Joy in Retirement: Celestino

Customer Spotlight

Read time: 3 minutes

For the first 50 years of adulthood, we’re often defined by our roles for others, and the responsibilities that come with those roles. To our family, we’re caregivers, providers, confidants, advice-givers and so much more. At work, we wear as many hats as we do at home. And then … just as our working life is complete, our new life is here.

Retirement.

We can finally live our life more on our terms. And health withstanding, we can find the joy we want in our lives — whatever it is: spending time with grandkids, swing dancing, turning that side hobby into a small business …

At Physicians Mutual, we share in that joy our customers find in retirement. Today, we introduce Celestino F., a man whose life has been defined by joy.

Home Court Advantage

Want to check out Celestino’s basketball moves? Head over to our YouTube Channel where you can watch him show off his All-Star skills — with our very own John Michael Higgins!

It always begins with a smile.

4:30 a.m.

It always begins with a smile.

4:30 a.m.

After the night creatures have begun their slumber and before the endless Arizona sky explodes in a panorama of pinks and purples and orange, Celestino awakens.

Even before his eyes open, he smiles.

At 74, he’s earned the right to sleep in. To take a day off. To let himself cruise. But there’s no sleeping in and no days off for Celestino. His joy compels him.

Deftly, he ties his shoes, grabs his basketball and heads for the door. Today awaits and he shall be among the first to greet it.

Physicians Mutual has my back.

A notorious early riser, the professor insisted on 8 a.m. classes. Each semester, without fail, hundreds of students — often 500+ strong — filled the auditorium to study the nature of social and individual happiness.

Given the numbers, he couldn’t bring coffee to wake up his students. But he’d do them one better by playing upbeat songs or video clips to begin their day — everyone’s day should begin with joy.

For decades it went on like this.

And over the course of his tenure at the university, the professor had probably helped tens of thousands of students understand and find their own happiness.

Joy. A gift of incalculable value.

Quick and lithe, Celestino glides across the recreation center gym floor. A natural point guard, his eyes scan for opportunities to dish the ball. He sees not only where those opportunities are but where they will be.

His dribbles punctuate the hardwood with a sharp crack. Darting between two defenders 30 years younger than him, he zips a gorgeous no-look pass. A stray elbow in the ribs rewards him for his fearlessness. Watching his teammate cruise to an easy layup, he smiles.

Celestino knows the score and the score is wonderful.

To Celestino, family and friends are everything. And to meet him is to be a friend. So when it came time to think about his retirement, it only made sense to talk to a friend.

His wife’s friend, Kim, was an insurance agent.

They met for coffee and her advice was direct and straightforward: go with Physicians Mutual. “You’ll love them,” he recalls her saying.

He’ll keep working here and there. Maybe teach a class or two. Do some consulting work. In between, he’ll write some of his Mexican ballads, Corridos.

And, as always, playing basketball.

“I’m always busy,” he says. “It keeps me happy.”

And when it comes to his insurance, he smiles. He travels often. Sometimes it’s a quick trip across the state. Others, it’s another continent. But wherever he is, he doesn’t feel the need to worry. He has coverage thanks to his Physicians Mutual policy.

“Physicians Mutual has my back.”

And then, as always, Celestino smiles.