I saw an ex-colleague of mine when I was working in the charity shop this week. She had just finished her last day at school and so had retired! So how am I finding it, three years in?
I think I am happier than I have ever been – much more relaxed and the only stress is about workmen and when they will come and if they will do the work well. Minor worries about holidays – will I get to the coach park/airport on time; what should I take; what will the weather be like….
I feel fit and healthy and have a routine of things to do each week – a timetable for an ex-teacher! – and two more possibles to put in. Then there are a host of other things to do, time to visit or have lunch or coffee with friends, the freedom to not do any activity and go on holiday or visit family. There are occasional days when I am a bit bored or lonely, as I have two days in a row with no activity, hence the “two more possibles”. I don’t want to overdo it and get too tired though. I am also talking to other retired people to find out what they do, in case I want a change from my present volunteering.
I thought I would have a category on this blog called “grumpy old woman” – but haven’t found anything to put in it yet! I am working on it, but can’t find anything to be grumpy about except the weather, of course, but that is a given, being British.
I have found things to fill chunks of time, I have got to know more people and some of them provide stimulating company and I have found several roles, or perhaps found that I don’t need a role in the same way. I suspect that I have also slowed down – which is good in some ways, but not when I have tasks to do.
Our rector is retiring in the autumn and said he talked to a vicar who had just retired to find out what it was like. Apparently he said that after a few weeks he was in tears! I can see why he might be, but given time to sort out ones life and activities there is a way to retire actively and gracefully.
So was retiring a good thing? YES!!!!