long into what could've been his retirement, and then passes away soon after he finally relaxes. Give the guy a break. Enjoy his retirement with him. Look for ways to have fun with him. This could be the best time of your life.
Annie
Please write to: Annie, P.O. Box 1084, Eatonville,WA 98328
E-mail: letters_annie@hotmail.com
Past Ask Annies:
Nov. 5, 2003 Dreading Husband's Retirement
Oct. 29, 2003 Move back home from boyfriend's house?
Oct. 22, 2003 Did I raise my daughter to do these things?
Oct. 15, 2003 Misunderstanding about School Workers' Kindness
Oct. 8, 2003 Prayer for Brown Sisters Killed and Change Schoolyear to Oct.1 to June 30
Oct. 1, 2003 Response About Non-tipping Lotto Winner
Sept. 24, 2003 Church-goers Inattentive
Sept. 17, 2003 Friend Sells My Stuff on Ebay
Sept. 10, 2003 Lottery Winner Didn't Tip Clerk
Sept. 3, 2003 Business Insults to Consumers
Aug. 27, 2003 Divison of Wedding Expense
Aug. 20, 2003 School Workers' Kindness & Men's Attractiveness
Aug. 13, 2003 Attractiveness Hints
Aug. 6, 2003 Annie's Husband's Accident at Work
July 30, 2003 Deer Automatic Sprinkler Best & Stores Don't Stock Washington Clothes
July 23, 2003 Scarecrows and Halloween Decorations Scare Off Prowlers Too
July 16, 2003 Redhead Asks Attractiveness Advice
July 2, 2002 Atomatic Deer Scarecrow Blasts Prowler