h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I regularly haunt digitaldreamdoor.com to consult lists of great composers and performers for all periods from the 14th century to last year. They have comprehensive lists of great symphonies, choral works, string quartets, concertos, and instutrmental duos. On the popular side, they have many different subdivisions of rock music, but no country music at all . My pop collection is strong for the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, but weak in the 1950s, 1990s, and 2000's. I need to add James Brown, who was strong in almost all those decades. I have a very strong collection of soft rock, but almost no metal. I've already listened to and ruled out AC/DC.

Even Thunderstruck?

I haven't heard of Thunderstruck before. I've heard of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motley Crue, Guns and Roses, and Metallica because they regularly find themselves at the top of lists of bestselling artists and greatest metal bands lists. Quantity and quality. But I don't know whether I like them well enough to hear them more than once until I listen to them. I might like everything I hear, or I might dislike all of them. Probably somewhere in between.....

You've been retired for six months? (post 5)

Make the most of your leisure - it's lasted too damn' long already... this little boy is busier now than ever was. (consistently busy, that is - rather fewer panic/intensive sessions but, overall, less free time).

Retirement can be a time when you finally reach goals you've been putting off because you've been to busy with work. Seeing the world, for instance.Or learning a new language. Or Doing volunteer work in the community. The list is different for each of us.

For me there was a striking irony: After years of helping other people figure out what to read but not having time to read as much as I wanted, now I can read much more. I may eventually actually know something.

At the moment I am considering a number of trips:

An old friend of mine is celebrating his 60th in Spain and has invited me to come to the party. I could fly down there for a whole week and see the sights while I'm there anyway.

Another friend/colleague has invited me to fly up to visit him on the Faroese Islands.

Yet another friend will want to see me in Portugal - probably next spring - and a few other friends are planning to take a trip to the Netherlands next spring also.

Choices and decisions - sometimes I hate my life

Thunderstruck is one of AC/DC's songs. If you don't mind me calling them songs.

I retire in 6 years. Is there anything I should be doing now? (apart from checking my pension data is in order and doing the church music course I'm doing - to earn a couple of extra bob and keep me busy with playing the organ in church and stuff)

Thanks for explaining. I know so little about this kind of music that I don't even know how to ask decent questions.

It seems funny, though, that some of the hard rock groups I like get put into some of the same lists as the heavy metal groups. Logically, there would be some that I like. I just haven't heard them yet. I don't listen to pop radio stations. I was kind of hoping to have a collection big enough and varied enough to substitute for that. I'm learning,little by little. The further I get into retirement, the more isolated I will become unless I counteract the process.

TC - You are right to check your pension data to check what your income will be when you retire. Having done so, you have the time to spend a year living on that income. You may find that you can retire earlier than you thought.

Well said, AB

Too many neglect their pension data and the reality can be a shock for some

Others may be pleasantly surprised, though

I've found that once you've crossed the line and gone into retirement you stop asking: "How can I get more to improve my life?"
Instead you now improve your life by being grateful for the you've got and thinking twice before using them.

I hope this makes sense? It is such a nicer approach to life, the universe and everything! For me it is, anyway. My income is now approximately one third of what it used to be - but taxes, trade union subscriptions and quite a lot of other expenses are also lower now.

Add to this that you are free to do what you please. You don't have to w*rk, you can sleep in - and you don't have to fear being made redundant

Yesterday's "Boston Globe" had an article about the rising costs of long-term care insurance. Many elderly and near-elderly people are finding that they are being priced out of coverage. That means they will be more likely to exhaust their assets and fall back on the state for end-of-life care.

You've just mentioned one of the greatest advantages by living in a country like Denmark, paulh

I'm not nationalistic, I just prefer our welfare system with its national health care etc. (There are a number of other things about my country that I dislike wholeheartedly.)

The old and elderly here have experienced downsizing and there will likely be more, but the principle that we all help everybody in need via taxes will be maintained.

It has been suggested that rich pensioners should pay for whatever they need themselves and that rich people should pay more taxes and I'm fine with that, but there isn't that much difference between rich and poor people here to begin with so I guess we'll all have to chip in with more taxes also.

If I ever get a malady that my HMO won't cover, can I move to Denmark, Pierce?

You are welcome

Can I lead an expedition to find Grendel?

Yes, but leave his mother to me

You are welcome to her. I hear that she's not especially gentle if you cross her.

Crossing her was never on my mind

Must go see Helpless for a routine check

After that I believe it's time for an early at my favorite café