Subject: Re: question for Jim
To show you how financially innumerate some people are:

Bill S. in the cubicle next to mine was 63 years old. Motorola has a VSP (voluntary separation = voluntary layoff) with 2 years salary severance pay. We all expected Bill to take the VSP but he didn't.
We said, "Bill, you will retire at 65 in 2 years. They are giving you that entire 2 years of salary right now and you don't have to work. Why aren't you taking it?"

He said, "My house mortgage isn't paid off, so I can't afford to give up my job, I need the salary."

Sure enough, 2 years later he turned 65 and we gave him a nice retirement party.