Hire a Geezer, But Not Me

This week I'd like to put in a few good words about that incredible, varied and often funny pool of talent which is found only in our Geezer Tribe. Oh sure, young people are great and we're really glad they are working to help support us in our old age but some of us would like to help out too.

OK, I'll agree that not all of us want to work. Retirement is a real hoot for some of us. Whether we are sitting here in the rain or enjoying the sun with friends in Arizona, Palm Springs, Hawaii or Mexico. There are a lot of us who spend some of winter in the sun and work or save all summer-long to support winter. I think this is a great thing because you keep in touch and share your good times with the rest of us! I do wish you could help with arthritis though.

Meanwhile, back here in ordinary land, I'd wager that more than 50% of us read the help wanted ads every week. Why? Part of it is because the ads are there and we're a little curious because we worked for most of our lifetime to date. That sort of thing gets to be a habit and habits, as we all know, are darned hard to break. We are wired to work.

Many of us really need a job because the glory days of Social Security are not all they are cracked up to be. Without another source of retirement income, things can get a little thin from month to month. Add in increasing food and drug costs and a little part time job starts to look pretty good.

Those help wanted ads kind of help us get an idea of how things are going out in our communities. Sometimes the answer is, "Sorry, there are no jobs for you." Sometimes we can find something that fits or an opportunity to get our foot through the door (figuratively speaking, please) by volunteering in an area where we have special skills.

We have lots of those skills because we've lived long enough to learn a bunch of them. Depending on how long you've been retired before job hunting, you might want to leave some of the newer things you've learned at home. You'll know which ones but just in case... don't wear jammies to an interview.

I'm one of the ad readers. In each case I try to put myself in the job as it is described. Often, it is very clear to me that my skill base is left wanting or it is already worn out or dented.

This week I found a fine example of this. I saw an advertisement asking for a person specializing in customer service for the City of Bay City. It's a part time job. What they want is a person to resolve issues and complaints with their customers. An ombudsman or woman... a peacemaker and diplomat who would go to homes to discuss water, sewer or zoning issues and more.

Part-time is great. I liked that, except on Monday I have coffee here with my friend and wash bedding. Tuesday I do infusions and write this column. Wednesday I go to town if I HAVE TO. Thursday I clean house which also means I'll clean on Friday too because I'm slow. We usually have company for dinner at least once a week so I have to do serious, hours-long cooking sessions on some days. Now we're up to Saturday and I haven't gone to work yet but I can't because folks will come 'round.

The Bay City job is right up my alley though. I was a problem-solver for years. I've seen tonsils while people screamed at me about issues. I kept my cool but the antifreeze began to drain out and all that is left is necessary for keeping track of the Shaffer household and its subsidiaries. The idea of being a discusser with an upset discussee makes me twitch.

Finally, the all-wise Mr. S put his foot down. "You have a job," he said, "and it is ME!" No commute, he's tonsil-free and usually easy to keep happy. I'm home. And he has a great dog that I get to share.

Now, back to you. If you want to work I'm a huge fan of the power of Geezers and so are a lot of employers. Look around at the numbers of us who are working and enjoying it. Also look out for those who are working and really shouldn't be. Either way... we need to take care of each other and ourselves. It's the Geezer Tribe way.