BS: Oh happy day! Retirement

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Ebbie
Date: 07 Apr 19 - 10:09 PM

I have found that the only bad thing about being retired is that you don't get a day off. :)

(On the other hand, I am far more creative - and selective about what I do - since I retired. So it's good.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Apr 19 - 07:17 PM

Helen, I haven't read Dilbert for years, so it's all you fault I just found & bookmarked the daily Dilbert page ...

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Donuel
Date: 07 Apr 19 - 06:16 PM

Mr. Red is very astute regarding stress.

Eliminate stress, some of it is just a hidden habit.
Establish the obligatory constitutional
Try or observe new things
Laugh often

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Helen
Date: 07 Apr 19 - 03:54 PM

I couldn't have put it better myself, McGrath of Harlow. My Dad retired and started getting serious about wood turning, just for his own entertainment, not to sell things. He went to various groups and events if he felt like it and stayed home, pottering about in his shed when he didn't. Both my parents were very clever, creative, could try making anything and be good at it. He was a motor mechanic, she trained at TAFE (it was called Tech, i.e. Technical College back then) in dressmaking and some tailoring. My sister and I have pretty much followed in their footsteps and also added playing music to the list of our creative pursuits.

Retirement has always been for our family a way to finally be ourselves without other things, people, managers etc getting in the way of that. The good bits without the boring bits and the capability to go out and find what we need, e.g. social contacts or like-minded creative groups if and when we want.

SRS, no that would be most women's reason for a gap but I married late and had no children. I left my secure library job which I enjoyed to go to an insecure but interesting other job and then hated the long driving trips around the state - NSW, Oz is a BIG state, especially when you are driving - and then I was doing casual or temporary jobs for about 10 years until the financial stress forced me to find a permanent job in 2005 which would guarantee that I could pay the mortgage etc.

You're right, though. Why has it taken so long to start recognising unpaid domestic and/or caring work as being every bit as important as paid employment? And there is usually a delay between recognising a social need and making it a reality, so I'm not holding my breath on how long that recognition turns into financial recognition.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Apr 19 - 12:27 PM

Despite a 12 year period when I wasn't in permanent work, - I have a nine-year period when I wasn't in permanent work, just occasional freelance writing. I'm guessing this was the years home with children?

So many of us have those gaps, and raising kids was the most important work I could be doing at that time, and it seems only recently, but still not substantially (tax-wise, etc.), to be something that is recognized as every bit as important as employment. I was extremely interested to read a biographical article about Nancy Pelosi, who had five children in a very short period of time after she married, then spent many years raising children and organizing community activities around their interests. She was known through that and parleyed it into a political career. That is so rare, to be able to use parenting as career training and job experience.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Apr 19 - 11:48 AM

Congratulations. You hear people going on about how retiring is traumatic, and how much you'll miss your job, but don't believe it. For most of us that's a lie put about to keep our noses to the grindstone.

Pretty well any of the stuff you might miss , you can find ways to keep doing it, but without the stuff that cas mess things up all those years.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: vectis
Date: 06 Apr 19 - 09:54 PM

Welcome to the "well and truly over working" club. I have been a member for 6 years now.

I moved to a new country and enjoy learning about it and exploring it. I didn't keep up an exercise routine, which I regret, but am loving pootling about doing what I like.

Have a fabulous time and may it be a good long time too.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Helen
Date: 06 Apr 19 - 08:51 PM

Thanks Sandra.

We didn't think we were going to win, but we weren't giving up without a fight.

Have you read Dilbert cartoons or the Dilbert books by Scott Adams? He has it all documented. It's so funny it's scary, because it isn't just the wild imagination of a cartoonist. It's real. :-D

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 06 Apr 19 - 07:40 PM

change for change's sake management "policies" spoil many a workplace, goodonya for winning.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Helen
Date: 06 Apr 19 - 03:28 PM

Mr Red, even though I'm a useless gardener, I am leaning towards joining the community garden in our suburb. Walking there won't be much exercise because it is across the road and down a bit. but helping them to set up in their new place would be good exercise and the local suburb social/community spirit is all you could wish for and more.

There could be opportunities at their community events too, if they have a market stall day I could sell some prints of my paintings which are almost all of the local area, or there might be an opportunity to play some music. There is a local ukulele group, I think, or maybe I could convince some of our session group to go along to an event to play some music.

Despite a 12 year period when I wasn't in permanent work, my financial situation is ok with superannuation, so I think the money side will be ok. If not, there are other options for income generation based on my varied employment skills.

I'm not grieving the loss of my job. I was over it, well and truly, but not the work itself which I loved. I have been grieving the loss of the ability to just go to work, do my work, and enjoy it before the management boffins started mucking about with it all, over and over again, year after year after year.

When they told our unit we were relocating to a place an hour or two's drive away, that was the last straw. I stayed on as a union rep to help the others but my plan was just to retire when the unit relocated. Our union campaigns worked after two years of fully armoured battle, all guns blazing, bringing out the big union guns, and the management boffins changed their minds, but by then the thought of retiring had settled into my brain and spirit, so I retired anyway.

I have no doubt that when the mental and emotional hamster wheel stops spinning, I'll be wondering why I didn't retire years earlier.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: keberoxu
Date: 06 Apr 19 - 12:28 PM

I really like what Mr. Red counsels about dancing.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Mr Red
Date: 06 Apr 19 - 12:11 PM

I would counsel - choose some exercise. Walking to a spot to paint is a start. But the thing about dancing is, when you find the right club/regular series, it won't seem like exercise. Because the music lets you anticipate (subliminally) and the stress on the body is minimised. And it feeds the brain, and it uses social skills. The latter is what you got with the friends you had at work.

You have to look at what uplifted you and find suitable replacements for them, lest you grieve, and grief is harder to recognise in yourself. You know the aspects you didn't enjoy but surely they are no longer foisted on you.

But finding what works is a project in itself, and may not be for ever. Butterfly minds can be rewarded enormously. Trust me.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: EBarnacle
Date: 06 Apr 19 - 08:13 AM

I am not sure when I retired. I left full time, fully compensated work back in '02 but have had various other jobs and volunteer positions ever since. To paraphrase Mark Twain, "Work is what you are paid to do; pleasure is what you choose to do." I continue to be busier than I ever was when working but I just follow my interests and say yes to opportunities.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 Apr 19 - 08:58 PM

Nine years retired now. I stay in FB contact with friends. Good thing I am retired, given the surgeries and such-like crap we've endured since then. But we've also had time to travel and enjoy ourselves. Of course, we're busier now than ever, involved with local nonprofits and my wife is presenting programs (with her friend Mary) on things like indigo and madder. We were fortunate, for after retirement we were going over finances and discovered/remembered a fund she had been in for forty years and it was quite nice, thank you, and may you do the same!

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Donuel
Date: 05 Apr 19 - 08:48 PM

Paint a mudcat masterpiece Helen.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Helen
Date: 05 Apr 19 - 02:33 PM

What a brave man gillymor is! Calling me Hel. LOL

The hamster wheel is still spinning in my head, and probably will be for a few weeks more. A lot of not so pleasant things have happened at some of the places I have worked and a fairly big chunk of it happened at the last workplace, but a lot of good things have happened, not the least of which is the great people I worked with (not counting some of the managers).

It was a government department in a semi-rural regional office, so it was distanced from the high-up decision makers who either didn't know about managerial shenanigans or knew about it and turned a blind eye to it. Do I need to explain?

Ok, thanks fat B****rd. I get the Warren Zevon quote now: Warren Zevon's last waltz

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Will Fly
Date: 05 Apr 19 - 12:15 PM

10 years retired this year - loved every minute of it. Photography, music, family tree, walking, travelling, grandkids, watches, village events - busier than ever.

I enjoyed my work but, after over 40 years of it, was glad to let it go,

Enjoy!

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 05 Apr 19 - 10:08 AM

Well, notice given now. Roll on July :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 05 Apr 19 - 10:01 AM

Enjoy it to the full, Helen!
I'm coming up to 13 years retired now, and ever busy between music, music, grandchildren and more music. And we have had some good holidays, visiting friends and family around the world. And make the most of it while you can: I do feel I'm slowing down now in my 70s and don't have quite as much energy or enthusiasm for all the possible projects out there, although I still have all my own joints!.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: fat B****rd
Date: 04 Apr 19 - 08:30 AM

As Mr. Zevon once said "Enjoy every sandwich" Helen.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: gillymor
Date: 04 Apr 19 - 07:02 AM

Well Hel, I was referring to the non-material gains you can garner when you have the luxury of time. My life has improved a hundred fold since I jumped off the hamster wheel.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Helen
Date: 04 Apr 19 - 06:27 AM

Thanks everyone.

Jim Carroll, I haven't even been retired for 24 hours yet, so I still have my whole social calendar to fill up. I'll let you know when I have settled in to a routine but I'm betting I'll be saying just that pretty soon: "How did I ever fit work into my life?"

All my music friends are retired and they are so busy doing what they love. I definitely won't be languishing at home, wishing I was back at work.

Onward and upward.

I am a little unsure how I will stay physically fit because I am a lounge lizard and not a gym junkie. I went for a 30 minute walk each work day with a couple of my work friends, so I'll have to set up some sort of regime for walking or gardening just to keep active.

Left to my own devices, I's rather paint pictures, read a book, watch a good DVD or muck about on the computer than do physically active pursuits.

Oh well, I'll work something out.

Gainfully unemployed, huh, gillymor. How about ungainfully unemployed? Unless my plan to sell my artworks brings in some income. Who knows?

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: DMcG
Date: 04 Apr 19 - 06:19 AM

I am in the curious position of not really being certain if I am retired or not!

I was able to retire last September as that was when the pension payments all kicked in, but I decided to continue working. However, as my wife is having a hip operation I arranged to take 6 weeks unpaid leave, and because of complications it is now 10 weeks unpaid, during which I am living off the aforementioned pensions.

I sill have some 7 weeks to go, but am enjoying the time and removal of the pressure. So will I go back in the end? Not sure...

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 04 Apr 19 - 05:34 AM

Enjoy! I say Retirement is the best job I ever had. The pay's not so good but the hours are great! After 16 years we still run out of time to do all the things we want to do!
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: bbc
Date: 04 Apr 19 - 05:33 AM

Congratulation, Helen; enjoy! I love being retired!

Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Mr Red
Date: 04 Apr 19 - 05:32 AM

Don't think I have ever been so enjoyably busy since I retired

Heard it so many times. Apart from my 7 web domains and maintaining the currency thereof, literal footwork therefor, dancing various social genres - there is barely enough time for housework. Garden, uh?

The important thing is to have your projects in place, and keep physically active.
Though the occurrence is probably not that high, but it is not unknown for some people to pop their clogs within a year or so of retirement.

For me the dancing is mandatory, how else can one exercise the body, the brain and social skills so effectively at once? And keep it that way! If you though dancing did not exercise the brain try Irish Set Dancing - in Ireland - frantic would be too dilute a word.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Apr 19 - 05:07 AM

I am handing in my 3 months notice tomorrow so my last day of work will be on July the 5th :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 04 Apr 19 - 04:53 AM

I retired 7 1/2 years ago, but I still work 4 days each week!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Acorn4
Date: 04 Apr 19 - 04:08 AM

The worse thing about those final months working is that you spend all your time counting the days and, in effect, wishing your life away.

I still do a bit of part time work teaching local history with the WEA and doing exam invigilation, but this is far more on my own terms.

Congratulations and savour every moment.

"Management Prats"

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 04 Apr 19 - 03:04 AM

Have you worked out how you ever found time to work yet
Don't think I have ever been so enjoyably busy since I retired
I wish you the same
Sh.. - is that the time ?
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: JennieG
Date: 03 Apr 19 - 10:23 PM

Retirement has a lot going for it. It's been ten years for us, now, and I don't miss work at all.

Should you ever find yourself up this way - Tamworth - let me know.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Apr 19 - 08:53 PM

congratulations! I joined the Public Service when women did not earn the same as men (1970), near the end of the process that brought wage equality. By the time I retired in 2007 we were in a new version of the bad ol' days - different agencies has different pay scales (no Service-wide parity), outstanding staff (good) & those who can bull-shit well at Reviews (bad) got bonuses, it was no-longer a lifetime career as lots of staff were not Permanent, being Temporary or Casual. The world has changed.

A few years before one of my friends left nursing when she was expected to spend more time on "the computer" then with her patients. But of course she was an old-fashioned Sister who learnt in the wards, not a University graduate. Knowing her kindness & compassion, I'm sure her Hospital lost a vital cog in the wheel.

Enjoy your rest & then your new routine - mine is full of craft groups & concerts & singing sessions & sorting the Club's archives & blogging our history!

I also do a good job in wasting time ...

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Stanron
Date: 03 Apr 19 - 08:40 PM

It's now nine years since I retired. I miss being part of a team and I miss earning decent money. I don't miss glass ceilings and Government based rule changing.

Now, what did I come in here for?

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: gillymor
Date: 03 Apr 19 - 08:12 PM

Welcome to the ranks of the gainfully unemployed, Helen. Enjoy your time.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: olddude
Date: 03 Apr 19 - 08:06 PM

Congratulations it is the best job I ever had:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Helen
Date: 03 Apr 19 - 07:40 PM

Stilly River Sage, did you work at the same place as me, or is this a universal managerial disease?

"the place went from a well-oiled machine to a rudderless sinking ship over the course of five years with new management and a toxic 'reorganization'"

This is where Dilbert steps in as an antidote.

I used to enjoy my job. It was a specific type of office based processing requiring accuracy and attention to detail and some people thought it was the pits, but it suited me down to the ground. But then the managerial disease started ramping up and it was more and more difficult to just go to work and enjoy the work, and when I reached an age and a financial base where retirement was an option, I took it.

Also, I can always find something more interesting to do rather than housework or organising junk, so if I don't make a list it still won't be done 10 years from now. I'm a lounge lizard by nature. I plan - whether I stick to this plan or not, who knows? - to motivate myself with various "carrots on sticks" if I achieve specific, easily achievable goals.

I know there will be some work related issues to recover from, but the joy of not having to deal with the managerial disease every day will probably lead to a swift recovery.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Apr 19 - 07:04 PM

I retired seven months ago to preserve my health - the place went from a well-oiled machine to a rudderless sinking ship over the course of five years with new management and a toxic "reorganization." Retiring, when I was finally eligible, meant escape, and as you note, getting away from nonsense, but as you also note, I really miss the old friends from the workplace.

It took a few months of drifting and doing nothing to get over that workplace, and a couple of more months to sort out how to use my time and how often I needed to get out socially to stay happy.

Enjoy your retirement, and best wishes on sorting out how to spend your days. The garden and work around the house seem to keep scooting along, moving to tomorrow on the calendar until you nail them down. I started keeping a list.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: leeneia
Date: 03 Apr 19 - 06:37 PM

Congratulations, Helen. I love being retired.

Harp, garden, playing with friends -all those things sound good.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Jos
Date: 03 Apr 19 - 04:36 PM

It's great that you are now free of work and able to spend your time doing more interesting things, and I do know what you mean about the "colleagues yakkity-yakking all day about fluff" - I remember that from the time I spent employed instead of working for myself.
But when people said that they hoped my day would pass quickly I used to find that upsetting. That day was a day that I would never have again, and however dreary and uninspiring the way I had to spend it, I refused to wish it away.

Subject: RE: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Apr 19 - 04:32 PM

Congratulations!

Best advice that guided our recent retirement-- no major decisions or expectations the first year. Let your body repair first, and discover your unique circadian rhythm.

~Susan

Subject: BS: Oh happy day! Retirement
From: Helen
Date: 03 Apr 19 - 04:11 PM

Hi all,

Today is the first day of the rest of my non-working life. No more working, no more managers driving me nuts, no more colleagues yakkity-yakking all day about fluff, but also no more good, kind friendly colleagues making the day go faster.

All the things I have to do around the house that I have been putting off, the garden which has become an out-of-control jungle, the stuff in the house and the garage that I have to sort through and get rid of, but also getting back into my artwork/painting, spending time actually practising the harp instead of just trying to wing it, spending more time playing music with my friends - so many things await me and work was just getting in the way of my life.

But for the next week I am having a rest, doing nothing or doing whatever I please.

Poor hubby! I sent him off to work this morning and I was dancing around, making jokes about him going and me staying at home.

I'm sure the euphoria will wear off soon, but when I was at school, if people asked me what I wanted to do when I left school my answer would be "nothing" because I like not having those commitments getting in the way of all the other things I love doing.

Just before I left yesterday I sent off an email to the whole unit recommending some antidotes to that affliction and/or blessing called work: Dilbert books and cartoons, Aunty Acid cartoons, the book by Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull called The Peter Principle, and a tiny selection of music choices reflecting my eclectic musical tastes.

The majority of people won't respond but some of them will.

A relevant quote from Aunty Acid is: "I'm going to retire and live off my savings. What I'll do the second week, I have no idea."

But life is an adventure so we'll see how it all goes. If it comes down to the wire, I'll just tell hubby he has to keep working forever. :-D

Helen