Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Bank Block

Here on Middle Street a look up is in order today. Life moves on. This block is no longer affiliated with Casco Bank or any other bank for that matter. It is a good solid building with some classic architectural design, as you can see. And in the evening, the holiday lighting in the upper windows is just an added touch of ambiance to this stretch of buildings. Once a bustling bank that serviced what was to become known as the Old Port area in the 70's, today it's lawyers' offices and such living out another life. Life moves on. Retirement on a comfy couch used to be the dream. Today, when and how to make the move is part and parcel to this dream. If indeed, it is a dream and not a minor nightmare. They say it's the next phase of your life. We'll see soon. I do know, like many today, it'll be all about 'still standing' but used in a different way. The couch will not be an option.

18 comments:

  1. Couch? In retirement? Heck, we've been busier in retirement than we were when we were working...but, and here's the nice part - now we're busier doing things we really want to do rather than things we have to do. Usually. Not always. Sometimes. Maybe.

    I'm going to stop now or I'll talk myself into going back to work!

    Nah. See you on the golf course!

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  2. Retiring to a couch doesn't sound all that appealing to me, actually. I think it's far healthier to remain active. Just saying.

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  3. Neat old building. There's something to be said about couches, just not on an all day daily basis!

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  4. I want to lie on a couch NOW!!! Fat chance..

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  5. I'm with EG! I intend to stay active.

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  6. The couch is not an option for me either.
    Costas

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  7. New leases of life are better than decay in my opinion. I would love a couch for a couple of days, that's all.

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  8. I could use a couch for the next few days please!

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  9. Love the angle and the light here - what a solid, admirable building - and love that you caught it with its Christmas lights.

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  10. Today, people in retirement CAN live longer and more fruitfully IF they stay engaged and skip too much time on that couch. Like, maybe, running around taking pictures.

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  11. I hope I can spend my retirement running around taking pictures full time. That would be heaven.

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  12. You got that right. I wonder if I will ever be able to retire as long as I am healthy enough to work. Of course, that was the norm throughout human history until quite recently. Retirement is a very modern idea. We may or may not see it ourselves.

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  13. Nice pics, love to see nice old buildings repurposed.

    My Dad retired at an age 7 years younger than I am. He has been very active in volunteer work and travel for a long time. I don't think people can just sit on their butt all the time. I figure I'll be working another 12 years if somebody will have me.

    The younger generations won't be able to support us like we supported the older generations. The ratios of them to us just are not feasible. So we'll have to look out for ourselves. That isn't Republican or Democratic politics that is just the way it is.

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  14. I'd actually like the comfy couch now so I can actually make it to retirement.

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  15. That is an awesome looking building. Love the detail.

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  16. i'm sorry. i missed the memo about the couch being passe. i'm looking forward to spending many hours on mine.

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  17. I'm a little late with my comment but I sure like that brick building with its architectural details and history, Birdman!
    Happy New Year to you and yours

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  18. Just doing some catching up with your blog, Birdman. The trick in retirement is finding a nice balance between the "reading/movie/computer chair" and being up and about discovering and exploring. I say this while just a few months into retirement. There is something to be said for not "having" to get up at 6:00 am when you haven't slept well the night before.

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