Planning

 I am now less than eighteen months to my retirement date. It's not so close I get excited, but I feel that it is within reach. I have spent the past five years preparing. My first goals were all financial. Pay off all my debts. Save and invest any additional money. I set a strict weekly and monthly budget and I am on the cusp of my goal of being debt free. I have added to my investments. I am fortunate to work for an organization that pays out un-used sick leave and a limited unused vacation time. I have q substantial amount saved up and just have to hope that I do not get sick or injured in the time I have left. The funds from this pay-out are what I plan to use to travel on for the first few years of my retirement. 

My goals right now are to get fit. I started working out fifteen months ago and have recently stepped up the workouts to strengthen my cardio fitness and to get fit enough to tackle some big inclines an some mountain treks I want to attempt. I love to go hiking and go whenever the weather allows. But this being Texas the weather does impact those trips for months at a time. I am a cool/cold weather hiker. My next hiking vacation will be this Autumn. I will be traveling to Colorado Springs area to do some camping and mountain hikes and then attempt the Manitou Incline. Success on it will build my confidence enough to take on additional more challenging hikes. 

When I retire I don't want to sit around. I really want to travel. I hope to do some international volunteering and multi day/week treks. I also hope to do a multi month National park tour through the western U.S. 

I don't want to die sitting at home day after day watching the telly. 

I'd rather be a bears dinner.