Cresting The Hill

I totally agree. Just yesterday my sister and I were talking about what we want in life now that we are on the other side of 55. The kids have flown the nest and all we really want is to be happy and do nothing! Maybe just potter around savouring everymoment and enjoying the freedom - the fact that you can choose not to do anything if you want to.

Hi Leanne - In about one a half years I will hit 60, and I have already started looking forward to it. With plans to lead a relaxed but well-engaged routine, I am thinking of setting a timetable for myself. I will stick it on the wall where I can see well, and will try my best to follow it.

While I am not retired I definitely get bit by the travel bug more than ever. There is so much I want to see and do but at this stage in life it is definitely not a time to plan anything big so I'm contenting myself with smaller local trips. I do write up short, seasonal bucket lists of fun things I'd like to try and do each season but something it is simple things like read some good books, work on a puzzle, etc. Since I like to balance all that travel out with quiet things to do around the house.

Thank you so much for this post! When people ask me what I'm doing in retirement my answer is simple: "Whatever I damn feel like." It always catches them off guard! For me, this time is gift and I'm spending it unwrapping and unpacking work life baggage, questioning what I need and want, recovering and discovering myself, my spirit, relationships. It's intentional and it's plenty and good enough for me for right now.

Hello Leanne - I can relate to everything you wrote. After forced retirement (health issues) and the terrible losses in my life, I want to live a slow, quiet life just like the description via Imperfectly simple and the quote by Jann Arden. I have limited energy and I like to savor each moment reading, having a nice cup of tea or coffee, going for a walk and reading your wonderful blog. Comparison is an exercise in futility. Live and let live! Thank you for sharing! xox

Hi Leanne. I think social media tends to perpetuate this need some people have to compete. I'm with you, I don't need anyone's approval about how I'm living my life. Like you, I was never defined by my job of teaching young children, although I enjoyed it. That phase of my life ended a long time ago. I am enough right now. Also, you must know how truly inspiring your blog posts are to other people. I would think that the positive feed-back that you receive in the comments, would be so rewarding. Thank you for sharing, dear friend! Christina Daggett

Hi Leanne, I’m sort of semi-retired (I take the odd temp job) and often feel guilty that I should be doing more with my time. I hadn’t planned to give up full time work early, but after 5 yrs in a horrible job it was time to leave for the sake of my health. I feel much happier now that I can pick and choose what I do and my blood pressure is now normal. Your post is a reminder that it’s okay to just be and not worry about feeling the need to meet the expectations of others. I loved Jocelyn’s comment. Maria

It has taken me awhile to accept I really don't like to travel much. It is a "should" I still fight internally, especially as so many of my friends are avid travelers. I also know I need structure in my days, so I do keep a calendar (and a possibilities list), and often jot a "to-do" list in the morning... usually so I don't forget something I want or need to do! Today if had "paint the golf balls", which is the next step in a crafting project and I forgot to do that 3 days in a row now as I got caught up in other things - garden work, blog writing, reading, crosswords, visiting a friend for coffee and pool time...but today, I did that craft step (I'm sure they will show up in a post!). I never think of my days as busy.... full, yes. Fun, usually. And that fits me!

I'm contemplating some massive changes at the moment - but nothing I can speak about on blogs or socials just yet (too many colleagues are on my socials so any comments etc would get out quickly) - so this resonates. I don't intend retiring just yet, but maybe stepping back a tad. Who knows...

Hi, Leanne - You are so right about choices and about what works for one person can be totally diffferent from what works for another. We all have 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have more control in how we fill them than we sometimes think (and it took me a very long time to realize this)! :D

Hi Leanne, I remember asking myself some of these questions when I was 'made to retire' and the one about who am I without a job title was the one that took me the longest to get used to. I'm now fine with it and quite happily say I'm retired or I'm a blogger when someone asks me what I do. Lots of adjustments and really as you say, what suits one doesn't suit everyone. I'm feeling a little lost at times now that I'm back from my exciting travels and sometimes crave something more but other days I'm quite happy with my days. It's all relative and we just have to make the most of what we can. I'm not one to compare my life with others either and get joy out of seeing how others fill their days, whether they're busy or not :). You seem to be finding your own rhythm which is what it's all about! Enjoy :)

Hello Leanne, a lot of what you have written is what I am aiming for and I have found reading your blog has helped me start to think about the life I want when I retire. At the moment, I am still at a busy stage but I am starting to take time for myself and silence the little voice that whispers that I should be doing x. y or z,

Hi Leanne, I'm retired too and want a simple and quiet life with a bit of travel here and there. I love nature and love visiting places I've never been before and learning new things. BUT I'm not really a fan of hanging around airports and flying on planes (I get more nervous on them as I get older) ... and I'm very much a homebody so I'll never been one of those people constantly travelling. There's a couple of big ticket places I'd like to go to before I get too old though. A lot of how I spend my time now though is out of my control since we need to care for Mum these days but I try and do things that bring me joy when I can. Have a great week! xo

Hello, Leanne: I retired two months ago after a LONG career of working. I spent a career of traveling throughout the country, Canada, and Mexico, living out of suitcases, catching flights, and thousands and thousands of miles driving to various destinations. Consequently, I have no plans to travel in my retirement years. In my final drive home, I heard the song, "Time for Living" by The Association. How appropriate! This far I have restored two vintage bicycles that I purchased back in the late 1970s. Two weeks ago, I took a week-long bicycling trip, camping and riding the roads less traveled, taking in the sights and sounds of freedom! I bicycle every day, shedding the pounds of "working weight," or that which one acquires from not enough exercise time and too much working time. And I am not going to miss those treacherous winter drives!

Hi Leanne, I've come to realise that competition is something we impose on ourselves rather than others. I can look at women on social media and admire them for what they do but also know that I won't try to be like them. They inspire me but I have to find what's right for me. No pressure only the pressure we place on ourselves. xx

I haven't found that unbusy stage. I think it might be somewhere up ahead but it certainly isn't in my near future. I love the business that I have now -- lots of Nan time with my grandchildren, tons of creative time, some travel and a small amount of work committments. But we each need to do our own path. I nixed FB a while ago (like 4 or 5 years) as such a time waster and I feel it leads us down a negative pathway. Bernie

Here is the trick to life, you don't need to compete now - but you never did. The earlier you realise that, the happier you are. For some reason, we set up all these random rules on success & importance for ourselves, half of them are cultural and if you talk to someone from another country you realise their set rules are different to ours and they think ours are strange and vice versa. But they are just our normal.
Tho I will argue with you on the learning - it's not about the assignments, it's about the joy of learning. I did a course in lockdown with University of Iceland and once a week I spent 3 hours doing the course - I was by far the dumbest person in the group but that just meant I learnt from everyone (all these people around the globe would apologise for their bad English and then use words I had to look up!) but I LOVED it. I looked forward to that day in all the sameness of lockdown and I felt energised by the end of it. Of course, it's not for everyone, but don't think there has to be a purpose to learning and study. It can just be fore pleasure and enjoyment. I'd quite like to go back to uni for a bit (or even high school because that's cheaper and they now do psychology and women in stem and all sorts of interesting subjects....;)

I think it sounds lovely to enjoy a quiet, unbusy retirement. I'm a bit surprised that it's even a thing studying and planning a second career in retirement - those people aren't really retired then, they're just changing careers! To me it would be a total YES about learning something new in retirement, but not to make a career, just for the enjoyment of learning something new (plus it keeps the brain young and fresh). I think your way of living as a retiree sounds very appealing. :)

Leanne, what took me so long to come to your blog? This post resonates with me. Ten years into retirement, I'm still not over the slow mornings. The week is often grounded with "to-dos" on the calendar interspersed with whatever comes to me. The seasons often dictate activities. Love your reference to Jann Arden; she's from my province of Alberta, Canada. Have you read any of her books? When retirement was imminent, a common question was, "What will you do when you retire?" My response: Those things I did before 8 & after 5, I'll do between 8 & 5. After retirement, people often asked: What do you do now that you're retired? I came to realize that people aren't that interested in what I do; they wonder what they would do without a job to go to. I was never a fan of the word "busy" preferring the word full. Life is full. I still get a kick out of the look on people's face now when I reply "no" to their question "Busy?" I've always enjoyed homemaking. In retirement I get to spend time in the house I rushed away from to the job that paid for it all. I'm grateful for that nursing career that was more than a job but never completely defined me. I've become more of who I am in retirement.

Hi Leanne: You really spoke to my heart with this post and put into words how I feel in retirement. I enjoy being home and doing things I want to do. It seems each time I do a small
"job" either at my church or with tutoring, etc, I feel stressed by the other people involved. I'm debating with myself whether I want to give up my church job at the end of this year. While It is nice to keep using my skills, it's also nice to just not have to worry about other people anymore! Thanks for sharing a great post.

Dear Leanne, have you ever considered some of your great skills and talents are as a sharer of words with others...like this blog, and look at the number of people you interact with each week who share views too. Congratulations, a lot of people are very interested in interactions with you and you enjoy the conversations too. I have always had a title. Wife, Mum, grandma, teacher, principal, cancer patient. blogger, ambassador and more....and those are still within me but no longer determine me or what I stand for. I use them as needed for indentification but no longer for "who I am". I am Denyse. That's it. Loving my changes with social media as they bring me closer to me. Thank you so much for sharing your blog post for the first link up of Denyse’s Words and Pics. I hope too, that you will be back next Wednesday. Warm wishes and appreciation from Denyse.

Well, I am 25 years from retiring with a full pay check. (I'll probably retire earlier.) I am very grateful that I have travelled a lot earlier in life, and even though I am not retired I can relate to your post. I usually have one longer (5-6 weeks) week vacation in the summer, and a couple weeks in the winter. My younger self would have want to maximise the vacation in any way I could. Nowadays I am perfectly happy and content doing a little gardening, go to one of the local beaches, and perhaps make some day trips within the region I live. Many of my colleagues spend almost all their vacation abroad, and I am happy for them, but don't feel any desire to join them. It is a very good feeling, being happy with what you have.

Leanne,
again, I love this post....I am doing exactly what i want to do in retirement...I have no desire to travel, take courses unless it is craft classes, or get a part time job....I do feel I am living my best life...Thanks so much for stopping by!! I actually live in a small 1325 sq. ft. townhouse...Here is a post I wrote on where I store everything: https://debbie-dabbleblog.blogspot.com/2023/08/new-buys-gifts-and-setting-record.html
Hugs,
Deb

Leanne,
Not offended by your comment at all..It is the ones that ask with the bit of sarcasm like How on earth do you clean this house? or Don't you think you should get rid of something first before you buy more? , etc....Those are the ones that get me because you can just hear the judgement in their voices!! I think organization is one of my super powers and I learned it from my neighbor Elly....She had a place for everything and everything was labeled and she knew exactly where everything was...I hope you have a gret weekend, my friend!!!
HUgs,
Deb

Thanks for these lovely reminders, Leanne. The social media highlight reel is *such a thing*. I'm far from retirement but have shifted gears at mid-life from outside-the-home career mode to being a work at home farmer & homeschool mama so my rhythms, perspectives, and approach to life have shifted massively in the last few years. I am learning slowly, steadily, that my worth is not determined by my productivity (wild concept, I know) and that life is so very full and so very good (even in the harder times) even if it's not captured for social media or validated by any external sources.

Hope you're enjoying a mellow weekend and have a lovely week ahead!

Hi Leanne, Thank you for your weekend coffee share. The best thing about retirement is the freedom to choose what to do with your time, from little to a lot. There is no one size fits all. I’m glad you found what works for you. Except for blogging, I am not on social media. I’ve been selective with how I spend my time and I am enjoying life with gratitude.

I so love this. Thanks for sharing this primer with us. Very nice.

A simple, unbusy life sounds lovely. I still have awhile to go till retirement, but I'm already thinking about what I'd like those years to look like, and the main theme is, Slow. No rushing to cram as much as possible into a day/week/month/lifetime. I want to be able to slow down enough to be present, to truly live in each moment, because it's the everyday moments that make a life far more than the exceptional ones.

This is so good and so true Leanne. I sometimes find myself thinking, how does so and so manage their time to do all these things, but I can't seem to, or maybe I should be doing something other than blogging and reading peoples blogs and doing puzzles. I don't really have a bucket list either. I loved your #3 best.

Leanne, a lovely post. It has taken me a while but after having to take a complete break from everything last year I realised that I don't need to compare what I am NOT doing with what others are doing if that makes sense.

I haven't quite thought of what my retirement would look like. I am actually looking into retiring early. Maybe I'll become work optional when my kid graduates from high school which would make it 15-16 years from now. By then I would be barely in my early 50s but hopefully I have other stream of income. I think I see myself doing more travel in retirement, but I get to travel slower.

Hi Leanne. It was such a surprising and - relieveing post about somewhat praise of idleness among a race of to do lists. I have been retired for four years. Most of my friends disapproved me of being retired in my early fifties and at the top of my profession teaching my experiences to the resident doctors. But I was really overwhelmed of the steadily increasing workload due to the countries health services policy. I was also aware of the thing that I cannot cope with the enourmous pace of improvement in my specification some of which are related with digitalisation. That meant someone younger would be more useful than me because I am no good at computers. Besides I have been painting since childhood and became a quite well known artist by working too hard over it during my professional years. I spend my days painting, reading, crafting; I have adopted a blind and very aggressive cat since four years, also I have a husband and an old mom to care for. Though not lasy, I still feel doing nothing. Maybe teaching painting ( not for earning money) would be a purpose, but the market is stuck because I live in a big city full of good artists. I feel like doing nothing though I do things. Besides after years of health service what I do know seems redundant. Your point of view is interesting, soothing, I am happy I came across your blog, but still I have to think more about it. Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts with us.