Entering the ‘golden years’
By Greg Buckner
Staff Writer | reporter@ogemawherald.com
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Unless you’ve been living under a rock, I’m sure you’ve at least heard that there is a little event going on in London known as the Summer Olympics.
It comes every four years, the Americans slaughter everybody in basketball and someone is getting on a Wheaties box afterward.
While there have been many instances of wonderful moments and some not-so-wonderful ones, like having the tape-delayed results spoiled by your Twitter feed, much of the recent attention has been on America’s golden boy swimmer Michael Phelps and his career record of 22 Olympic medals.
While fellow American swimmer Ryan Lochte’s highlight of the games was his mother’s discussion of his fast-paced love life, Phelps spent his time putting the final touches on his swimming career.
Now at age 27, Phelps is entering a phase of life that many in my generation think of as a pipe dream. That next phase, my friends, is retirement.
Retirement.
Thinking about this really is unfathomable for me. Phelps is only three years older than I am.
He must have a great 401(k) plan with a company match.
Granted, I understand the amount of dedication it takes to drag yourself out of bed before sunrise every morning and jump into the pool for years on end.
But when asked what he wants to do with his newfound time off, Phelps mentioned he really wanted to get into fantasy football. He also said he was going to golf a lot.
Oh, Mr. Phelps, how you pour salt in the wound.
But all joking aside, I can feel for the guy.
He’s spent years of his life working his butt off and now all he wants is a little bit of normalcy in his life.
Things I take for granted in my normal life are things Phelps would kill to do without mobs of people recognizing him as “that swimming guy.”
Phelps mentioned he was almost afraid to stand on a beach on vacation because of his association of water with working.
Vacations are going to be rough on this guy. A weekend sitting at home watching Netflix is going to be his dream getaway.
But all in all, Phelps worked for what he earned and he deserves to enjoy the fruits of his labor.
While I wish I could retire in three years and just travel the world, I don’t have 22 Olympic medals.
Perhaps it’s not too late for me to jump in the pool for a few laps.