Ah, Retirement!

Mastering retirement requires some planning

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

By Kathy Boylan

Ah retirement! Glorious retirement! I thought it would never get here, but then it did. Officially retired! I knew it was time after 32 years of teaching Elementary School. I realized I wasn’t as sharp as I was, and I wasn’t as patient with the kids.

It’s always a good idea to go out when you are at the top of your game. Now I could make hair appointments, doctor and dentist appointments any time of the day, any day of the week. I could go for walks whenever I felt like it, work in my garden, read, take naps, and do many other excellent leisure time activities. The only thing nobody ever told me was that it takes time to adjust to retirement; you need a routine. I didn’t have to worry about sleeping late and wasting the day. I have my own built-in alarm clock. Luckily, some retired colleagues asked me to join their Book Club. Retired teachers love book clubs.

I was thrilled to have something to put on my calendar each month. It included lunch: yippee! At my retirement party my son had a sheet entitled, “Things for Kath to do in Retirement”. Here is what he suggested: learn to make sauerkraut. Now you have to understand, my son and his wife live in Idaho and both are into sustainable living. I like sauerkraut but I can buy a can for just over a dollar. Someone else suggested learning to crochet, play the piano, take a cooking class, and of course travel. All fabulous ideas. I did learn to crochet from YouTube videos and made some baby gifts. We gave our piano away so that shot that idea down. I didn’t take a cooking class, but I did subscribe to the NY Times cooking site.

I also have a goal of visiting all 50 states. Last spring we went on a cruise to Alaska. I now have about 23 more states to go. Most of them are in the south, and pacific Northwest. A few road trips should knock them out. I need to get planning. The only problem is my husband is a maniacal driver, I may have to take more cruises or dreaded old-folks bus trips.

Right when I retired my daughter and granddaughter moved to Raleigh, North Carolina. I was able to go down and help them get settled, and watch my granddaughter until she was enrolled in school. It was a special time.

Now it’s been almost nine years since I’ve been retired and let me tell you I have it mastered. I’m involved in my church, I’m still in a book club, I’ve joined the Senior Center and have even played water volleyball, I have a nice social group and I’m planning my 50-states adventure. Hang in there, retirement will be here before you know it! Be sure to plan for it so you can enjoy every minute of it. I know I do.

About the author: Kathy Boylan is a retired elementary school teacher living in Elkton, MD with her husband and cat Carmie. She has two children and one granddaughter. Her philosophy: “Life is good. Retired life is better!”

#retirement/retirementplanning#gettingolder#grandparent