Beachcombing

As we grow older, we learn that time is the most valuable commodity in our lives. At the end of this month there will be another visit from the birthday fairy, so I decided that it’s time to create an exit plan.

We saw this on Sunday night as Steve Kroft of the popular TV show 60 Minutes announced it’s time to kick back after 30 years doing almost 500 different segments. That involved producing more than 16 shows per year. For the time being Kroft, 74, and his wife plan to enjoy the sand and surf on Long Island.

Jerry Schubel, 83, announced last week that he too will be retiring from his job as Aquarium of the Pacific president and CEO after 17 years. Most recently his team unveiled the aquarium’s $53 million Pacific Visions wing.

What caught my attention was the unexpected status of “publisher emeritus” for George Economides of the Long Beach Business Journal, apparently due to a stroke. Although there was no formal announcement received, I’ve noticed that his daughter, April, assumed the publisher role in recent months. I’ve always admired George’s excellent work with that publication.

So, these events have me looking ahead to 2025 to find someone who would like to become a newspaper publisher or co-publisher so that my wife and I can spend a little more time with the family and take more vacations. Meeting a deadline every two weeks for the past 19 years means that we’ve produced 494 papers. Delegating that responsibility and kicking back may involve writing columns or even peddling some advertising, but I’d like to pass on meeting the delivery truck every other Friday morning at 4 a.m. and sleep in.

Watching daytime soap operas is not in my future, but selected projects in public relations, advertising and publishing seem to be a viable office activity while staying out of my wife’s hair. My work 30 years ago involved a fair amount of globe trotting while my wife was the homemaker and looking after our children. Now would be a good time for her to enjoy a few extended trips and boat cruises while we’re both physically capable of doing it.

Another part of that five-years-from-now plan would be to downsize from our large home of nearly 50 years. It was perfect for raising three kids, but they’re living independently now, and those extra bedrooms are not necessary.

A condominium with a jacuzzi and nearby Duffy boat would be nice. Maintaining a swimming pool, mowing lawns and dealing with home maintenance issues should be a thing of the past. Someone else can have the joy of semi-annually trimming that large, gumdrop-shaped tree in our front yard.

Our garage has eight large containers of Christmas stuff that could shrink down to one in a condo. Ditto that for the eight hammers, two dozen screwdrivers, two dozen yard tools, one dozen power tools and thousands of nuts, bolts, screws, nails, spare parts, etc. that are necessary as a do-it-yourself homeowner.

Humor time in history (seniors may be the only ones to appreciate this):

With all the sadness and trauma going on in the world, it is worth reflecting on the death of a very important person. Larry LaPrise, the man who wrote “The Hokey Pokey” died peacefully at the age of 83 in Idaho.

The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin. They put his left leg in. And then the trouble started.

publisher@beachcomber.news