Do you know your number?

Every week some financial wizard writes a generic article in a national magazine prescribing a fixed sum of money needed to retire. And of course they add advice on how to plan for it too. I hate these know-it-alls.

Nobody knows how long they will live, so nobody knows what to order. What if I just choose a cup of chowder only to find out I could have ordered the 3-pound lobster with butter? Forget that cheap happy hour wine - give me your Russian River Valley Chardonnay, please, and all of your starters. I hate the word starters.

2015 data lists the average American male living to be 76. Our financial planner budgeted our money to last until my husband is 95. The average woman lives to be 81. (More on this later) I want to whoop it up now! Why wait till I am toothless in my wheelchair in the lobby of a nursing home with a wad of peppermints in my pocket?

My friend Rico says when he dies, he wants his last check to bounce. I am with you, Rico! Why shouldn’t our children have to plan their own retirement? They took half our income already.

The truth is, if you are lucky enough to retire, you are lucky enough. No matter how much money you have, you will probably want more. I recall saying to our financial planner that I wouldn’t complain about anything if I didn’t have to go to work every day. Ha! Now I give him advice.

Tell your clients they will have an ocean of time on their hands. Travel brochures will arrive daily while they cashier at the thrift store. And for the first time in their lives, they won’t be tired to go out in the evening. Heck, we can RV our way across America if we have gas money. Book the Queen Mary 2. Refurbish the Love Boat.

A few years ago I was speaking to the Rotary Club in Lewes, and a woman remarked about how many local people don’t have pensions and may never afford retirement. I told her I think about this often, especially since I see so many people older than I am working in the community.

When I retired at age 55 to resume my passion for writing, at first I felt guilty. But then my husband reminded me about all those years I spent in the classroom taking care of other’s needs. We saved more than we spent.

Now I know I am one of the fortunate who get to choose to read a book or take a walk or simply sit still for a while. Everyone would like more money, but I just want to go dancing. OK, maybe I would finish off the upstairs, but that’s only because I want the whole family to feel comfortable for Christmas. My husband says there are lots of area hotels which need the business. I hate logic.

Next week’s topic: Why do women live longer than men?

Send your opinions to Lisa at lgraff1979@gmail.com.