I read on the StatsCan website that the average life expectancy of a 65-year-old Canadian in 2014 was another 22 years. Meaning the average Canadian would live to 87.
That’s a lot of days after one turns 65. Best to put some thought behind what to do when I retire. Before I retire.
However, I didn’t really. I just said I was done, more on that later, and went home. Officially retired. Here’s what I remember about that first day.
Getting out of bed was delightful. I didn’t have to move so quickly through the morning chores to get to my car to get to my office. No more commute. I could rise when my body woke up, not when the alarm clock called. I believe I lost fifty wrinkles that morning.
The next delight came in preparing a decent breakfast. I had always been the “put something together and eat in the car” kind of breakfast girl. Peanut butter stains on my clothes were not unusual when I got to work. I could use real dishes and sit at a table and eat breakfast slowly. Lovely.
The only downside I have found from eating both breakfast and lunch at home is that I wash more dishes than ever before. Lots more unloading the dishwasher. Finally putting all those kitchen investments to use.
After breakfast and dressing – optional the first day in retrospect – I pondered what to do next.
I did the only thing I could. I looked in the mirror and I smiled – a big wide full teeth grin. And I did a little happy dance.
The novelty of not having to go to work every day lasted a few days for me and was especially delightful on snowy, blizzard days. Listening to the traffic reports and watching line ups of cars on the streets brought an enormous smile to my face. I am most grateful for what retirement provides on those mornings.
So here I was at 6:30 am, ready for the day and nothing to do. Oh oh. With a smile on my face, and a wide open day to fill with whatever I wanted to do. I took myself out for tea and just sat and watched the world for a while.
It is fascinating to watch other people when you are not living inside your head. Watch what they are doing. So many people in the world are busy, busy. Rushing here and there. I had been one of them. Returning home, on my deck I watched nature, the birds, the animals in the neighbourhood, the dogs that are being walked, and their owners.
The routine of work, while maybe not desirable, was consistent. I knew what every day would be like. Even if it felt like the gerbil on the round wheel, getting on and off and running like heck for the day.
Now suddenly there is no wheel. There is no list of things that had to do. There are no meetings. There is no commute. And hours and hours of daytime that sat there and just stared at me. What do to?
Whatever I want.
2020
Even today, some six years later, I still savour each day for the possibilities. While the opportunities to go out and about are limited in this COVID world, I have lots of things I can do around the house that don’t involve a cleaning rag, getting my hands wet, or a small appliance.
Today I cut out some material to sew Christmas pillows for my grand daughters.
I watched the livestream of a theatre play in which my neighbour’s daughter was an actor.
I set up this website and scheduled some blogposts. I filled the bird feeder in the backyard.
I still feels good to be retired.
