Eleanor Smith

Updated June 2011...

Only Susie Lillard Hale, Maryanne Lillard, Jeff Aronson, Linda Finer, and Andy Powell (class of 64)know that I moved to Maine for work and eventual retirement in 2008. But here I am, on my 6th career and my last adventure toward Medicare coverage (I can only hope) and happy as a clam. I live on a river to Casco Bay in Brunswick and spent last year, before buying my home, in Portland. Winters are harsh but no where near as scary as the ones I spent in Minnesota during the ealy 70s. My son, Matt, lives in San Francisco and will never leave, barring an earthquake that is so totally destructive that he must escape via a sea-kayak or sailing boat (which he tells me he's 'saving for' ??). But I see him, either there or here, every other year and we talk weekly. I don't hope anymore for grandchildren.

I am single, but Andy comes up every other weekend to visit and partake of Maine's beauty.

We both explore its bays and inlets and he feels as tho he is on vacation while here. I couldn't be more content. My house is only 1000 sq foot, so how could I be expected to share? Was this a premeditated purchase???

I was lucky enough to train in health-care after my divorce, and so I don't have fearfullness about the future. I only fret about how long Medicare is going to survive! I will work until I can't. THIS is the survival-call of our generation/class of '65 -- working until we can't any longer, if we are lucky and healthy enough to do so.

I code medical records at Maine Medical Center in Portland and am so happy in this field. I can't be fired because the revenue stream starts with the coder. Job security at its finest! That is, until Obama Care becomes the law of the land, in which case I am a victim of any "unintended consequences" of that law.

And I don't have a clue as to what those consequences might be. So, time to retire might be the way I will look at life next year, or the year after.

I am, of course, the oldest in my department. But my younger co-workers have figured out that "old" doesn't necessarily mean 'dotty'. And so I can't complain about anything. I sometimes wish that I could simply look forward to 65 and Medicare with an "AMEN" and be done with the penny-pinching and budget-scraping that brought me here. I don't hold my breath. But I am so glad to be in New England with whatever four seasons brings me each year. And I look at the water every day...

Ellie