This is a weird in-between time for me. I've pretty much come out of the closet about retiring - telling lots of folks. So they will tell others, and everyone will know. But I've got a month still to go, and I rely now on "everything will be different when I go" as my excuse for my pathetic life outside of work. I am doing minimal effort at managing my life and issues, because soon, I'll have time and I'll cope then. I am aware that retiring will not automatically fix everything in my life. Those things I'm not good at in my personal life - I realize I won't magically be on top of everything just because I don't need to go to work each day. But my excuse will be gone. So that'll be interesting to see how I handle that.
I've been seeking advice from retired people. A few things that really resonate: pick one big thing. Don't vibrate between volunteering at the animal shelter and volunteering at the nature center and travelling and visiting and hosting and getting politically involved. Resolve to do one thing, and do it well. Then, maybe, pick up some of the others. But start with one. (I actually have something specific in mind, but it has several aspects to it.) I also have a huge number of self improvement projects in mind, and again, I need to pick one. For starters.
Another piece of advice is don't commit to anything long term right away. Do the one thing, but do it at a level that you can back away if it's not the right thing.
I have a lot of plans for the month of June - centering around having large numbers of friends come stay - and I have no plans for anything specific after that. I want to sail, I want to garden, I want to run, I want to hit the road, and I want to overthrow the patriarchy. And I want to write about doing all those things. That sounds do-able, once I no longer have this stupid work thing sucking up my time, doesn't it?
Thirty-four calendar days to go.
4 comments:
You had about 20 years to get ready to work and you have the time you give yourself to get ready to not work. One thing at a time sounds good to me.
Depends on the day if I think we survive climate change to overthrow the patriarchy, but we could use u either way. Payment will be made for days lost to bad eating and no exercise, sadly, but perfectly legit choice.
Will tests today, fingers crossed.
Liz
LImbos ae weird, plain and simple. The pick one thing sounds like sage advice, but if you're like me you have oodles of small things. Maybe amend to one big thing even if it has various aspects, and 2 to 3 fun things that are low-stress (gardening for an hour each morning, cooking dinner). your mileage may vary. gardening would be stressful for me since I'm not very good at it and it would be a huge learning curve. But i love the idea of pausing at 4 every day to mosey on over to the market and figure out what to cook for that night's meal.
Man, I don't want to invalidate your challenges because they'e real, but it sounds freaking freeing!
Cannot wait to follow your journey oh trail-blazer among us!
Nan, this is exciting. Wow. I like the one thing at a time too.....sounds smart. I wish you well always. You will continue to make your good mark on the world. Love Alice
Ladies, thanks for your comments! A couple of thoughts:
Liz: I think surviving climate change actually requires smashing the patriarchy, they are tied tightly together. Kim: lol, cooking to me is stressful, gardening is peaceful! I do mean one big thing outside the domestic / self-improvement sphere. Alice: I'm aware of how terribly self-indulgent just one big thing will be.
27 days scheduled in the office to go.
Nan
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