Generically Yours

The good thing about retirement is having the time to pursue all the things that you always wanted to do, like writing the Great American Novel, or traveling to Bora Bora on a tramp steamer. The bad news about retirement is that you now have less money to work with. Whoops. Saving money has become a priority--I constantly look for ways to economize by smart shopping, cost saving energy tips, and short cuts to get to where I want to go.



Pharmaceuticals for instance. Statistics say that one third of all prescriptions are never filled due to the high cost. I find that appalling. A couple of years ago, my doctor prescribed a well known drug which cost, at that time, well over $100.00 per month. Are you serious? I had no insurance drug plan, so I had only half the prescription filled--just enough to give me time to research other options.

• Research the Brand Name

he first thing I did was research the brand name prescription. What was the main ingredient? What was it supposed to accomplish? Was there a generic equivalent? I searched on the internet (how did I ever exist before Google?), and I found out that, yes, there was a generic medication. Whoo, hoo!

• Check with Your Physician

Of course, you absolutely need to check with your physician about using a generic equivalent to the brand name drug. Make sure you ask your physician about the efficacy of the generic prescription compared to the brand name--you want to make sure that the generic will help you every bit as much as the name brand.

Note: It is always good to have open communication with your doctor so you feel comfortable discussing anything that concerns you. You have the right to ask him or her about using cost cutting measures like "Can I use this generic in place of the brand name?" If he or she gives you the green light, then you can save yourself a bundle.

• Research "The Lists"

Now, some people have used the same pharmacy for years and are unwilling to change. And that's fine. Getting a generic prescription at your particular pharmacy will still save you lots of cash. However, if you really want to go for the gold, check "THE LIST". After I found the generic equivalent of my pricey brand name, I immediately went on the WalMart and Target websites to check out the drugs on the $4.00 list. These are medications that cost ONLY FOUR DOLLARS! The generic medication that I needed was on the list, and my story has a happy ending--instead of being socked $100 per month, I only pay $4! I am putting the savings toward writing workshops, travel, and spoiling my grandchildren.

Next: Negotiating Medical Care

Taking a Step, Falling Down, and Crashing Through Barriers

Well, the day is finally here-I am going to start an on-line class on how to become a freelance writer. I have put up many barriers to chasing the writing dream--I can't do it now because of work; I can't do it now because we have to look for a house; I can't do it now because I have to watch Ice Road Truckers on The History Channel. Aren't these just lame excuses? I think that the real reason for not taking the step is facing the fear of tripping and falling face first along the way. What if I can't write? What if I get writer's block? What if no one wants to read what I do write?



I watched a pledge drive on our local PBS channel about taking away barriers that keep you from realizing your dreams. Today I am going to crash through the barriers and take the first step. I may trip; I may fall; I may even get bruised a little or a lot. I think that the secret is to get up and keep moving. Take a deep breath and go!

Of Storms, Miss Procrastination, and King Crab

We have gotten 16+ inches of rain since last Saturday--now it's sunny and humid. I used the "Gee, I need to build an ark" joke until I got sick of it. Ormond Beach got so much water that residents were advised not to flush their toilets. Bleeech! Not visiting OB for a while.


Trying to find indoor activities in an outdoor area has been difficult, but not impossible. I spent hours this week writing lists of what I should do--read, write, think deep thoughts. The rest of the time I procrastinated. I am the champ at that. I used to make up songs about procrastination, and I elected myself Miss Procrastination of whatever year it happened to be.



Fortunately, there is a Deadliest Catch marathon on the Discovery Channel and my crown as Queen of Put-Off-Until-Tomorrow is safe. Right now I am watching the ocean cowboys of the Northwestern, Cornelia Marie, Time Bandit, and the Maverick race to deliver their loads of King Crab to the processing plants in Alaska. I'm going to cut this Blog a little short--they are about to crown the winning captain in the Most Crab Per Pot Contest!

Retirement, Short Sales, and the Big Stress

Well, it's been August since I last posted--so much for the "I'm going to write every day" goal. A lot has happened since I last blogged--I really retired, and I am planning a move to Georgia from Florida. Can you say "Let's choose two of the biggest stressors in life and voluntarily jump right in"?

After many years of teaching, I finally retired on May 7th. Love it, love it, love it! I can now do everything I always wanted to do, right? Oh, wait--now I have no money, so forget the summer in Europe, the writing workshops, conferences, and retreats. Never thought of that, did I? I suppose it goes right along with the Scarlett O'Hara Complex that I wrote about last year. Ah'll just think about it tomorrah y'all.

Oddly enough, that transitions nicely into my second stressor--moving to Georgia. Everytime I go the the Atlanta area and pass by the Jonesboro exit off of I-75, I think about Scarlett and her charming way of procrastinating. We found a nice starter home in the middle of Barrow County--about 15 miles from Athens. It is out in the country and is in a very peaceful setting, but the journey from here to there has been filled with potholes and roadblocks. The house is a short sale and is subject to approval by both the sellers and the banks. Let me tell you, if you want to get into a house in hurry, don't pursue a short sale. We have been waiting for final approval for over 2 months--every time we think that we are coming down the home stretch, something happens to postpone the closing. AAAAHHHH! It's all good.

Back to retirement. I have seen so many people retire and the die within a few months. Did they retire because of poor health, or did they develop problems because they retired? This is the "Chicken or the Egg" conundrum. Of course, on the day of my retirement, I had to go to the doctor because I thought I was having a heart attack. It was a false alarm, and I am wondering if the way I view retirement caused the symptoms I had. Cool, now I'm retired, but I have become a neurotic hypochondriac.

I am setting goals for myself--I have signed up for an on-line writer's workshop on Freelance Writing, I bought a number of reference books, and I subscribed to Writer's Digest. That ought to do it. Now I just have to actually write. And I am. And I found out something about myself--I think I am going to like retirement.