A Personal Post (On Retirement, Growing Older and Mortality), Part II

I understood when speaking with others about these topics, that for most people work was their mission in life.  It occupied most of their time.  And most had families to support.  I was interested in knowing if people had adopted a different mission once they retired.  Another person I spoke with said he had no mission.  Yet another was very clear about his mission:  "Enjoy myself and spend every dime I have and leave nothing behind."  

As for me, my Mom always said that I was not happy unless I had 10 things going on at once.  Several people I spoke with are in quite good physical shape.  I'd say most are in better shape than I am.  I never thought about it much while I was working.  But being retired, I find that I am somewhat jealous of those who can engage in multiple physical activities.  Frankly, I'd be happy, no - ecstatic, if I was simply able to stand erect and walk without pain.  

So, do I have a mission absent work?  I do.  Writing the blog will continue to be one of my missions.  I will continue to defend Israel, the Jewish people and conservative American values.  I have not yet decided on expanding the reach of the blog.  I have thought about writing letters to the editor of some of the leftwing papers (I recently wrote one which was not published), and even submitting longer Op-Ed pieces (even though I know that most of those printed are by well known people).   

I have been used to getting up in the morning at 6 a.m. for decades.  Now, I can allow myself to go back to sleep.  Or, if I get up and have breakfast, I can allow myself a nap afterwards if I am tired.  I eat my breakfast sitting on my recliner and watching TV.  Either the news or a show.  I have my morning coffee after breakfast.  But I made the decision to not drink my coffee while sitting on the recliner and watching more TV.  That seemed like a very bad habit to get into.  Instead, I am at my desk reading or talking to friends.

Not directly related, but a few years ago I mentioned to my oldest daughter that I had been to Barnes & Noble and purchased a book on one of my favorite topics (it was about the U.S. Constitution).  When I asked her to guess what it might be, with her very dry, and wry, delivery she said:  "What - talking?"  It's okay.  I can take the dig.  Besides, she wasn't wrong.  Whereas one friend said he has tried to reestablish relations with old acquaintances, but only by text or email, I definitely prefer the human interaction of speaking with people.  Will I make reaching out to people from my past one of my missions?  I don't know.  I guess I'd have to get myself on Facebook first.   

While virtually everyone in their seventies is aware of mortality, I found that most do not dwell on it.  One expressed an idea that I suspect most grandparents have.  "Will I be around to see my grandson graduate from high school?  From college?"  And:  "How will my kids and grandson feel without me around?"  And I would add:  "Will they remember me (for grandkids), and will they think of me often?"  I frequently quote some of the funny lines my Dad used to say, such as:  "Stay single, and your pockets will jingle."  

One friend described having no mission, saying he takes it one day at a time.  He thinks about his mortality indirectly.  Such as:  "Is this going to be my last car?"  And:  "Should I replace that water heater."  Another friend said he doesn't really think about mortality much.  He is spiritually oriented and is a "very strong believer."  But he does not believe in ultimate mortality, as he believes the soul continues on.  

Another friend had a very realistic thought about mortality:  "I don't feel I'm entitled to live even one more day."  And:  "I don't pretend I have even one more week."  Not because of anything bad he has done, but because he understands that death can come suddenly, and at any time.  He went on to say that while he is agnostic, "I want to believe there is a G-d."  And, as a former law enforcement officer, having seen the worst of humanity, he "does not wish to be in a heaven with child molesters." 

As for me, I certainly hope to have a much longer life.  But I also understand there are no guarantees.  My biggest concern about retirement?  It goes back to what my Mom said about needing to have 10 things going on at once to be happy.  My biggest concern is being bored.  Don't get me wrong.  I have plenty of hobbies and interests.  And I plan on attending religious services more often.  And going to classes at Chabad.  And I have the blog.  But will all that fill up my days?  Or, will I become bored?  For now, at least, less than 2 weeks into my real retirement, I am loving it.           

A Personal Post (On Retirement, Growing Older and Mortality), Part I

I retired effective 11/30/25.  But I had to keep the office through 12/31/25 in order to dispose of the furniture, file cabinets, electronics and accumulated stuff.  So, the planned full retirement date was 12/31/25.  Except, that pesky tree decided to crash into our house on 12/24/25.  Then we were in a hotel for five weeks.  We finally moved into a temporary rental on 1/28/26, and after a week of resting and getting organized, we are now finally retired.  Which got me to thinking about the subjects listed in the title of this post.  

I retired last year for two reasons.  My wife, who worked with me, wanted us to retire by age 75, which she is now, and I will be in several months.  The other reason is that my lifelong orthopedic problems got worse with age, and I found it increasingly difficult to keep up with the workload.  With regards to the topics in this post, I decided to talk to others who had retired, and were in their 70's.  I also emailed my Rabbi.  And I read some excerpts in the book "Rebbe," about Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who was the last leader of the Chabad Lubavitch branch of Judaism (from 1951 until his death in 1994).  The book is by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, and is filled with the wisdom of the Rebbe.  It is a worthwhile read by people of all religions.   

When you see Chabad Houses all over the country and even all over the world, that is substantially because of the efforts of the Rebbe.  The Rebbe was widely considered to be the most influential Rabbi of the 20th century.  But back to the topic.  When he turned 70, some people advised the Rebbe to slow down.  He was known to work, and consult with others seeking guidance, late into the night and into the next morning.  He replied that not only would he not retire, he would set himself a goal of opening 70 new Chabad Houses.  The Rebbe:  "I don't understand that word 'retirement.'  It's not in my vocabulary."  And:  "How can a person even think of retiring from life?"

One friend in his seventies has been retired for nine years, and described retirement as "one of the best periods of my life."  He is basically healthy, but a couple of years ago needed a heart surgery.  He has always been physically active.  In retirement, he increased his outdoor activities.  He also does more reading and more traveling.  He has renewed acquaintances with people he has known, via text and email.  He does not enjoy talking with others as much as some (I) do.  

I asked people if they had experienced a change in their spirituality.  And, if work had been their "mission" in life until retirement, if they had a new mission.  This individual advised he started Torah study classes.  When asked if he had a new mission, he replied:  "Become a better, wiser, more giving person.  Have deep, honest, loving, supportive relationships with my family and friends."  He relayed that, with retirement, he lost much of his sense of competitiveness, intensity and ambition.

Another friend is semi-retired.  He sees old age as a good time of life, except for the health issues.  With regards to having a mission, it is to spend more time in Israel.  Two of his kids live there.  And he simply has a better feeling being there, in the Holy Land.  He also said that he is "spiritually oriented," and is a "very strong believer."   

Another friend found that he enjoys walking and doing jigsaw puzzles.  He has lunch with friends, goes to concerts, watches TV (and likes to watch sports - which I happen to know).  He has his share of health problems, but basically feels good.  As for having a mission, he says he takes it one day at a time.  

Another friend, has not been that thrilled in retirement.  He did not describe having many hobbies.  But he does some work for the attorney who took over his practice.  And he is doing more reading.  He likes walking his dog (a big beautiful dog).  And helps his kids by watching the grandkids.  Otherwise, he did not express having any other particular mission.   

I absolutely loved my Rabbi's idea of retirement:  "As long as we have life, we have a mission.  We never retire from our mission in this world."  If your mission was work, understandable for most of us, did anything replace that mission in retirement?  The Jewish people, of course, understand that G-d gave us a mission - to be a light unto the nations.  

(More on this topic, mortality and my take in Part II.)     

What's Wrong With Trump?

I see just how many people suffer from TDS - Trump Derangement Syndrome.  So, let's take a look at what's wrong with Trump.

He secured our border.  A border that Biden left wide open for anyone to cross.  That includes criminals, terrorists, drug traffickers, etc.  Now, the Senate Democrats are holding up funding for DHS and ICE because why?  They prefer that violent criminals be allowed to roam the streets of our country, rather than round them up and deport them?  Or, do they simply want as many as possible to stay and vote, on the assumption that they will vote Democratic?

He got the hostages home.  I'm not sure what the complaint about that would be, but I am sure some leftists must think that was terrible.  Because it showed support for our ally, Israel.  

With the aid of Israel, Trump took out Iran's nuclear program.  It was a bold move to be sure.  And Iran insists that they will continue to enrich uranium.  But how far back did the strike on their nuclear facilities set them?  Long enough, hopefully for the people to topple the tyrannical regime of the mullahs.  Trump has sent major military assets to the region.  He told the Iranian people that help was on the way.  Will he intervene?  

Iranian forces have killed tens of thousands of their own citizens; people on the streets seeking to gain freedom.  Where is the Hollywood crowd?  Where are the Leftists?  As we Jews like to say:  "No Jews, no news."  Unless Jews can be blamed the leftwing crowd is not interested.  Just like Nigeria, where radical Muslim groups have been slaughtering Nigerian Christians.  No Jews involved, so the Left does not care.  But Trump cared.  He ordered strikes on these Islamist terrorist groups.  And, make no mistake - Trump's attack on Iran demonstrated to our enemies that the US remains the supreme power in the world.

Trump has not only been bolstering our military.  Increased funding.  Created the Space Force.  Paid a "warrior dividend" to our troops.  He was able to get NATO to agree to have the member countries contribute 5% of their GDP (by 2035) to defense spending - an increase from the previous 2% requirement.  Because the threats to the West are real and growing.

Trump established the Abraham Accords.  Originally between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain.  Later Sudan and Morocco joined.  Now Kazakhstan has joined.  But I know why the Left does not approve.  Because it has nothing to do with the "Palestinians."  But Trump saw that the Palestinians refused peace time and again.  Therefore, why not bring peace to the wider Arab world, with Israel?  Why not, indeed.  It was brilliant.

A senior Hamas leader, Khaled Mashaal, just reiterated their refusal to comply with Trump's plan for Gaza.  They will not give up their weapons.  They will not agree to any foreign intervention.  This is the same playbook they have used for 100 years.  Their only goal is to destroy Israel and kill all the Jews.  Their last effort, on 10/7/23, ended up destroying much of Gaza.  But they still do not care.  Mashaal:  "As long as there is occupation, there is resistance."  But Israel left Gaza in 2005.  What he and Hamas mean by "occupation" is the land of Israel.  They refuse to accept Israel.  While other countries are flourishing with increased trade and other benefits from having relations with Israel, Hamas has zero interest in improving the lives of the people of Gaza.  It's just "kill the Jews."  No matter how many Gazans die in the process.  

Trump had various Latin American drug cartels designated as "foreign terrorist organizations."  This allows the government enhanced abilities (legal, financial, military) to counter these cartels.  He had Nicolas Maduro arrested.  Maduro had already been indicted in the US as a drug trafficker.  The capture and arrest of Maduro also demonstrated to the world that the US is back.  

So what is wrong with Trump?  In terms of policy, not much.  What he says is another matter.  I wish he had not said he wanted to make Canada our 51st state, which only served to insult our northern neighbors.  I wish he had not mentioned the possibility of taking Greenland by force.  But make no mistake - Trump understands the strategic importance of Greenland.  Not just for their rare earth minerals.  But for the sea lanes through which enemy ships and submarines might travel.  But Trump, don't threaten them.  Make a deal that leaves everyone satisfied, without having to take over the land.  

So what is wrong with Trump.  Not much, if he would keep his mouth shut at least half of the time.  Most of the time?