The "Plan B Initiative"
I've had several discussions with some of my friends recently regarding our so called "Golden Years".
They aren't looking all that fucking "golden".
For a variety of reasons unique to each of us, we find ourselves with the following circumstances in common.
1: No retirement savings. No 401K. No inheritance. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Once we quit working and the paychecks stop coming in, we are well and truly fucked. We are all living paycheck to paycheck so the end will come swiftly and without mercy.
2: We are all in our early/mid/late 50's and our 60's are looming ominously large.
3: None of us have a Significant Other or see any likely prospects on the horizon.
4: None of us are particularly keen on the idea of living the rest of our lives alone, in Section 8 Housing, living from Social Security check to Social Security check at the whim of the fucktards in Washington who don't give a flying fuck about any of us.
So we've been informally entertaining the idea of returning to our Hippie roots and starting what we call "The Plan B Initiative".
The basic idea is that if we reach "a certain age" (which we each define differently), still don't have a "Significant Other", and are faced with a drastic change in lifestyle, we can pool our resources and form our own micro retirement community. What we used to call a Commune. But with more responsible finances, better hygiene and less patchouli.
We haven't worked out all of the kinks yet. In fact, we haven't even discussed any of the kinks. We are barely past the "yeah, it might come to that" level.
But let's look at the options:
1) Living alone on the edges of substinence until we die.
2:) Living in a low rent retirement home full of ancient, demented strangers.
3:) Being a burden on our children.
4:) Forming a small community of friends with shared goals, shared values and shared resources.
I vote for Option 4.
We have about 10 years to come up with a plan and iron out the wrinkles. I think we can make this work. It's at least worth a try.