My Gainfully Unemployed Retirement Blog

No More Rat Race, but Less Cheese

I’m not a financial advisor, and I have no line of products to sell. What I am is an aspiring writer of articles, short stories, and website copy- who is also on a retirement journey.

Retirement came upon me much sooner than expected, thanks to the pandemic shutdowns. Writing about my new experiences then helped to center me, and it still does. My musings are varied- topics that interest me, travels that I take, responses to the world’s happenings. But everything is written in the hope that readers find something that resonates, gives insight, or even provides a laugh.

Please feel free to send comments, suggestions, or tips about your own retirement discoveries to the above email contact. Or use the comment box at the end of each blog. Retirement time can be a large portion of a person’s life. It is much too important to waste, and is much better when shared.

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  Is ICE Coming to Your Neighborhood?
  With ICE (U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement) offices opening in multiple places across the U.S., it’s worth paying attention to what’s already happened in places like Minneapolis–St. Paul. There, increased ICE presence didn’t appear overnight — it started gradually with expanded presence, broader enforcement, and normalizing fear. What began there locally is now repeating nationally. … Continue reading “Is ICE Coming to Your Neighborhood?”
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  The Aloha Spirit of Duke Kahanamoku
  Kuhio Beach Jan 2026 The aloha spirit of kindness and connection was in evidence in a tragic event on June 15, 1925.  That day, the beach at Newport Beach CA was the scene of a tragic boating accident. A fishing vessel capsized while trying to enter the city’s harbor in heavy surf. According to the … Continue reading “The Aloha Spirit of Duke Kahanamoku”
• Who Counts as a Real American?
  Senator Bernie Moreno of OH has proposed an “Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025”– a bill that would require all current dual citizens to choose within one year which citizenship they want to hold. Those who fail to pick will be deemed to have voluntarily relinquished US citizenship. Millions of Americans- both naturalized citizens and U.S.born … Continue reading “Who Counts as a Real American?”
• Seeing Life from Another Side
  Starting a new year always causes me to become introspective. This past year in particular was heavy- marked with deepening political divisions, and repeated acts of violence. There was a massacre at the Annunciation Catholic School church attack in Minneapolis, the killings of 2 young Israeli staff members at a DC museum, the fatalities of … Continue reading “Seeing Life from Another Side”
• War Without Rules? Why ROE & the Geneva Conventions Still Matter
  Photo by Terrance Barksdale There are recent reports of the US military’s follow-on military strikes against boats in the Caribbean that are alleged to be involved in narcotics trafficking. These operations have sparked fierce debate. What rules should govern the use of force in any military operations? What are the international laws, rules of engagement … Continue reading “War Without Rules? Why ROE & the Geneva Conventions Still Matter”
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  Taking A Wizz in Germany
  I just read an article about two determined passengers at the Cologne/Bonn Airport in Germany who’d missed the boarding of their flight to Romania. Not to be dissuaded by their plane now readying for takeoff on the runway, they breached an emergency exit door by breaking the glass covering of an emergency switch. They then … Continue reading “Taking A Wizz in Germany”
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  Benefits & Risks of My AI Digital Double- “Me” Without the Humanity
  Photo by Tara Windstead According to the experts, soon we will all have an AI twin.  More than an avatar that simply mimics your appearance, an AI digital double is built on the digital trail you have created- e.g. in social media, health data, or biometrics. Your AI digital double will replicate your face, mannerisms, … Continue reading “Benefits & Risks of My AI Digital Double- “Me” Without the Humanity”
• The Internet Promised Me Knowledge- AI Lost It In Translation
  Doing any type of research has been greatly transformed in our brave new world. Fact-finding used to take a researcher on multiple trips to a library- those quaint tree-based data repositories of books (the original tablets but with no charger required). For those too young to remember them, encyclopedias were specialized books that contained a … Continue reading “The Internet Promised Me Knowledge- AI Lost It In Translation”
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  Fighting Crime Or Fighting Weeds?
  I’m so very glad that our tax dollars are being put to such noble use— especially in beautifying our nation.  A perfect recent example of this totally cost-effective use of time and resources is the deployment of over 2,200 National Guard troops to D.C. After they heroically battled the legendary massive crime wave emergency in … Continue reading “Fighting Crime Or Fighting Weeds?”
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  A Random Gravity Check
  Photo by Nima Akoy For many seniors, having a “senior moment” is about losing things. Some of my friends will admit that a significant part of their day is spent looking for misplaced phones, glasses, or TV remotes. I, however, refuse to confess that I lose things- preferring instead to think about my multiple searches … Continue reading “A Random Gravity Check”