60 Years Are Too Many: The Off Ramp

 

    26 June 2026

        The other afternoon on NPR they had an Oceanographer. I think from Washington State.

        The topic was climate change. The question, paraphrased loosely here, was "Is it too late?"

        He was clearly in front of a live audience, and I suspect he was in California, because he answered "Look, if you miss your exit, do you just keep driving to LA?"

        He went on to clarify that the smart oceanographer people have a way to help the rising temperature of the ocean, and the details were above my education grade. But I liked his thesis.

        Just because you missed your off ramp, you don't just keep driving straight. There's another off ramp. Take that one.

        Apply this to the current "political" climate. In quotes because it's not about politics, or even parties at this point. It's split between right and wrong. Cruelty and empathy. Misinformation and education.

        You're smart, you don't need me to further pontificate on that point.

        My point is that our choices in life are never without an exit ramp.

        Our parents lives and careers were very much a two lane highway to retirement with no exits. One career, 30 years, retire, collect retirement and social security. Cost of living dictated that was possible. Gosh, you may even get to buy a Winnebago and see the country.

        We tried that.   

        It didn't work, and gratefully we noted the off ramps. Some of us took them sooner than later. Some of us are still scared to commit to exiting. 

        Our children are not only well versed in these ramps, they will turn back around and re-enter the highway looking for the next off ramp, or tool through town in the business loop. They are much more adventurous and brave than we were. 

        Well...me. Than I was.

        Capitalism killed my joy and all I see are dollar signs around everything. How much does it cost? I can't afford this or that or these. I hear Princess Lea in my head "If money is what you love, then that's what you'll receive." 

        I don't love it. How can I love what I don't have?

        I just want to live debt free.

        Own my house. My car. Help my children.

        But I don't dare say anything, because a Boomer will just attack me for not working hard enough. For not saving my money.

        What money?

        I didn't sell a company and make money that I could then invest.

        My cousin is doing great, she's thrifty and learned how to invest what very little she had, she learned from her mom. So when her mom died, there was a significant amount for her and her surviving brother to then invest. I'm not mad at her. She works her ass off. As did her mom.

        I'm mad at me. 

        Did I miss an exit that would have taught me how to invest even though I had nothing to invest?

        I met with an investment guy once who straight up told me I had nothing but my house, which I could use for its equity. He couldn't understand why I had no real savings, or retirement or a portfolio. He seemed to miss the fact of the recession, when Jim lost his job and was unemployed for two years and we had to cash in his retirement to save the house.

        I felt so stupid.

        At 60 the only off ramp I see is death. Nothing is going to get any easier and I'm not inheriting money, nor do I have any to invest.

        Scene.