Opportunity cost

Opportunity cost is what is given up or "lost" in order to get something else. Life if full of decisions, big and small, all of which have opportunity costs.

I learned the other day of M.'s death. We met when she joined my van pool, and because we lived along the same road, we car pooled to the van pool.

She was a vegetarian. She grew organic vegetables, practiced yoga, and swam laps several times a week. She was very health and diet conscious.

She was also a saver, using the belt and suspenders approach to retirement planning.

She sought stress relief in massage and walks in the woods. She loved garden walks and finding farms to buy produce directly from.  She grew heirloom tomatoes without pesticides, and carefully searched for the "right" variety of plant. 

She disliked her job at the end. There were a variety of reasons, all valid, and none due to her choices.

She died a year and 3 months after she retired. She had planned for the maximum pay out, passed up at least two opportunities for an early buy out, reluctantly left on an increased multiplier, and kept her sick and annual leave time at the maximum pay out amounts--and worked until the last possible day allowable under the agreement.

Sadly she did not live long enough to even see all of the pay out of the time she hoarded. Taken too soon by a rare cancer that was diagnosed shortly after her last day at work.

So in everything there is opportunity cost.

Would it have made a difference? We will never know if a different choice may have had different results. She seemed to be doing everything right, but death does not respect ones plans.

I have thought of her often. She was a good person. The world was a better place because she was here. It is sad that she did not get to enjoy the retirement she had so carefully planned for.

But maybe it was her planning that brought her joy. We can never know if the opportunity cost was worth it for someone else.

The Joys of Grandmothering

It is not often that you can manage to be on everyone's most special person list at the same time.  This week, a little child development expertise, amazon.com, and the desire to be an enabler aligned into the perfect opportunity to make two little boys happy.

GS 1 had just "graduated" from pre-preschool--A play experience for two year olds.  And although he found many things to be not of particular personal interest at "school", he did love the car/train table and the basketball hoop.  In celebration of the event, and to make the summer more fun, Amazon and I sent off a Little tykes basketball hoop.  It not only made his day, it make his week, and likely his summer!  I have an adorable picture of him, a couple of days into hoop ownership, in his pajama bottoms, rain boots, and a t- shirt, shooting hoops in the  backyard early in the morning---without adult interference in either  his outfit or the game.

GS2 was coming off an illness, and I turned to Amazon to help me find a "quite time" recuperation toy.  After reading the reviews, I selected Melissa and Doug magnetic fishing puzzle, and based on GS2's love of "helping", a wooden tools puzzle and book about a tool box.  2 puzzles and a book arrived just in time for his return from the hospital, and I thought it would be a nice relaxing activity.

Upon opening the box, according to mom, the book was tossed aside, and the puzzle got an approving "Ohhhh".  Once the over wrap was removed, and the pieces dumped out, GS2, grabbed the screwdriver (his favorite tool) and instead of looking for the right space on the puzzle, got up and ran outside, to use the "new" screwdriver to tighten some screws on the deck!!  Although I am unsure of the affection for the book, the fishing puzzle has been fun for parents and child alike, and of course the tool puzzle as multiple uses.  Thanks again to Amazon and their parent reviews for making me a better enabler!!

Two orders, two happy boys!!  100% satisfaction. 

It has been awhile...

Since a visit with GS 2.  He lives far away, and the Internet is cheaper than an airline ticket...face time causes procrastination in travel arrangements. 

So last week we experienced the adorableness.  The favorite word is "no" , used frequently, and with many shades of emphasis.  The physical ability exceeds the mental awareness of danger.  The mental processing makes connections at light speed to things you did not know he was paying attention to.  Although it seems to rarely happen, his parents got one "just like them". 

He is on warp speed, full steam ahead until he drops.  He attacks each new (and old) adventure with an enthusiasm and gusto that is both endearing and exhausting.  His baby blue eyes have a million expressions, most cleverly designed to manipulate others into doing his bidding.  He knows what he wants--and he literally runs after it.

He is beginning to command language--beyond the "no".  Cake is "happy", because at his mothers recent birthday (featuring cake, of which he discovered he is fond of) included singing of "happy birthday".  So "happy" became his current nomenclature for cake and cake-like items--which was explained the night before when a complimentary cake arrived at our table following dinner, and captures his until then restless tolerance of adult dining.   

And as Grandmother, what do you get the child who has it all?  The answer came to me in the aisle of Target---sprinkles for his nightly treat--ice cream.  What kid doesn't like sprinkles?  It is small, inexpensive, disposable, and "fun"--a gift to please parent and child alike (and probably some dentist in the future).   So as I present this to him that evening, adding it to his mini-cone, he exclaims "Happy!!!"  and with some translation help from mom, we decode the association with the sprinkles on the birthday cake---So, we now have "Happy!" on our ice cream.....and to make your heart melt, he holds up the licked Ice Cream---and says---Dad-dy, more Happy!!!! and bats the blue eyes pleadingly.

Who could not give the kid more sprinkles????