Personal Finance and Investing

(putting off collecting till later).....


I might not live that long. Not to be morbid or depressing or anything, it's just a fact. There's a history of heart disease and arterial afflictions on both sides of my family. Dad and mom died of almost identical strokes, about 15 years apart. My fathers father died of a heart attack at age 60 or so (I'll be 60 in May)

Don't know too much about my mom's side, as she was adopted. I do know her father was a drunkard however, and all of us kids have addiction issues, mostly smoking and alcohol.

I finally quit for good in April. Started smoking when I was 17, quit for 3 years in 2000 and after 3 serious COPD episodes in 60 days last spring, culminating in a 7 day hospital stay in April, I quit.

But....the damage is done. I'll slowly get more lung capacity over time, but I am seriously high risk now. I've gained weight and I am a trucker, a rather sedentary occupation.

The point is, I don't really see any long term advantage to putting off collecting. If I live to the point where it the difference becomes a wash on the amortization schedule, so to speak, I will consider myself damned lucky.


So.....I figure what the hell! Another grand or $1200 a month or whatever it is will pay the rent and whatnot, allowing me to put more away into savings and then do the traveling I want to do.

I appreciate your observations, however. Thanks.