Retirement Plans

I've been thinking about what's going to happen when it's time to leave this job and begin my life as a Professional Retired Person. This is not around the corner mind you, but it is going to happen one of these days. I've been talking to some investment type people to get the finances organized...you know, the what-am-I-going-to-do-for-income-when-I'm-no-longer-working type questions. I love my job (as you well know), but at some point the energy required just won't be there. I don't want to be a faculty member that hangs on long past the point of  being effective in the classroom -- no way. So, maybe when I'm around 80 years old I'll quit :)

I'm devising a plan. Ron has been helping -- he has had, unknown to me when we met, the same dream for his retirement....When I leave, I'm going to have a farm in the Hill Country. It's going to be kind of like the Beekman 1802 farm featured on Green Planet, only Texas style, and no 19th century house to go along with it (read: can't afford that house on my retirement income). Here are some of the animals and stuff that are going to be on the farm:

A narcissistic llama (they think they are the world's most beautiful creatures) must adorn the grounds....

 See how they pose? They think they are so gorgeousness....

 If there was pond nearby, llama would spend all day staring at themselves.


Some ducks will waddle around the stock tank/pond and create cute little ducklings in the spring:

Of course every farm needs a chicken coup so you can have fresh eggs and cute chicks. Did you know you can buy a chicken coup on Amazon.com? Yeah...I checked it out ...

 Goats are a necessity - they keep the yard trimmed down. They taste pretty good too, but we aren't going there....

And sheep grazing in the back pasture. We plan to keep them trim and use their fur and llama hair to help subsidize our operation. I know...better keep the day job, right?

Some cows and calves will be necessary -- they kind of act like big dogs when they're used to people....

 
Every farm must have at least one horse and a donkey -- or a pony - for the kids (and their grandmother) to ride....

Ron is an expert gardener - so there will be a huge garden and some delicious fruit trees (our peaches are famous in Texas) and probably some fence to keep the bunnies and deer  out of the garden....

Every farm needs a tractor - something for the grandchildren to ride around in and to haul stuff. This one looked pretty nice....

If there isn't enough profit from sheep wool, llama fur, goat milk, eggs and veggies, maybe we will settle for this one:

I'm sure the ride is just as fun :)

I can't WAIT to start the farm, and really, really look forward to the day when the grandkids and maybe even great-grand kids are scampering all over, chasing the sheep and goats.

I know it sounds like a great dream, right? I really think it can come true.  It's like Thoreau said,
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."





So begins the first step...find the land. Right now I have to give a final exam. Stay tuned....