Page 4 The Gunnison Valley Gazette New Horizons Living the Outdoor Lifestyle Thursday, November 20, 2008 Into all the World By CRAIG PAYNE Over a steaming cup of hot cocoa, with ice sickles hanging from the rafters of our home, our son Jaron suggested we accompany him and his girlfriend Jenny on an August bow hunt for deer. To Kerri and I the invitation sounded nearly perfect. A tent camp high atop a secluded mountain range, far from the crowds of camo clad bow totters seeking more accessible terrain. Later on, under the cover of darkness, old Saint Nick left a treasure trove of archery paraphernalia underneath our Christmas tree. Not wanting to wait for summer, we painted our arrows with bright colors that would be recognizable against winters gloomy landscape and headed outdoors to hone our skills. As the seasons changed so did Kerri’s skill level. Her determination never waned and by the August opener she was continually placing arrows in our targets bull’s-eye. As this was Jaron’s idea, he had picked the location and done the initial scouting for game. Kerri and I merely showed up. This was a welcome break for me and my chest swelled with pride as buck after buck was spotted exactly where Jaron said they would be. Jaron and his uncle Jenny, Kerri and Jaron with Kerri’s deer. Shane Harrison had made numerous trips into the high country and we were being rewarded by their diligence. Opening day ended with none of us having an opportunity to fill our tags. Not that we hadn’t seen deer. Around the camp fire that night there were numerous tales of hat rack sized bucks barely out of bow range. Shane and Jaron were being quite selective and passed on several small bucks, while Kerri and I would be happy with steaks on the grill. Shane decided to check out a spot he knew held giant bucks while Kerri and myself opted for another location. Jaron and Jenny decided on yet another direction but vowed to meet Kerri and I later that morning to discuss our findings. Off we went in the pre-dawn darkness, in three different directions headed for who knows where. Not long after sunrise, Courtesy Photo Kerri and I found ourselves surrounded by small bucks. I still am unsure how many there were. Seven or eight. Maybe more. Without hesitation, Kerri sent an arrow on its way and made good on a 30 yard broadside shot. While waiting for the buck to expire, Jaron and Jenny arrived and I am certainly glad they did. After taking up the trail, twice I lost the spoor and it was Jenny who both times relocated it. Jenny and her keen eye are responsible for our recovering Kerri’s deer. Kerri’s buck is not large in stature or antler size but represents a huge milestone in her hunting career. Her first arrow flung at something other than a target ends with the harvest of a beautiful mule deer buck, and helps sustain our family. All of this while surrounded by family and friends. It doesn’t get any better than that. Living the Outdoor Lifestyle is Sponsored by: Elder Jack DeVon Pay is serving in the Minneapolis, Minnesota Mission. He is currently in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He is pictured here doing service for the United Church. He has loved every minute serving the Lord. He will be home in December. Jack is the son of Jackie Pay of Centerfield and the late Bill Pay. Theall Scouting News is Sponsored by Into the World is sponsored by ACE Paints Sporting Goods Whirpool Appliances 528-7513 435 South Main • Gunnison Friends and Family Far From Home? Keep them in touch with hometown happenings! Gift Subscriptions $30 per year anywhere in the Continental U.S. Call 528-5178 to subscribe 528-5001 Hwy 89 Northeast of Gunnison Open Monday - Saturday The First Word and Last Name in Log Homes! Think Satterwhite for Log Homes, Rough Lumber, Timbers, Animal Bedding and Firewood G•I•C AUTO SALES • ‘03 Trailblazer $7,900 • ‘07 Chevy Malibu LS - Only $11,200 • ‘96 Green Blazer - Only $2,400 • ‘07 Silver Mazda 6 - $14,777 - 30,000 miles • ‘07 White Ford F150 $10,500 - 3,500 miles • ‘08 Dodge Diesel 4x4 Only $31,500 8,250 miles Loaded with lots of extras! • 2005 Chevy Classic • 62,000 Miles • Only $5,499 • A great student car! • 2007 Impala Flex Fuel • Only $12,500 Don’t forget to come in and register for the $1000 Do It Best Giveaway! If we don’t have it, we can find it! Stop in and tell us what you’re looking for! Gunnison Implement Co. 51 W 200 N • Gunnison 435-528-7272 Want to retire early? Adjust you investment strategy Submitted by DARIN FRANDSEN Do you want to retire early? Many people do—but they’re not always financially prepared. If you’re thinking of taking early retirement, start preparing for it—as early as you can. To afford early retirement, you’ve got to address at least two key financial concerns. First, by definition, you’ll have more years of retirement to pay for than people who retire later. And second, by retiring early, you’re sacrificing the opportunity to contribute to your 104 (k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan; also, you need earned income to contribute to an IRA. How can you overcome these potential barriers to a successful early retirement? For starters, you’ll need to put as much as you can possibly afford into your 401 (k) and IRA each year—and a greater percentage of the investments in these accounts may need to be in growth-oriented vehicles, such as stocks. Of course, it’s not a good idea to fill your retirement accounts entirely with stocks, given their higher risk and volatility. You’ll also want to add some bonds, certificates of deposit (CDs) and other fixed-income investments to help diversify you holdings. (Keep in mind, though, that diversification cannot guarantee a profit of protect against loss.) Furthermore, if you’re going to retire early, you may well need these fixed-income vehicles to provide you with a more predictable income stream. Remember, however, that since your retirement could last 30 years or more, you’ll still need growth-oriented investments to keep you ahead of inflation, which, over time, can seriously erode your purchasing power. So, a few years before you retire, you may want to review you portfolio to make sure you have the proper balance between “growth” and “income” investments. To afford early retirement, you may also decide to take Social Security earlier than at you full retirement age. Your monthly payments will be lower than if you had waited, so, before you retire, make sure these smaller checks can still provide for some of your needs. And speaking of checks, there’s no reason that early retirement means you’ll never earn another paycheck. If you decide to open a small business, take a part-time job or do some consulting, you can once again contribute to an IRA or even open your own retirement plan, such as a SEP-IRA of SIMPLE IRA. Obviously, the additional income and the ability to con- tribute to a retirement plan can make early retirement more affordable. One final note: If you’re contemplating early retirement, you may want to consult with a professional financial advisor well before you make your move to make sure you’ve saved enough. A financial advisor can also help you decide upon a reasonable annual rate of withdrawal from your investments. You don’t want to withdraw so little that you struggle to make ends meet. Early retirement can be both a challenge and a joy. To reduce the challenge and increase the possibility of joy, though, you’ll need to start planning soon—as in right now. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. IF A COMPANY YOU OWN IS IN THE HEADLINES ASK YOURSELF IF IT SHOULD BE IN YOUR PORTFOLIO. Snap reactions to headlines aren’t usually good ways to plan for your future. But when a stock you own is in the news, you may need some advice. Should you buy additional shares, sell or simply maintain the status quo? Edward Jones can help. We spend time getting to know you and your financial goals so we can help you create and implement a strategy designed to achieve them. To learn our perspective on whether a particular stock makes sense for you, call or visit your local financial advisor to schedule a complimentary portfolio review. Darin K Frandsen Financial Advisor . St George, UT 84770 435-652-3558 www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC