Retiring Books

On a recent weekend I had spent the afternoon atop a ladder scraping loose paint from my house. Tired, dirty and hungry, I rummaged around my empty fridge for something for supper. Instead, I called in a pizza order. I hoped to make a quick run into the restaurant and make a fast getaway before anyone could see me in my disheveled state.

Such plans are rarely successful. Right in the parking lot I encountered two favorite library patrons. Readers can never just pass one another with a wave and a quick “hi.” We always stop to discuss what we are reading, what books we’ve just finished and what books we are planning to read next. This time one of the ladies talked about slogging her way through a book she truly wasn’t enjoying, but felt she should finish anyway.

I gave up that attitude at college graduation. No more reading books I didn’t enjoy. No more putting off reading what I really wanted to read because I had to finish something boring first. Since I’m reading for pleasure, why not? The only exception is when the information contained in the book is valuable in itself. Sometimes, knowledge is important regardless of how badly it is presented. Those types, like books about health issues or taxes or politics contain important information. I read those only when absolutely necessary.

Recently there has been a real buzz about a book called The Shack by William Young. We have two regular copies of the book, plus one in large print and one on audio cd. We can’t keep them on the shelves. Everyone who reads it tells all their friends who tell all their friends. From what I’ve been told, it sounds fascinating…..God comes into the book as a very large African American woman. I kind of like that image, so I’ve started the book two times. I never get past the snowstorm in the first few pages. Finally in talking to coworkers, I’ve decided that the book is a GSPW-a good story, poorly written. Life is too short for those, also. Someday someone will write it better. Then I’ll read it.

Otherwise, I enjoy everything I read. I don’t feel guilty stopping after a few pages or a few chapters. My “to read” list is already longer than I’ll live to finish. Don’t feel you have to finish every book you ever start. We have about 20,000 more of them at the library…..a few are surely bound to please.

New(ish) @ your library, a few of what are known in the children’s library as information books. These grownup books are just chock full of everything we might need to know about the retirement years.
Don’t Retire, Rewire by Jeri Sedlar and Rick Miners. In a study conducted by Merrill Lynch, more than 60% of Americans reported that they expected to continue working into retirement. Well, thanks to Merrill Lynch, et al, the other 40% of us will probably have no choice. This little book will help us mold our careers to fit our retirement pocketbooks.

Smart Women Don’t Retire-They Break Free by Gail Rentsch. The sub-title of this one is “from working full-time to living full-time.” What a prospect! Think of all the books I can read!

Retirement Without Borders by Barry Golson. How to retire abroad- I might give this one serious consideration. Let those selfish, far-flung, childless, grownup children of mine come see me for a change. Or, just give me grandchildren and I’ll stay here and be happy.

How to Care for Your Parents’ Money While Caring for Your Parents by Sharon Burns. A frightening thought, whether you are the child or the parent. This may be the most important book on my short list. Someone needs to understand how to stretch resources to cover a whole host of possible contingencies. This book is a well-recommended resource for planning for all eventualities.

Whatever your reading desires, be it business or pleasure, find it @ your library.