So I’m now working as a mail carrier. I’m not going to lie. It’s not easy. However, it’s not extremely hard either. I’m only a month in and there’s a fair learning curve. I’ll keep giving it my best shot for now. But let’s say it doesn’t work out. Then what? Well, I have options.
I never realized how well I was doing at setting myself up for retirement until recently. I might not have a huge amount of money tucked away, but I do have more than half a million when you add up my retirement, my savings, inheritance account, and real-estate equity. I know in some people’s worlds that’s just a drop in the bucket. But I’ve learned some tricks to get by.
Now let’s assume I make it through my 90-day probation at the USPS. I think I will. Unless I opt out. Assuming I stay, here a two major options.
Option 1
Work five years with the USPS and retire with a small pension. This option would put me in the best financial shape for my latter years. However, there may be a cost. The USPS demands a lot of hours. That doesn’t give me much time for working on creative projects or traveling. You only live once.
Option 2
Work 1-2 years with the USPS and then start collecting social security early. In the long run, studies show that people who start collecting their benefits early receive more in the long run. As long as I still have my part-time teaching gig with Yakima Valley College, I’d have a job that would stay close to the minimum social security salary allowance, and I’d still have health benefits. I’d have to wait until fully retiring from YVC to tap into my retirement savings though.
Option two would allow me to work more on creative projects, and possibly spend some time traveling abroad.
More
Those are my two major options regarding working at the USPS. But I have created so much more flexibility. If the USPS doesn’t work out, I’m still on great terms with Cabela’s and could work there either part time or full time. It’s also not very difficult to get adjunct teaching positions in this region, or online, if needed.
There’s more. I could move to another region of the US, or maybe even Europe. In either case, I could sell my condo without capital gains penalties beginning this fall. I’d be looking at close to 100K in pocket if I did. Or I could keep the condo to always have a place to land if I go abroad. Or I could move to the Midwest to be closer to my first daughter, Angel. I could either keep the condo and rent it out or sell it.
See? I have options.
Creativity
So what about my creative work? It ain’t over yet. Yes, as long as I’m working 40-60 hours a week, I won’t be writing and making music at the levels I have been for the last decade. I’ll have to postpone buying a camera and spending more time doing photography.
But I’m happy to report that I’m still being creative. I’ve written about a dozen new lyrics. I’m practicing guitar a few hours a week. I’m writing poetry. I’m reading. I’ve even thought about a podcast.
There’s a lot more I could say about the variety of options I have. I could move to Spain or New York City. I could write more books or go to Nashville. The world is my oyster. – dse
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