NFR Pre-Retirement Advice

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krusty

We're on the Road to Nowhere...
A bit of unsolicited pre-retirement advice that I wish we'd thought about; pet ownership.

While we did a pretty good job of financial planning that has provided a very comfortable retirement, we did not adequately take into consideration the impact of also acquiring a menagerie of now (thankfully) geriatric pets.

All of our lives we've been animal lovers, and during our working years short duration travel was quite possible while still accommodating our pets' needs during brief absences...but now, with vastly more freedom and financial wherewithal we've found ourselves seriously constrained 'travel-wise'. We've resolved to not replace our aging pets as they inevitably head off to the ol' Rainbow Bridge...pets that may not find a welcoming forever home when we cross the bridge ourselves.

And finally...NEVER EVER get (for some unfathomable reason) a chihuahua because the nasty fucking things can very easily live over twenty years.
 
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We figured this out early on. Our pets passed a couple years ago and now we are enjoying ourselves pet-free. Perhaps when we can no longer get about we'll pick up another dog.
 
My grandpa just turned 92, finally decided to retire this year, and has always had a chihuahua. Every memory I have of him are of him and his chihuahuas over the years. He ports it around in his leather jacket everywhere he goes including many cross country trips on his Harley.
 
Or get a high maintenance exotic pocket pet whose lifespan is 5 to 8 years. A guinea pig who poops and eats in an enclosure. Cuddles are optional. My Maine Coon mix passed 1.5 years ago; my heart still hurts.
 
I guess that's the beauty of the "exotic" pets I own....low maintenance. Shoot, even at 27, my Dumeril's boa just hangs out and eats once a month.
 
Billy said:
View attachment 133720I love dogs.
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So do we. And, just as we've loved some very recalcitrant and obstreperous people...we've loved our chihuahuas too...despite their sometimes challenging behavior compared to the mutts, spaniels, terriers, cattle dogs, and German shepherds we've owned.

But every departed pet brings a broken heart...and in old age one has more than enough of those on the way.
 
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jeradjames said:
My grandpa just turned 92, finally decided to retire this year, and has always had a chihuahua. Every memory I have of him are of him and his chihuahuas over the years. He ports it around in his leather jacket everywhere he goes including many cross country trips on his Harley.
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Having ridden to a fair number of motorcycle rallies over the years (including Sturgis, Hollister and many others) it's quite common to see small dog breeds aboard bikes. In fact, in the one-percenter world it's considered a bit of a 'chick magnet'...a 300 lb Hells Angel doesn't need a snarling pitbull to demonstrate faux masculinity...and a chihuahua displays one's 'softer side' far more effectively.
 
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clarkman said:
I guess that's the beauty of the "exotic" pets I own....low maintenance. Shoot, even at 27, my Dumeril's boa just hangs out and eats once a month.
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And NEVER barks when the doorbell rings . . .
 
Totally agree - that's why we didn't replace our last dog and cat. We can flee the homestead at a moments notice.
I miss having a cat, but my daughter fosters kittens, so I can get a feline fix pretty much anytime I want. Like having a friend with a boat! 😉
 
I don’t know…. I’m told the two most life affirming things a person can do are buy a boat on time or get a dog. Either one suggests you’re hoping to live longer than your return flight.
 
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