 |
| A new haircut |
Tomorrow will be Thanksgiving. I'm assessing how I feel since leaving the building 5 months ago. When I walked out the door on July 1st. I was filled with joy and at the same time sadness. Joy in the fact that I feel more liberated from my day to day tasks of "work". As for the sadness, it's surreal. I've enjoyed the years of working and to finally "stop" with what I've been doing. And another feeling is also strange. Sadness. Surreal. Strange. (Three "S" notations.) Yes and no, I will not miss my colleagues or the work, but at the same time, I've elected to break free from the daily rigors of work to celebrate MY TIME at this stage in my life. I've been working since I was a preteen. This I can verify through SSA.Gov which tracks my first paycheck and tax deduction since I first started working.
 |
| First time at Wimbledon! |
It was wonderful to clean my desk, take in my surroundings, and really take in the moment that I will not be returning on Monday morning. Full stop. In addition, I planned for this moment for the most part. Plans were made to take trips promptly after leaving my job. On my bucket list of travel was London to be an attendee at the All England Tennis Tournament (Wimbledon). I've been a tennis player since I was a junior and watched this event on TV ever since. To finally witness this live was the icing on the cake. I have no regrets on this choice. In addition, I spent a longer than normal time back home in Hawaii with family and friends. I was quite subtle in not letting them know I retired. Why? I don't know, I just wanted to not be seen any different. Some people tend to look at retirees who retire younger than normal as strange. Or they may think I'm this totally loaded individual. Fewer people tend to think positively and feel happy for the person who recently retired as they know they have to dread heading back to work on Monday morning.
But what I've learned in the 5 months is that not working a full-time job is okay. It's a new adventure for many. The planning was spot on but when the execution happens, all bets are off as it's sometimes a roll of the dice. Some of the things I've realized is that I felt the need to still work. For this remedy, I ended up working at a few side hustles on my terms and on my time constraints. This helped supplement my income in the interim when pension finally kicks in. Another revelation concerns my structured living. I'd wake up without an alarm clock going off, at times I didn't know what day it was. My routine was all off. There were days I was unshaven or having breakfast at noon and just watched TV longer than usual. The only thing I did not end up doing was wearing a robe all day sitting on a sofa eating bon bons. The typical stereotype people come to think once you retire.
 |
| Breathe, McCormick and Schmick |
Overall, I think I've learned to settle in at my pace. Everyone has their own timeline to transition into this new life or lifestyle. Most people say to give yourself a year to settle in but what does that mean for me or others? I think it varies. As I celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow with friends who live nearby and are all still working, I'm taking in the moment just for me. Just thankful. No rush, no major decisions, but just settle. That's the status I think one can reach as you move into a new stage in your life.
I say, stay relevant, active, and celebrate your new world called retired.
