2018 Tuesday — Fairmount Park

This afternoon we were in Riverside for my appointment at CalSTRS to learn about retirement. My decision is to choose when to retire: June 2019, December 2019, or June 2020.

Then when I make that decision, the next decision is how to take my supplemental income retirement benefit; that’s a fund that accumulates as I have worked overload (basically teaching an extra course, sometimes two, during a semester and anytime I’ve been paid to sub in the Writing Center). It can be taken as a lump sum (and pay huge taxes), or over a period of years, and there is a lifetime allotment, which pays a smaller monthly amount, but will pay for the remainder of my lifetime even if my fund runs out. If I were a mathematician this would be somewhat easier. It feels like a game of speculating and it certainly feels like gambling.

When the meeting ended, we drove a few miles to Fairmount Park so we could walk the dogs. We were there a few weeks ago. It’s a peaceful, lovely place.

Good night from SoCal,
Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka Carol