Lair Davis (Our Man in Costa Rica)

Not all adventure occurs when you are young. Retirement also can be an adventure — a little scary perhaps but wonderful, both anxiety-provoking and exciting. I have begun the adventure of making my “gay golden years” glitter. There is not much support out there for gays in their senior years (mature years? prime time? Oh, please! Who are we kidding? Old! I can deal with it, so would everyone please stop trying to come up with a non-offensive word for me! The word “senior” works just fine. Just like a senior in high school, I am a senior in LIFE school.) I am still here! I am retiring! I am celebrating! Every Friday...I’m gonna send Annie a column to share with readers. Enjoy. Please feel free to interact.

December 24, 2004

Just Do It!

For years I bored my friends waxing poetic about how I was going to move to Costa Rica when I retired. The time just never felt quite right until...

One day a friend visited me and asked, “So when are you going to do it instead of just talking about it?”

I answered, “Well, I think I will probably work until it is no longer fun, and then I’ll retire.”

She said, “You have the ability to make whatever you are doing fun, so if that is what you are waiting for, then you can just forget about ever retiring. You’ll drop dead while you’re working. It is time for you to shit or get off the pot.”

Hmmm, made sense.

Then, about a month later, I had an attack of angina which resulted in a quick trip to the emergency room where they inserted two stents into my heart.

Suddenly, it was time.

I still wasn’t sure what I would do after I retired, but I must say that I have not had a moment to sit around and watch TV since. I am learning a new language, I am learning how to go about the business of living in an entirely different culture — all those day-to-day things like shopping for a bookcase (my current project).

I have actually started writing that book I always said I would write someday. No more excuse not to.

I have started cooking again, and eating healthily and well. I am walking a lot and enjoying each and every excursion.

And by the way, I dropped 16 pounds in four months without any effort whatsoever. If fact, it surprised the heck out of me!

So, if you have reached retirement age, then my advice is to “just do it!” Go ahead and retire, and see what interesting things you might discover that you have time for.

Why, I even have time now to cruise the boys as they play soccer at the park every afternoon. They think I am a football fan — ho ho — when actually it’s the players I’m a fan of!

Col 1

(6.25)

Col 2
(7.02)

Col 3
(7.09)

Col 4
(7.16)

Col 5
(7.23)

Col 6
(7.30)

Col 7
(8.06)

Col 8

(8.13)

Col 9

(8.20)