RICHMOND – After 48 years of mostly government service, retirement looms for U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, 71. “I haven’t had a day since I announced that I was going to leave that I thought, ‘I wish I had another 7½ years.’” Blunt spoke last week at the office of the Richmond News and The Excelsior Springs Standard. He said deciding to “retire” did not come on a whim. “That’s the longest decision you make in politics – the Senate decision,” he said, “because it’s two years for the campaign, and if you win, it’s six years after that.” Blunt is looking ahead. “I’m kind of a ‘next chapter’ (person),” Blunt said. After a “retirement” sabbatical, the former Southwest Baptist University president plans to open that next chapter. “I don’t think I need much of a break. ... I don’t have enough hobbies to successfully retire.” Blunt started in public service in 1973 as the Greene County clerk, won the Missouri secretary of state seat in 1984, won the 7th Congressional District seat in 1996 and…