Utah Senator Orrin Hatch has been in office a mighty long time. It may be time to take a break, and to enjoy his sunset years.

The Utah Republican just celebrated his 83^rd birthday, and has spent 40 years in the Senate.

He’s apparently mulling over retirement, but he’s not ready to commit, although the decision would be easier to make, if he had someone acceptable to take his place.

He’s up for reelection in 2018, so decision time is upon him.

“I know I made a comment that I’ll likely run for reelection. I haven’t made that final determination,” he said.

“There are a bunch of reasons to do it, a bunch of reasons not to do it.”

The main reason would be you’re 83 years old! Go home!

But I digress.

He mentioned his “wonderful wife,” saying she “put up with me going 18 hours a day back here and then out there in Utah.” He also noted he had established the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation which he has to work on.

“So these are things that are pulling at me,” he said. “If I could get a really outstanding person to run for my position, I might very well consider it.”

And the “really outstanding person” he’s thinking about is 2012 presidential hopeful, Mitt Romney.

“I’ve expressed interest to him,” he responded. “I can see why he might not want to do it, but I can also see why if he did it, it would be a great thing for America.”

If no better (or more conservative) person steps forward, then Romney could very well be a shot of fresh blood needed in the Senate.

For now, however, Hatch insisted in an interview on CNN that his plan was to run, even though that may change.

President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are encouraging him to run, he says, but again, his plans aren’t for certain.

And while it is the people of Utah who keep sending him back to the Senate, it is endlessly bizarre to see the Senate used as a retirement home.

What say you, Mitt?