Retirement Top Ten

I’ve been puzzling over what to blog about, which is a first since I started blogging, as subjects just seem to have arisen without too much consideration. I am thinking that this is probably because the original rationale for the blog was to comment and reflect on making the transition from full-time employment to retirement and the adjustments to lifestyle and ways of thinking that created. I expected that would probably take a full year or so, but I have to say I already feel I am now a fully-adjusted retired person and it seems like years since I went out to work, so the way I am living now has become my new “norm.” I have very quickly established a routine for those days when I don’t have any outside commitments, but which is flexible to accommodate seeing and communicating with family and friends, and the days are just flying by and still so much to do. I really struggle to understand the concept of boredom when there are so many challenges and interesting things with which to fill the time.

I thought it would be a bit of fun to create a Top Ten benefits of retirement, and here goes (if you’re old enough to remember Alan Freeman and Pick of the Pops on Sunday teatime imagine his voice as the intro, “Welcome Pop Pickers.”)

1. Getting up between 8.30 and 9.00 in the mornings instead of 6.20 (specially on dark winter mornings)!
2. Wearing jeans and t-shirts, and socks instead of tights, for 90% of waking hours.
3. No need to plan those packed lunches, just have a little of what you fancy, and if nothing in the fridge appeals, nip down to the shops.
4. It’s ok to be in pjs till lunchtime.
5. Choose your own goals and deadlines (mostly, anyway), and reject stress.
6. Having time not just to shop and cook, but to plan meals in a logical way.
7. Having time to walk to places as opposed to driving everywhere to save time.
8. Becoming a regular visitor to the local library, coming out loaded with books on travel, cooking, crafts as well as novels and biographies.
9. Being so much more in control of how my time is spent, i.e. being able to embark on long and frequent travel and being able to spend more time with family and friends.
10. If you don’t feel like doing it today, then do it tomorrow!

In the interests of balance, there are some disbenefits, but not sure I can stretch to ten.

1. Less money.
2. Less contact with the people I really valued as colleagues and friends, but then again, I am going to be meeting up socially with many of my closest friends and colleagues tomorrow evening, i.e. quality time, and will continue to do so.
3. Lack of involvement in a team, but this can be incorporated into life outside of paid work, and might be something to include in the future.
4. Less sense of mission in life, i.e. feeling that the work you do is helpful to others, again, this can be achieved outside of paid work.

I think that’s about it, so on balance, the benefits do massively outweigh the losses. Of course, something may jump up and change my feelings about all of this, as it is still early days, but at the moment, I  really do appreciate retirement.

I went to the theatre last night and can honestly say that I didn’t once feel like I was in danger of drifting off to sleep, which used to happen all the time, even in the most exciting and action-packed tv programmes, plays and films, as I was always deeply exhausted. This is in the context of a very busy week which started with a trip to Heathrow to pick up our daughter and her partner on their return from 3 weeks in Australia, then helping them to prepare for moving to a new home and jobs in the Midlands. Looking forward to visiting them in their new home at the weekend.