OT just retired -- a bit like a divorce

[Guest guest]

Hi, y'alls,

I retired on Friday. Turned in my employee badge, my office keys, my

Government credit cards, and, POOF! out the door. Forty years of

employment at one place or another preceded by about 19 years from

kindergarten on through grad school add up to 59 years that I was

" attached " to an external institution that occupied a major portion

of each of my weekdays. Now, that's all over. I had a vision of

being on the last car of a train that was pulling out, looking back

down the track and seeing the station recede into the distance,

growing ever smaller. There will be money coming in, of course,

though a good deal less than when I was working, but we'll get by (DW

to retire at the end of 2003). The future is a big unknown. So, in

many ways it seems a bit like a divorce. And, my heart palpitated a

good bit of Thursday evening. Emotions, even those of which I was

not immediately aware, ran high inside me. Jumping into the abyss,

just as I had in a divorce, and knowing that I would survive and go

on to flourish, just as I had done before.

Well, I don't mean to be maudlin about it. Only somewhat nostalgic.

I'm looking forward to being able to build a new life. DW and I have

already enrolled in a Saturday Tai Chi class. I begin a

weightlifting class this Tuesday. Also, I will do a bit of [very

part-time] consulting on two projects in which I was so heavily

involved at work that the people left behind cannot see how they can

do without my participation. The good news is that I will get a bit

of extra money and also that I will be able to keep in touch with

colleagues that I really like and projects that I helped to conceive.

The bad news is that I will keep in touch with colleagues that I

really like and projects that I helped to conceive, which could

detract from my concentrating my energies on building a new life.

Just random thoughts as I start what many of you will regard as my

first week of FREEDOM!

Hope all of you are doing reasonably well,

Steve

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/12/2003 7:52:05 PM Pacific Standard Time, sng@...

writes:

> I retired on Friday.

Hey Steve - I was thinking about you on Friday! I am so far away from

retirement, that it seems like a distant dream (like the lotto). It's

interesting for me to read your perspective - especially the kind of

bittersweet feelings about leaving your career behind more or less. There

are so many things I want to do that I don't have the time for now with a

young family and career, that retirement looks like Mecca!

Enjoy yourself thoroughly for me! When my father-in-law retired from his

position as the Dean of Fisheries at a university, he ended up being even

busier than he was when working. But this time, it was only on projects he

really cared about! He is my retirement idol

Kate

[Guest guest]

Steve, Retirement is a shock to the system, no matter HOW much you have

been looking forward to it. In many ways your work has defined who you

are for many years. LOL It is sort of like...you are so and so's

Dad/Husband/Son etc. I do PROMISE........that you will eventually

ask......HOW did I ever find time to WORK? LOL This seems to be what I

hear the most from friends and relatives who have retired. They find

they are busier in retirement then they were while working. I don't

think there is anything wrong with helping out with the programs you

were working on.....it will allow for an easier transition to what you

call a " new " life. It really isn't a NEW life.....it is just the

continuation of the one you had.....but now with some STEVE time thrown

in....unless the lady of the house has a HONEY DEW list......then you

are in serious trouble. LOLOLOL

Debbie in Gig Harbor

[Guest guest]

And, from watching my dad, rather than do the deferred house maintenance he

wanted to do, my mom traveled him til he dropped. Not many countries they

didn't see.

ANYWAY, as *I* am dealing with his Alzheimer's, yes, diagnosed) and he

doesn't deal with it, cuz " HE " doesn't have it. Ask him. Anyway, I do

believe, had he taken part time work, or done volunteer work, he'd be

sharper today. His brain mighta lasted as long as his body.

We're trying to get him to go to the Humane Society, or even his won vet to

spoil cats & dogs. Well, he'd spoil the whatever at the HS, I'm sure. But

even at his vet, which is closer, he can cuddle animals in treatment or

those being boarded. He is EXTREMELY good at cat spoiling, actually. LOL!

So, I think it's great that you're keeping your hand in. It is important to

have a " reason " to get going in the morning, even if you don't need the

income. Don & I volunteered in a nursing home just a few hours a week and

it became as important as getting to the job. We took dog/cat & did some

other stuff.

I noticed when I left my career, it IS like family. The people you see

daily, each has their own interest, and you find yourself bringing " tidbits "

to work for Fred or Larry, you know? Be it special foods or dabs of info. I

tried staying home for awhile (not retired, though), but was back working

p/t in 90 days. LOL!

Thanks,

Vitalady, Inc. T

www.vitalady.com

If you are interested in PayPal, please click here:

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RE: OT just retired -- a bit like a divorce

> Steve, Retirement is a shock to the system, no matter HOW much you have

> been looking forward to it. In many ways your work has defined who you

> are for many years. LOL It is sort of like...you are so and so's

> Dad/Husband/Son etc. I do PROMISE........that you will eventually

> ask......HOW did I ever find time to WORK? LOL This seems to be what I

> hear the most from friends and relatives who have retired. They find

> they are busier in retirement then they were while working. I don't

> think there is anything wrong with helping out with the programs you

> were working on.....it will allow for an easier transition to what you

> call a " new " life. It really isn't a NEW life.....it is just the

> continuation of the one you had.....but now with some STEVE time thrown

> in....unless the lady of the house has a HONEY DEW list......then you

> are in serious trouble. LOLOLOL

>

> Debbie in Gig Harbor

>

>

>

>

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