Retirement plan pays off for bike enthusiast
“I made up my mind when I was young that I was going to retire early. And I did it. I retired last August after 33 years with LyondellBassell, just as I was fixing to turn 57.
“Never been married. No kids. But I was married to my job, I believe. I was one of those guys that liked money. Others my age wanted off all the time to run around, goof off, and waste money. Not me. I wanted to make money. So I always volunteered to take their shifts. I worked holidays. I was an overtime freak.
“And I tried to play things smart by investing in everything I could out there. I wanted to pay everything off as soon as possible. I didn’t want to have any bills. I didn’t want to owe anything to credit or loan companies. In the end, I pretty much accomplished what I set out to do.
“When I was going to work, I would leave the house by about 4 in the morning. It’s still no different. Most days, I’m up at 3:30 or 4. I get a little something to eat, and then I take off on my bike. I love riding when it’s dark out and hardly anybody’s around.
“I ride seven days a week. I go all over town. I cross the Hartman Bridge sometimes and ride in La Porte, or go down to Morgan’s Point. I’m a member of the Dirty Bay BMX Riders, so we’ll ride together. I’ve done the MS 350 to Austin for multiple sclerosis.
“When you’re riding this bike here, it’s like riding a Cadillac. You lean your back against it, and just kind of lose yourself. It relaxes me.
“I never know where I’m going to go or what I’m going to do. But I have my cell phone with me. I always have money on me. I have things to drink and eat. I have all kinds of tools and patch kits if I ever have a flat. I have lots of music. And I ride until I decide I want to stop somewhere.
“I’m not as young as I used to be, so I work out every day. Matter of fact, I just got done doing all my pushups and squats out there on that floating dock. I do them at home, too, and I work out on a punching bag.
“I live life day by day. I wake up in the morning, kick the dirt off me, and see what the good lord offers me.”
— Jerry Puckett
Jerry and his partner have a shop where they build quarter-mile hot rods and custom bikes.
