After working for the same company for 23 years, it has closed and my job ended in December 2015. I saw it coming and prepared myself - to the fact that I would not be working for a while and also prepared as best I could for it financially.
I wasn't sure what I would do with my free time but I was looking forward to trying it for a while. You see, I have worked two jobs for a big part of those 23 years. I ran my own company at the same time I was working full-time for someone else. After 17 years of that, I closed my business and then took on a part-time job along with my full-time job. The part-time job was definitely much less work and hours than running my business and I still have that job today.
Since my job ended only a week before Christmas, that month was full of the normal holiday preparation stuff. Mix into that the fact that my brother died the same night that my job ended. We planned his funeral and got through that the week of Christmas.
It wasn't until about 3 weeks into January that I really felt like I was "semi-retired" you could say. I was still looking for work, yet enjoying having the time to do those little things I had put off so often. I got some cupboards, closets and drawers cleaned out.
Yesterday, after going to a doctor visit with my daughter, I made an impromptu stop at a little consignment shop I had passed so many times, never having the time to stop. How enjoyable was that to spend a 1/2 hour just walking around enjoying the decorating ideas, seeing some antiques, some unique artwork, and then again, just some junk!
I have had time to write again without interruption. I have started another book and am determined to finish this one. I discussed the idea behind the story with Ken (which I seldom do with anyone regarding my writing) and he thinks the idea is a good one. So onward I plan to go to at least finish it. If it is good enough, I will have to do some research into how to get it published.
Now that we are nearing our retirement age, I may be writing more blogs about things that pertain to us "older folk" (though I don't consider myself old at all). I have said all along that I will never grow up, nor do I plan to grow old. Hmmmm...anyone know how to stop that one other than the alternative I am not willing to pursue?
I will be starting a new job next week, working 20 hours a week. I think that will be good for me - definitely financially but also the challenge of learning new things, meeting new people, and staying active, yet not on a full-time basis. I will still have time to myself, for my interests and home and family, yet will still be contributing to our income and society.
For me, I am on a new journey in life. One where my world turns slower, my thoughts are lighter, and I feel I have time to plan my day.
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