An Incomplete Summary of My First (2023) and Second (2024) Year of Retirement
This list was created by ChatGPT and may not include all of my activities. For better quality information see About My Retirement Diary.
1. Travel and Exploration
London Trip (October 2024): Celebrated an early 70th birthday with visits to the Tower of London, Tate Modern, British Museum, and other cultural landmarks.
Cross-Country Road Trip (September 2024): A 16-day solo journey covering 7,226 miles in a Tesla with two dogs, exploring iconic American landscapes.
California Visits (2023, 2024): Enjoyed family time, especially with your granddaughter.
Washington, D.C. (September 2024): Attended a wedding, reconnecting with longtime friends.
Bar Harbor, ME (October 2023): Celebrated an anniversary in Acadia National Park with “The Vanderbilt Crew,” enjoying hiking and stargazing.
Alaska Trip with Gail: July 2023 REI trip to explore Kenai Fjords and Denali National Parks, including whale-watching and wildlife sightings.
Chautauqua Institute, New York (2024): Stayed lakefront with Gail, attended music-centered events.
Vermont (2024): Drove with Gail to witness a solar eclipse.
Boston Museums and Attractions: Visited The Clark, Mass MoCA, MFA, Cooper Hewitt Museum, MIT Museum, The Whitney, and others.
Theater: attend 4-5 plays annually at American Repertory Theater and Central Square Theater.
2. Social Engagement and Community Building
Somerville Neighborhood Potluck Dinner (April and October), organized and sometimes host, 16-25 attendees
Shoot the Shit Salon, summer weekly event in our backyard.
Created REMBrunch: Regular brunches with male friends to support ongoing friendships.
Created REEBrunch: Monthly meeting of retired MIT Club of Boston alumni.
Somerville Council on Aging: Participated in men’s retirement discussions and Senior Walks.
MIT Pickleball League: Created the MIT Club of Boston winter social pickleball league.
3. Lecturing and Intellectual Pursuits
Designing Your Retirement Lectures: Presented at the MIT Club of Boston, Regis College, Cambridge Center for Adult Education, and Robb Center, sharing insights on creating a fulfilling retirement. Designing Your Retirement
MIT Alumni Leadership Conference: Participated in discussions on climate change and future outlooks.
Massachusetts Medical Society: Engaged in a Zoom conference on digital health technologies.
Harvard AI Conference: Explored AI’s role in democracy.
MIT Plasma Science Center Tour: Attended lecture on fusion technology.
MIT Grand Medical Hackathon: Left early due to anxiety triggered by healthcare discussions.
MIT TEDx Conference (2024): Attended presentations.
Psychedelic Intersections Conference at Harvard (2024): Attended conference on research on psychedelics.
MIT Middle East Conference (2024): Attended Tzipi Livni’s talk on regional issues.
4. Essays, Blog Posts, and Short Stories I wrote
2023
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- “A Rational Revision of Capitalism” (December 2023)
- “Designing Your Retirement: A Data Driven Approach” (November 2023)
- “My Anxiety” (November 2023)
- “And She Will Learn Much More Than I’ll Ever Know” (October 2023)
- “Lefty vs. Righty” (October 2023)
- “A Fraught Pre-Thanksgiving Turkey Odyssey Through Camberville” (October 2023)
- “Senator Mitt Romney, An Honorable Politician” (September 2023)
- “Silently Swaying in Room 302” (September 2023)
- “Retirement Update @ 8 months” (August 2023)
- “The Joys of Cycling the Somerville Community Path / Minuteman Bikeway” (July 2023)
- “Bedford to Boston by Bike” (June 2023)
- “His Hubris. Her (The Turtle’s) Story.” (June 2023)
- “Moral Injury: A Physician’s Premature Retirement” (May 2023)
- “The Republican Party’s Path to Power is Predicated on Political Paralysis, Societal Mayhem and Worse” (May 2023)
- “United We Fail, Divided We/They Succeed, A Data Driven Solution” (May 2023)
- “About My Retirement Diary” (April 2023)
- “Governors Must Prioritize Health Above the Supreme Court’s Unhealthful Edicts” (April 2023)
- “Political Thinkers Concerned That Fascism is Coming to America” (April 2023)
- “The Beauty of Math and Physics in Nature” (March 2023)
- “A Thought Experiment: Biden’s National Unity Government with a Republican VP” (March 2023)
- “Retirement Update @ 3 months” (March 2023)
- “Fascism is Coming to the U.S.A.” (March 2023)
- “Our Illegitimate, Illogical, and UnAmerican Supreme Court” (February 2023)
- “One Physician’s Frustrations Practicing Amidst the CHIPHIT Complex” (February 2023)
- “Fewer Guns = Fewer Gun Deaths, There is a Solution…” (January 2023)
2024
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- “A Just and Durable Two-State Resolution to an Ancient Conflict” (October 2024)
- “Solo Road Trip: 16 days, 7,226 miles, in a Tesla with 2 Dogs” (September 2024)
- “Harris Walz 2024” (August 2024)
- “On My Failure to Acquire Meaningful Social Relationships” (August 2024)
- “The Wonderful Whoriskey Clan” (July 2024)
- “Letter to My Political Representatives: Help, Democracy is Slipping Away!” (July 2024)
- “Anyone But Biden” (June 2024)
- “Massachusetts Must Prioritize Health Over Supreme Court Edicts” (June 2024)
- “ChatGPT: The Winner of the 2024 Presidential Election will be…” (May 2024)
- “Am I An Artist or A Maker?” (April 2024)
- “Boston Globe article on Somerville Community Path Creations” (April 2024)
- “Totality’s Duel Dawns: My Great Eclipse Adventure of 2024” (April 2024)
- “Handcuff Our Rogue Supreme Court” (March 2024)
- My Retirement Diary 2023 and My Retirement Diary 2024
5. Creative and Artistic Projects
Woodworking: See HZCreations
Rocking Chair for a 5-Year-Old
Picture Frames: Created a slated walnut frame, ripple frame, and frames with brass and wood accents for Gail’s self-portraits.
Wood Platter: Completed a platter using the “coaster technique.”
Rebuilt Elly the Elephant: Enhanced durability of this sculpture along the Somerville Community Path.
Cycling Wind Muffler: Developed a third version using a nylon-elastane blend (2024).
Photography: Continued taking photograps and adding to “My Universe” collection of interesting photos collected off the web, now >3,000 interesting photos
Boston Globe Feature (April 2024): Recognized for sculptures along the Somerville Community Path. Link here.
6. Exercise
Cycling: Regular rides on the Somerville Community Path – Minuteman Bikeway.
Walking: Attended regular Senior Walks through the Somerville Council on Aging.
7. Family Gatherings
California Trips: Visited to spend time with family, especially granddaughter.
July 4 Family Gathering in Scituate, MA
Thanksgiving Family Gatherings.
8. Age-Related Changes
Memory Issues: Noted occasional short-term memory lapses, acknowledging potential decline.
Aging and Physical Changes: Compared the body to a “mechanical device,” experiencing natural wear and tear.
Cardiovascular Health: Ongoing monitoring of aortic insufficiency, with considerations for future valve replacement.
Cycling Adaptations: Continued cycling with adjusted pace and endurance, enjoying the activity despite physical limitations.
9. Books Consumed: Books and Audiobooks
This page was last revised on 11/8/2024.
Some of the above text was generated by ChatGPT’s reading and summarizing My Retirement Diaries of 2023 and 2024.