I’m sure most of you have seen the commercials for Dos Equis beer that have been running the last several years. They feature an actor depicting “The Most Interesting Man in the World.” I love these commercials and enjoy the way in which the humor is played straight. Having just returned from a long and adventurous trip through the Caribbean, South America, Central America, and Mexico, I have a real candidate for the “Most Interesting” title. His name is Dr. Herbert Schub.

As a friend and frequent traveling companion, it’s clear to me that Herb should at least be considered for the title. Let’s look at his qualifications. Although he could retire, he continues his career as a teaching physician at a bay area hospital. He charms all the women he meets yet is completely devoted to his beautiful wife. Herb is always in learning mode with history being his favorite topic. He is a fitness fanatic and never misses his daily workouts that would put younger men to shame. His diet is controlled and carefully selected. He has an incredible sense of humor and a gift for telling jokes and stories complete with dialects and gestures. While traveling, in addition to his workouts, he attends lectures, takes dance lessons in the afternoon, dresses in a tuxedo for dinner, takes in the evening shows, and finishes the night socializing and dancing. In the case of our most recent travel adventure together, his activities also included boating in Aruba, zip lining in Costa Rica, and parasailing in Cabo San Lucas to name a few. If Dos Equis ever needs a replacement for their commercials, I think Herb should definitely be considered.   

When we reach retirement age, there is always the temptation to take our foot off the gas a little. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but we may miss so much of what life has to offer. It doesn’t have to be a great adventure to foreign lands to get motivated. Each day in retirement, my goals are to continue learning, seek new experiences, see new places and meet new people, and help those in need. As you age, you often meet people who tend to live in the past, as though their lives are over. Both my wife and I try very hard to look forward, to what the new day will bring. We love to be around others who do the same. It’s the only way to live.