----- Original Message ----
From: Marilyn G.
To:   Ernie Zelinski at Vipbooks
Sent: Sun, August 15, 2010 3:41:11 PM
Subject: Retirement

Hello Mr. Zelinski, Thank you so much for your wonderful book How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free  I am on p. 216 and getting close to the end. I will be 65 on Aug 20 and, at present time, am laid off from a large corporation. There is a good indication that I will soon be re-employed as a contractor.   I have an autistic son who is 40 and is living with me, so I need a little more $$ to retire. Hopefully, will be retiring at 67 or maybe sooner!   One of the big benefits of reading your book is actually doing those healthful things that make my life much better.   I eat well but did not exercise until yesterday. 2 miles of brisk walking. Will continue. I have $$ saved and a small monthly annuity plus SS and no mortgage or CC balance. So indications are good that I will be in great shape.   Keep up the good work. Just think of all those people who you have saved from a life of misery.   Much indebted,   Marilyn and Jason G.

 

 

Hello Ernie:

 

I have read your books on retirement and I thank you for those.

 

But I am stuck. I have worked steadily since college. I have achieved the "dream".

 

At 52 I have an executive position in a fortune 500 company, make a crazy salary and own my own home outright on an 5 amazing acres in Blythewood, SC. I am terrified of retiring, I have established no friends outside of work and am not sure I could make new ones.

 

My wife and I have "a couple million" in financial assets but I worry constantly that no one would leave a job like mine in this economy or that we might run out of money.

 

My wife, Karen, is 56 and has nailed your philosophy. She retired at 50, six years ago and has created her own life. We both survived cancer 4 years ago (yep same year) and my wife turned her life around with that experience and is the definition of How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free.

 

I appreciated every day for a year or so after I beat cancer but I am now back engulfed in the work world. I want to step out of the race and enjoy the best years of my life but I am completely caught up in the daily grind of big business.

 

To the point where I fear I have become addicted to all it entails. I want out — is there any hope?

 

Can I really figure out what to do with these extra 65+ hours a week when I am not working?

 

Can I make friends not related to my business?

 

Thanks again for you books and philosophy.

Jay O. 

 

 

----- Original Message ----
From: sbgarri
To: Ernie Zelinski
Sent: Mon, July 12, 2010 3:17:24 PM
Subject: Thanks

Dear Ernie Z,

 

I bought your retirement book about 5 years ago. It is now dogearred, highlighted, and generally a mess!  It was a salvation. 

 

Every ounce of advice I got about retirement before that focused on money.  Your book made me focus on the life I wanted.  It was all about looking for the "essence" of what enriched me.  Once I got over losing a bundle in the "downturn" of the economy,

 

I simply forged on with the plan your book helped me make. and retired anyway. (You should see my  [Get-a-Life] tree. I used Inspiration software to create it and keep it up still).

 

We ended up in an old double wide on a wild river in north Florida.  Nature is here all the time.  I made friends and find great joy in a no-traffic fishing village. We will never be surrounded by condos or golf courses as we are in the heart of a National Forest 20 miles from a grocery store.  Shopping is greatly reduced when you have to go that far to shop!

 

I sing, paint, swim, bird, garden and generally fill the days successfully.  We travel in our used camper and boat in a vampy old pontoon. I avoid anything that is destructive to joy.  

 

I clearly am reaching my retirement goal to become an eccentric- you said I had to have a goal and there it is.  As far as a purpose, it is to engage others joyfully and provide small kindnesses.  As far as big purposes go, no way--I "gave at the office" for 43 years.

 

The money is taking care of itself.  We just spend less that we take in each month.  Might mean resetting the heat or AC for a week, taking cool showers, eating in or going to free entertainment instead of that which costs a lot.  So what.  I grow food and make 2 meals out of one night out.  It all works. When it's gone, it's gone. Hopefully, I'll be gone, too. If not, well we do have the camper!

 

So, keep up the good work. I recommend your book to everyone I care about - retired or not. 

 

Take care--

Susan G. 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: anabelherre

To: vip books (at) telus ( dot) net

Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 11:37 PM

Subject: To Mr. Ernie J. Zelinski

 

Dear Mr. Ernie Zelinski,

 

Allow me to introduce myself, I am Rolando Feitó,

 

I just had the opportunity to read your book The Lazy Person's Guide to Success (in Spanish) and believe me I am very glad and thankful you for this wonderful book,

 

I found reflected myself in your book, I am a Cuban, and live here in Cuba, and after many years working for the Gov. entity, having no time even to share with my little daughter, I understood that I can work as a freelance. even here in my country, where, unfortunatelly, everything you do can be unlegal, and the private iniciative is not stimulated by the Gov. I am 49 years old, but I am not afraid to start again, and your book encourage me a lot,

 

I want to thank you for your life style approach, that really help me in taken some decision,

 

Next summer I will travel to Russia, I have a son there, and I will try to get your book  The Joy of Not Working, unfortunatelly I can not get it from here, and we have no free access to internet,

 

Thank you again for your helpful advises in your book,

 

Best wishes in this 2010 year, the best for you and your family,

 

Rolando