You say To Ma To, I say To Mat To

Perception is reality, right?  For instance, whenever I'm heading to the beach or pool, I scope out the largest whitest woman I can find to position myself next to thinking it will make me look thinner and tanner.  Of course, periodically I notice some tiny little thing who is edging up close to me and I know she's applying my theory and I am reminded of the truism - what goes around comes around!  Where is all this going?

Well, not only is it about perception, it's about semantics.  How you phrase it can make all the difference.  I am not a big fan of the word retirement.  Based on my educational background and knowledge of breaking words into roots, prefixes and suffixes (you remember learning all that and wondering why!), the word itself sounds like I've been tired and I'm about to get tired again.  At least I'll be tired from playing hard!  So instead of re-tiring, I have decided I am re-marrying.  Donnie and I are about to become a couple again.

I hear people talk about retiring and getting a different job or starting up their own business.  That doesn't sound like retirement to me.  Retirement means no calendar, clock, watch or schedule.  Not answering to anyone else.  No shoes.  I'm such a rebel :)