Today a dead tuna fish arrived in the harbor where I live.

Someone took off the meat they wanted and then tossed it overboard.

It smelled awful and I had to remove it at my wife’s request. I couldn’t smell a thing, by the way.

Living close to nature is relaxing and educational, but sometimes it can be a little unsettling. Like when a large blue Heron almost as tall as I am struts by at high tide outside my sliding glass doors looking for dinner or when something dead and awful smelling shows up uninvited.

Life is full of trade offs, I know that. I also know that I am very fortunate to have made the life choices that put me in the position I now find myself in.

Life is hard at best. I knew that I had to work for my entire life and plan for my retirement along with my wife. Planning helps to make life turn out the way you want it to, but there are no guarantees in life.

If you don’t plan, the harsh winds of life will blow you off course and who knows where you will end up.

If you don’t have a plan yet, start thinking about one with your partner now, if you have one. Stick to it the best you can if it is working and change it as often as needed if it isn’t.

If you are lucky, you will get old. That’s bad enough. But to be old without the resources you need for a safe and pleasant life is a disaster.