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Retire Early
Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler
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In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age
of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this
financially independent lifestyle, they invite you
to take advantage of their wisdom and experience. |
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Chasing
the Sun
Billy Kaderli
Sunset Lake Chapala
I’m a numbers guy. Numbers
are fun. I am constantly playing with “what if” scenarios on a calculator or
computer.
One thing Akaisha’s passing
taught me is that at my age, we’re all skating on ice in the spring.
Are you feeling lucky?
Dolly Parton made it a year
and a half after her husband died, which got me thinking about my own future.
Being the primary caretaker takes more out of you than you realize. I know I
gave my all to Akaisha, and I am happy and proud to have done so.
So I asked Doc Grok what I
can statistically expect in the years I have left:
When a spouse of 48 years
passes, what is the statistical number of years a 73-year-old husband lives?
“A 73-year-old man in the
United States currently has a remaining life expectancy of about 13.7–13.9 years
according to the latest CDC period life tables (2024 data).
Because he is newly widowed,
that figure is reduced. Studies that separate marital status show:
Married men age 73: ~12.8
additional years
Widowed men age 73: ~11.7
additional years
The difference is roughly
1–1.5 years.
The extra mortality risk is
highest in the first 3–6 months after the wife’s death and then declines, but a
modest elevation persists. Bottom line: After a 48-year marriage that ends when
both partners are 73, the statistical expectation for the surviving husband is
approximately 11–12 more years, with the first year carrying the greatest risk.
Individual health, support, and lifestyle can shift that number substantially in
either direction.”
I’m not sure I have a lot of
confidence in the CDC numbers, but they are way better than I expected.
The key is taking good care
of myself in these first years. I’m determined to beat those odds, but I know
math doesn’t lie. Which is why I’m trying to get back on the bike as soon as
possible, with confidence.
As you know, I am still
making simple mistakes with everyday living, but I am moving ahead each day.
I’m looking forward to once
again chasing the sun. Not that Chapala is a bad place to land—I just have more
places to go.
Now I just have to watch out
for the bus—or, in my case, an e-bike that recently hit me going the wrong way
in a bike lane.
Running out of time or money.
In the end, it’s the same.
Billy
Retire
Early Lifestyle appeals to a different
kind of person – the person who prizes their
independence, values their time, and who doesn’t
want to mindlessly follow the crowd.
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