Big decision BettethRed. Most people I know who have reached that age say they are happy with retirement. Pinga moved on to a different employment - I know quite a few who chose that option too. A change is sometimes quite rejuvenating.
Bladder infections............. mutter, mutter. Hope yours is under control quickly Pinga. Apparently I had one for months. Every time I thought I should make an appointment for testing, the symptoms went away. I did the usual 'carry on' thing until I was at the Doc's for something else entirely and a urine test said I had an infection. I had no discernable symptoms at the time. Weird things these bodies.
Early retirement - I highly recommend it. Unless you are doing a job that you really like.
There is so much to do out there -
Many people I know devote themselves to volunteering for a cause they believe in - one woman I know volunteered at the hospital 8 to 5, five days a week. Others choose the soup kitchen, the food bank, or get involved in things like organizing and pressuring government for social change, or legal rights.
Some people, like Pinga, take up another job -
Seelerman, after driving a cement-mixer truck for years, took a year off after retirement, then started driving taxi - a nice change. Gradually he cut back his availability and finally a few months ago gave taxi up. Now he is talking about going back to it. I took up doing pulpit supply.
Other people choose to travel.
Or to pursue a hobby.
Or spend more time with their grandchildren.
If money is a problem - see if there are ways to cut back. For many people working is expensive - commuting, work wardrobe, hair and makeup, meals away from home (or fast food at home), taxes. Perhaps you can be happy with less. (And yes, I know that for some people this isn't feasible - they have to continue working until at least when their Old Age Security kicks in at 65).
But too often couples continue working at jobs they no longer find satisfying, planning the things they will do when they retire; and all to soon one or both of them becomes ill or disabled, or one is left alone.
Don't be one of them, if you can help it.
Bette, best of luck. This is the first day of the rest of your life.
I choose bier NG up and books ... which is OK if you can bear the truths buried in the skeletal stories that just skim the surface of human experiences ... that temporarily in a time relief ... we are free from ... until the later impact ... Newton's Law on posting and holes ... I.E. what's missing and denied!
Good for you Bette...Yes, it's tough decision in some ways. But the gift of time to pursue other interests is priceless. (sounds like an ad) Wishing you all the best in this decision making time.
Just had an "aw, f**k" moment. Went back to the writing board I'm on after being away during my trip to find a longtime, respected member had suddenly passed away. The board has already launched a writing competition in his honour; poetry, since that's what he primarily wrote. I didn't know the guy well, but it was hard to be active on that board and not cross paths with the man occasionally.
Which brings me to a thought: would be there interest in a thread on WC2 (in Social, I guess) where folks can post their scribblings, poetic or otherwise? I'd say the thread rules would be no commentary or criticism in the thread, though there could be a parallel thread for that.
Just had an "aw, f**k" moment. Went back to the writing board I'm on after being away during my trip to find a longtime, respected member had suddenly passed away. The board has already launched a writing competition in his honour; poetry, since that's what he primarily wrote. I didn't know the guy well, but it was hard to be active on that board and not cross paths with the man occasionally.
Which brings me to a thought: would be there interest in a thread on WC2 (in Social, I guess) where folks can post their scribblings, poetic or otherwise? I'd say the thread rules would be no commentary or criticism in the thread, though there could be a parallel thread for that.
Just had an "aw, f**k" moment. Went back to the writing board I'm on after being away during my trip to find a longtime, respected member had suddenly passed away. The board has already launched a writing competition in his honour; poetry, since that's what he primarily wrote. I didn't know the guy well, but it was hard to be active on that board and not cross paths with the man occasionally.
Which brings me to a thought: would be there interest in a thread on WC2 (in Social, I guess) where folks can post their scribblings, poetic or otherwise? I'd say the thread rules would be no commentary or criticism in the thread, though there could be a parallel thread for that.
Is that contrary to the nature of poetics and its sense of metaphor? Of course some just believe poetry to be fully misunderstood, primally! Consider Jabberwaulky as a stroll down the Jabba Vale ... as a veiled cognizance of expounded thoughts on the preaching of Genesis and Exodus about confinement of chits escaping the land of imagination ... Egyptiam Eves --- Normal Mailer's commentary of objects of mythical value ... like Set and Isis!
Definitely short stories, though with the way this board formats things, they'll have to be fairly short or broken up into multiple posts. Flash fiction (very short pieces written quickly) would work very well, though.
I have been working, of course, and that is full-time. I don't want to work full-time. I have now found two resources that have been on-boarded and looking forward to shifting down in my hours, and staging the project for success next year.
I have also been volunteering as part of Five Oaks' Member Working Group. This group has worked together with those that love Five Oaks and sought ways to keep Five Oaks open and make it successful again. Our report was due March 15th. Things were going along tickety-boo, but then they weren't due to health crisis in friends and families of the group, and so any time that I wasn't sick or working, I was contributing to the report.
I am also a member of the board, and the board has received the report and all come together next week.
Plus, due to the C*F*** some of the systems were in, I and the rest of the team have been helping with volunteering, program support, etc. Busy times, but, we so love this place, we just need to help it push. I look forward to sharing the document with you folks.
I got sick, as I indicated, realizing on Tuesday that what had been dragging me down was UTI.
You know you have waited too long when you are doing your best to not wail, cry or scream when you pee every 20min, and you are passing blood clots. Dang, that sucker came on fast....from the "run to the washroom" on Monday, to fully engaged on Tuesday morning. I phoned, told my symptoms and was told they had appt for me in 15min. I made it to my wonderful clinic. I am thankful for good meds and good doctors.
Now Dad is very confused, so I have been down there for meals to try to stabilize him. A friend is out for lunch with him tomorrow.
At dinner, he was having trouble seeing (very normal), he reached up to his eyes to see if he had his glasses on, then started checking his shirt pocket for his glasses. Finally, he said something about not knowing where his glasses were. I told him he hadn't worn glasses for close to 5 years. (In retrospect I should have said, we can look for them later and distracted him). Anyhow, he settled but looked at me like I was nuts. He also commented on my haircut. I am sure that he didn't remember that my hair was as grey as it is. He didn't remember he was staying there. He tried to grab the nurses breast (oh, how joyful dealing with that is). So anyhow, lots of time at the retirement home. (Oh, and he lost his smartphone in February, a hearing aid 10days ago (waiting on replacement), and lost his watch for a bit this week). People have asked to change tables as they cannot deal with his attitude. Others are able to find the patience to be kind and take care of him.
I am also trying to get caught up on my financials. ugh. not my favourite even though i was in accounting. I think it is because i know enough to know that i don't know enough. Have to meet with my accountant.
@Pinga the waiting too long with a UTI thing seems odd to me as I get very little warning. Once, I went to the emergency room with one. I had waited about 3 hours from first symptoms as I tried to finish off my classes for the day. That was back before they really pushed on reducing wait times. I did not wait. They triaged me based on 'internal bleeding' as it was that bad. Nothing new as an adult either, when I was about 2 or 3 my Mom was freaked out I had precocious puberty despite me saying 'peed'.
I haven't had one (or at least one I picked up on and got treated) since the HAE diagnosis. Makes me wonder about urinary tract swells.
I hope your Dad is able to feel more settled soon.
Thankful for good meds - good doctors - thank God for Canada.
Pinga - any one of the multitude of things you are involved in would leave me exhausted when I was well. Now I just can't imagine even trying them.
You are amazing - particularly in your care for your Dad. I know from things you have said that he has been difficult at times all your life, yet you show the patience and care of a devoted daughter.
@Pinga the waiting too long with a UTI thing seems odd to me as I get very little warning. Once, I went to the emergency room with one. I had waited about 3 hours from first symptoms as I tried to finish off my classes for the day. That was back before they really pushed on reducing wait times. I did not wait. They triaged me based on 'internal bleeding' as it was that bad. Nothing new as an adult either, when I was about 2 or 3 my Mom was freaked out I had precocious puberty despite me saying 'peed'.
I haven't had one (or at least one I picked up on and got treated) since the HAE diagnosis. Makes me wonder about urinary tract swells.
I hope your Dad is able to feel more settled soon.
Chemgal, the first symptom was frequent urges to go to the washroom, then the urgency increasing, then, dancing and not being able to make it..ie, bent over, dang, I have to go NOW. that kinds of loss of need and loss of control were symptoms...and they had been there for a bit, got worse a day or two before, and then, to the immediate care needed you referenced.
I'm telling you right now that my idea of retirement is NOT the same as Pinga's. Her's exhausts me just thinking about it...
Also, Pinga, any chance that the same sort of problem might be exacerbating your Dad's problems? My fairly lucid Mom could descend into what looked like late dementia within days because of a UTI.
I have a few years yet but with Mrs. M on a retirement track at the university, I'm starting to think about it. OTOH, I'm with you. I don't want to end up doing a whole new job after I retire (or continuing my present one as Pinga is doing with some of her time). OTO, I will have 40 hours a week on my hands that I don't have now (37.5 hour work week plus OT & commute time) so something has to go into that space. We will do a fair bit of travelling and such like together, but I know I'm going to need to fill some of that time on my own. Writing is a possibility. Becoming a UU lay chaplain would fill some time as well (but that's limited to 2 three year terms or something like that). I doubt I'll go for a continuation of my actual career, but I will probably end up doing something paid to fill at least some of that time.
Yes, I'm going to have to do something. Right now, it looks like "anything that doesn't look like Excel spreadsheets", but I'll have to refine that, lol.
I'm not a terribly ambitious person, have worked as "support staff" my whole life. As a result, my pension is adequate, but not luxurious. If I ever want a new car, or to travel, I'll have to work a bit. I'm not a huge traveller, except where I can get to via car, so they're kind of connected.
I've been enjoying the beautiful sunshine today! Saw a crocus blooming in my garden - so I'm hopeful spring is on its way.
Busy weekend - pleasantly so. Yesterday morning I went a workshop for my Presbytery, looking at Environics reports we recently commissioned via EDGE Network. That info will help us better understand our neighbourhoods - as part of a larger Loving God Loving Neighbour project. Rob Dalgliesh did a great job of guiding us through the materials, after first helping us find spiritual grounding by doing a lectio divina on Luke 10: 1-11. It was quite powerful.
Friends came for a delicious dinner, cooked by my husband who has become quite an accomplished chef in his retirement. We caught up on lots of news, then after dinner had many games of CodeNames .... lots laughing & competition!
This morning, two children were baptised, and I was happy to see two prayer shawls I had knit given out to them. It's a nice tradition we started a few years ago, in addition to the usual gifts presented. I was also ushering this morning, and when we went to serve coffee after the service we discovered the pot had not actually percolated! So a few anxious minutes spent pouring the hot water back through the grounds repeatedly - did the trick - good enough anyway!! Then I was off to count the offerings - a busy morning!
A nice walk in the sunshine this afternoon. Sitting now with sun streaming in my window, fireplace on ... quite lovely and peaceful place to do some tasks (registered for Conference AGM, church paperwork, reading memos etc.) Feel free to pull up a chair & join me! Maybe a movie tonight ...
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