What's your retirement look like?

[Minimalist]

Tibby doesn't like him drooling on him in the car, so the hikes are less frequent.

Give him a towel and tell him to get off the dog's case.

[Shell B]

Right? I want to be fair and make it clear that my sister's dog is a very minimally trained maniac. He's 7 and he still pees from excitement when I come over. He circles frantically for about 10 minutes, crushing my toes, every time we see each other. He's amazing on walks, unless he sees water, but I can see how a non-dog person could get overwhelmed. It's different for me, though. I'm just as excited to see him.

I can't resist saying hello to a dog I come across while out walking. Tibs can completely ignore them without batting an eyelash. It's alien to me. Lucky he's at least friendly with dogs who are friendly with him or I'm not sure we could tolerate each other. He's trying to veto my plans to get a Great Dane. He thinks they're too big. I figure if he can fit in my life, so can a big dog.

[Fireball]

But isn't that what you do now LPW?

One decision I've made is to stay out of commute traffic.  It isn't any fun anyhow but even if I'm not in a hurry it just seems wrong to clog up everyone else's misery any worse than it is.  I do like walking in the morning though so when we go to the beach south of San Francisco I make sure to leave before 6, get coffee from a Starbuck's near there and then read the paper until it is light enough to walk.

Hey Fireball, sound like we are nearly the same age.  I retired at 62 after teaching 25 years (after doing other stuff of course).  I'll be playing this old tune with more interest next February.

https://youtu.be/tTAwvAz8Hks

  I like that version! I turned 64 last October. I hope my wife doesn't hear this song and boot me out.

[Minimalist]

Right? I want to be fair and make it clear that my sister's dog is a very minimally trained maniac. He's 7 and he still pees from excitement when I come over. He circles frantically for about 10 minutes, crushing my toes, every time we see each other. He's amazing on walks, unless he sees water, but I can see how a non-dog person could get overwhelmed. It's different for me, though. I'm just as excited to see him.

I can't resist saying hello to a dog I come across while out walking. Tibs can completely ignore them without batting an eyelash. It's alien to me. Lucky he's at least friendly with dogs who are friendly with him or I'm not sure we could tolerate each other. He's trying to veto my plans to get a Great Dane. He thinks they're too big. I figure if he can fit in my life, so can a big dog.

Danes are magnificent but in-breeding issues leads to many serious health problems.

http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/health/greatdanes.html

Some health problems are genetic, which means inherited from parents. Genetic health issues are common in Great Danes today because of unwise breeding practices. My book, Dog Quest: Find The Dog Of Your Dreams, shows you how to find a Great Dane puppy who is genetically healthy.

You really need to research the breeders.



P.S.

Raven did great at his new home. The older lab barked at him until he got tired then he wandered off and laid down. The 6 year old Golden and Raven were last seen learning how to use the dog door one at a time. That was after about 20 minutes solid of running around the back yard like lunatics. I don't think Raven had ever seen grass before. He was fascinated with it.

[abaris]

Right, what will my retirement look like?

In one word, bleak. After 2008 and the robber barons taking it all from me.

[J a c k]

Many of these do sound great. I live in a town where we get hundreds of retired folks every winter. They arrive in their RVs, park em, and flood our restaurants, events, parks, everything. I have joined some of their meetups just for kicks and met some interesting people. I'm 31 and nowhere near retirement, but I am planning ahead. I take my retirement seriously.

I have also thought of not being a snowbird and giving that up for being a foster parent. I have trouble deciding between these.

[energizer bunny]

I don't plan that far ahead. I want to do all my traveling and fun stuff now, well before retirement. If i do make it that far. I want to look back at my life and honestly be able to say that i've done all the things i really wanted with my life. That i didn't allow fear to stop me from living my own life and following my own path. Hopefully by then i would have matured and grown more as a person and be at peace with myself and my environment. Perhaps i'll just roam around the earth, enjoying the remaining years of my existence while i happily await for death. 

[Shell B]

Danes are magnificent but in-breeding issues leads to many serious health problems.

http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/health/greatdanes.html

I'd rescue, so if there are health problems, I'll just deal with it. I'm not going to give money to breeders when I can find a dane or a decent mix who needs a home.

P.S.

Raven did great at his new home.  The older lab barked at him until he got tired then he wandered off and laid down.  The 6 year old Golden and Raven were last seen learning how to use the dog door one at a time.  That was after about 20 minutes solid of running around the back yard like lunatics.  I don't think Raven had ever seen grass before.  He was fascinated with it.

That's great! Sounds like a day well spent to me. I've seen videos of animals feeling grass for the first time. Breaks my heart.

Thanks for the link. Really easy system for donating and I got a super pleasant email about how they spend the money and thanking me immediate after sending it. Seems like a great charity.

[Whateverist]

Right? I want to be fair and make it clear that my sister's dog is a very minimally trained maniac. He's 7 and he still pees from excitement when I come over. He circles frantically for about 10 minutes, crushing my toes, every time we see each other. He's amazing on walks, unless he sees water, but I can see how a non-dog person could get overwhelmed. It's different for me, though. I'm just as excited to see him.

I can't resist saying hello to a dog I come across while out walking. Tibs can completely ignore them without batting an eyelash. It's alien to me. Lucky he's at least friendly with dogs who are friendly with him or I'm not sure we could tolerate each other. He's trying to veto my plans to get a Great Dane. He thinks they're too big. I figure if he can fit in my life, so can a big dog.

Danes are magnificent but in-breeding issues leads to many serious health problems.

Plus the giants have such a shorter life expectancy.  Sad enough burying them every 15 years without bumping that up to every 8 to 10.

Check the third chart here for Grt Dane:   http://users.pullman.com/lostriver/weigh...fespan.htm
They're pegged at 6 to 7 years.  Oy!  I doubt if they're listed but my favorite large breed, the Bernese Mntn. dog, is notoriously short lived with many, many breed specific health issues.  Not that I ever wanted one myself, but I meet many all the time and they have the sweetest disposition.  Heck even my dogs like them.

Do you notice that dogs seem to have favorite breeds?  I have.  My golden/lab cross was hot for Australian shepherds (and Bernese Mntn. dogs).  My young one Smoke seems to like long haired dogs slightly smaller than himself.  My seven year old girl Heidi likes any male that isn't circumcised A LOT.

[Minimalist]

I'd rescue, so if there are health problems, I'll just deal with it. I'm not going to give money to breeders when I can find a dane or a decent mix who needs a home.

So much for intelligent design, eh? 


http://www.gdrne.org/about-cvc1

They are in Rhode Island but cover all of New England.