Chatted with Rodney and Peggy at the 4th of July parade, watched fireworks with Gerry and Darla, and ate dinner last night with Ted and Connie, all of which led me to sit down and write this blog:

The best retirement books—the ones that talk about more than just money—say that good friendships are an important part of the journey.

Gail Sheehy says deepening friendships are a unique strength of this life stage. Leider and Webber say these friends help us see more clearly. And Drs. Rowe and Kahn say friends help us live longer (lonely, isolated people are two to four times more likely to succumb to disease).

I say friends—at any stage in life—are fun.

So it’s a retirement goal, not because it’s good for me, but because I can’t help it:

More friends, more often.