POTD: Milestones
When you turn 16 you can get your driver’s license, when you turn 18 you can vote and drink (in the old days) and, if you’re a guy, be drafted (also in the old days). When you turn 21 you can drink now, rent a car, gamble in Vegas, and a number of other things. After that there aren’t any major milestones for many years. Retirement is a big one. I took early retirement from my paying job when I turned 55, others will wait until 65 or later. Not much to look forward to after that (Medicare of course).
But I hit one other milestone today that I’ve looked forward to for some time. When you turn 62, you qualify to buy a lifetime pass to all national parks and monuments for the small charge of $10. Living so close to Yellowstone Park, it’s a heck of a deal–especially given a day pass is $25 and a yearly pass is $80. So we packed up the car and headed to Yellowstone yesterday where I purchased my pass and we went for a hike up Rescue Creek under beautiful sunny skies.]]>
Congrats! So- got mine in April. I drove into town on a Wed. Went into the FS office to apply. The Supervisors office has a visitors center. It was closed- earlier that day with no info when it would reopen. Cause of security and downsizing there are no receptionists anymore, but there is a phone to call and folks would come down and meet you. The first 2 people I called had old voice mails so I kept calling up the chain of command and got hold of the Staff Officer for Recreation, Watershed, Minerals, Information services etc. Tom is an old buddy. He came down and told me that they had closed the visitors center earlier in the day because they had “removed” a disgruntled employee and thought it would be safer to close it for a while. He got a key, took me back and issued me the card ( low friends in high places). Saw many of my old co-workers who kept saying ” Boy, you’re smart, you got out just in time”. I remember when I started in ’77 the old ranger consoled me with “This outfit ain’t !%$# anymore, like the good old days” Sounds like a song. Enjoy the pass!
Congratulations and Happy Birthday yesterday 🙂
Congratulations, Larry! That’s a great birthday present from Uncle Sam! 🙂
What a deal! I know you will get your money’s worth! 🙂
Thanks everybody, especially Uncle Sam!