AN EARLY UNEXPECTED RETIREMENT
I realized the other day that it's been SEVEN years since I left the job that had drained the last drop of my joy. I had no idea what I'd do next and who I'd be if I didn't need to schedule my life around paid work. Ultimately, I ended up spending a year or more just getting my mojo back and finding my feet again (all in the midst of the pandemic). Having the world shut down around the same time my life hit a wall gave me time to breathe and to reassess - was I between jobs or was I finished with working and ready to retire?
FIGURING OUT RETIREMENT
I think it took me a couple of years to realize that I wasn't looking to go back to work, but there was still a nagging feeling of having it end on someone else's terms and not my own. I chose to walk away, but it was because I had to rather than because I wanted to. It was like retirement had chosen me, rather than me choosing my retirement.
Around that time I found a little job advertised in our local paper (something that rarely happens in these days of online job agencies) and I put in an application with very little expectation attached to it. To my surprise, they contacted me, interviewed me, and within a week I was working again - only one day a week and for a really lovely employer. That little job gave me the opportunity to claim back my "employability" and to replace the awful job memories with some really positive ones....but life had other things in store for me.
ACCEPTING RETIREMENT
During that year or so in my new little job I had my hip replaced - with only 2 weeks off - it was super busy and I was needed. Then I had another operation appear on my horizon and I realized I didn't want to plan it around work, I'd reached a place in my mind and heart where I was ready to redefine myself without what I did for a living being part of my identity. I could leave on my own terms, with a positive outcome attached to the process.
It was a strange feeling to leave and to know that was definitely the end of being in the workforce, that I would have nothing to do all day every day....and how would that look for someone who was always busy? Would I be bored, would I need to find a pile of new hobbies? What would it all look like?
EMBRACING RETIREMENT
Well, it turns out that retirement has been the BEST thing ever. I remember when we first became grandparents and discovered how fabulous that was; retirement has been a bit like that - all these unexpected joys that are suddenly a normal part of life. All my earlier worries about not having a regular wage, or a regular timetable just went out the window. It turns out that retirement is pretty cheap, and contentment costs next to nothing.
Six months or so after I stopped working, my husband decided to retire too. We'd both crossed the line past 60 and we could access our retirement funds - so each fortnight money "magically" appears in our bank account from our superannuation fund, and with our savings on top of it, it feels like Christmas every day. The fears I had of living on a pension and needing to live on catfood were completely unfounded - we're self-funded and know that the government's age pension is always there if we ever need to claim it - what a privilege it is to live in a country where we have that back-up.
THRIVING IN RETIREMENT
So now we wake up every day to the retired life - the gift that keeps on giving. Part of me thinks I was born to be retired - the freedom, the flexibility, the contentment... it's just so pleasant. We have no big plans - and that's because we choose to have no big plans. We don't have any overseas travel destinations calling to us, we're happy to holiday locally. We're a day-trip away from some beautiful sea-change and tree-change destinations, and we have the time to visit them whenever the weather is beautiful and we feel like a drive.
Recently we visited a seaside town about an hour's drive away and sent our son the pics below - his first comment was how peaceful it all looked because they only get to see it in school holidays when it's packed with holidaying families with small children. We get to visit and holiday outside of those times - and on no-one else's agenda but our own.
When we're not holidaying, we're walking (my husband loves his beach walks), coffee-ing, reading, hobby-ing, he's volunteering (I'm still looking for somewhere new to volunteer that appeals - nothing has caught my interest yet), and generally just taking each day as it comes. We're always available for the family if they want to visit, I get to spend time with my mum each week, and I'm always free for a catch-up if someone calls. The retired life is so much more than I ever anticipated, and getting to dive in years earlier than I expected has been the absolute icing on the cake.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Have you retired yet? Is it all you expected? Are you thriving in this third phase of life, or is it still a time of adjustment? I'd love to hear what you think in the comments.
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My husband will be retiring at the end of August. He's tried it before, but wasn't ready. Now, though, he is. I'm not sure how that will look for us, but I've had a taste the last few weeks while he's been home injured.
ReplyDeleteHi Jo - I've noticed a lot of us (who aren't as multi-talented as you!) need to do retirement in a series of steps before we can truly embrace it. I think he'll love it - and you can enjoy slightly later morning walks. :)
DeleteGood luck to you and your husband Jo! My husband is still working part-time, but he is self-employed and works from home, so we've been getting a taste of what it will be like when he retires as well. I hope your husband is healing well!
DeleteMy husband was the same Christie and it made the adjustment to being around each other all day, every day so much smoother.
DeleteThis is inspiring news, my husband and I are thinking of retiring but are so nervous about financial situation, eating cat food (hee hee loved that expression) and generally being able to afford it. We both want it so badly, I am 61 and he is 64. Our dilemma is do we sell the house? do we move into a smaller place (unit)? do we buy property with one of our daughters and build a grandparents house? do we buy a caravan and travel???????
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely that you have so many options to choose from, and everyone's journey is different. I never expected to be able to retire at 60 and to be self-funded. We always had a very frugal life and I expected to be working for many more years. That being said, owning our home mortgage free makes life a lot easier - and downsizing is always an option if we want to free up more funds.
DeleteYou would want to be very certain of your choices to buy property with a family member and be locked into something that is so fraught with future changes on both sides. Our children have suggested we move to somewhere closer to them in years to come, but I like knowing our neighbourhood and being more independent of any choices they make in regard to moving down the track.
You have plenty of time to think through what would work for you long term and what is just 'dreaming' and not all that practical. Good luck!! :)
Love this blog post. Thanks
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure - I hope you'll keep coming back - and I'm always happy to hear your thoughts in the comments. :)
DeleteLeanne
ReplyDeleteI see myself in so much of your writings...I too left a job that had drained me and it was during the pandemic. I was not sure if I would look for another job part time or not. It took me a year or so to get past all the constant stress from the job mentally and physically. It turned out I loved being retired. The joy of doing what I wanted when I wanted was awesome. It has been four years now and I still pinch myself every day that this is my beautiful life and I get to live it. No BIG trips around the world just another day and year around the sun makes me happy. I love doing the little things in life buying a plant, spending time with a friend talking about the old days, playing Bunco with the girls, exercising at the gym.
Thanks so much for this blog. I really enjoy having my coffee and reading it in the mornings. I can relate to so much of your story.
Thank you so much for your really thoughtful comment and for being so encouraging. I love it when someone else understands the journey of unexpectedly leaving work and not being sure of the "what's next?" Also the effort it takes to put yourself back together after years of emotional and mental stress. My nervous system was shredded by the time I finally resigned!
DeleteI think I felt guilty enjoying being at home and felt like I "should" be working - going back to work that little job was the confirmation I needed to say that enough was enough and I'd earnt every second that I get now to be at home enjoying this peaceful life. I may not be living BIG, but I'm living happy and content - and that's even better.
I'm so glad that you took the time to comment and that what I write resonates - having someone else say it was a "me too" moment always makes my heart happy. :)
I'm so happy for you, Leanne. You must give yourselves credit for making the right choices - knowing what's best for you as individuals and as a couple. This is where I think shared values play such a big part! Rock on. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Corinne - you're so right about the shared values, and figuring things out together to meet somewhere in the middle when there are differences. We're both very content with the life we've created, and now it's just a matter of sinking my roots down deeper into it and letting the rest of the world get on with what they do, while I get on with what works for us. x
DeleteI've been reflecting on the retirement journey of late. I've been retired x 13 yrs after a 34 yr nursing career. The pension plan was offered all those yrs ago & I still marvel that I invested in it when it was optional & we could have used the money for daily living. But I did & now I'm enjoying the financial freedom that comes with that. I was a single mom, completed a post-basic degree program, built a house, enjoy my grandchildren & continue to maintain a rural property. Like you, I enjoy my home in the hills with many activities dictated by the seasons & no plans for keeping up with the Joneses. At the time of my retirement, so many people commented that I was "lucky". It's more than luck - it took decades of FT work & investment in a financial plan that included a relatively frugal lifestyle. Going into my 70's, I'm making a plan for moving from this rural property to a more manageable accomodation. My goal is to be purposeful about my decisions & make the life changes on my own initiative while I can still enjoy it all.
ReplyDeleteHi Mona - I think frugal living and smart investing of our funds is so under-rated by those with the spend, spend, spend mindset that's so prevalent today. Paying into a retirement fund, paying extra into our mortgage, going on small local holidays, shopping smart, and just being generally careful has brought us to where we are now - and (like you) I want to own those choices and not put it down to "luck" because it wasn't luck - it was being smart and savvy with the income we had.
DeleteI think downsizing at the right time and for the right reasons is really smart - especially as a single woman - I know I'll be ready to do so before my husband is, but I'll definitely be advocating for a move when things get more onerous with upkeep etc. Life is really good in retirement and I'm grateful every day to the younger me who guided us through the tight years that brought us to where we are now. We can cheer each other on. :)
I do believe that I have come into my authentic self in retirement! I love that I can choose what to engage in - hobbies, interests. And, while you might not think it, that my life is slowed down. I know at the moment, things are a bit of a mess, but I'm really looking forward to getting back to our home, back to gardening, back to a life of contentment.
ReplyDeleteHi Pat - I feel the same way about finding my authentic self since I stepped away from always being "on" when I was working. I thought I was a lot more extraverted than I actually am - and it's because I pushed myself to engage, now I allow myself a bit more grace and the room to breathe that my heart needs.
DeleteI think you've done amazingly well with the challenges that losing your home and rebuilding have brought your way. You're going to be so happy when you're all settled again and life returns to a more normal state. x
Love this post Leanne! All I can say is I’m absolutely loving retirement and haven’t regretted retiring for a minute. I too often say I think I was born for retirement, even though I worked very hard in stressful jobs and long hours too. I’d had enough and these days I couldn’t be happier! Chrissie x
ReplyDeleteHi Chrissie - well said! I don't miss the work environment, the hours, the bosses, the politics, the dynamics, or the time it all took. I love that I've found myself outside of all of that and it feels more kind and more real than those years ever did. I'm super happy and retirement is just the absolute best - and I'm so glad you think so too (it makes me feel like I'm not alone in rocking this stage of life!) x
DeleteI retired last year after 40 years of teaching. Then I worked on a book and published it last month. I am thinking of a new book now.
ReplyDeleteHave a great retired life.
That's fantastic - I love that retirement gives us time to do the things we love without squeezing them in around all those work hours. I hope the next book goes well too.
DeleteI love everything about this, Leanne, especially that bit about unexpected joys being part of our everyday retired lives. I also love that we can plan our outings on the off days or times of year when places aren't full of the weekend or summer crowds. My husband and I often remark on the fact that we rarely leave our home on weekends anymore. Along those lines, I love being able to schedule appointments at my convenience. And finally, I relish the fact that I hardly ever have to set an alarm in the morning. Most days, I can wake up when nature and my body tell me to. Retirement is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHi Christie - I LOVE that I never set my alarm anymore and I also appreciate being free for appointments and not needing to schedule leisure time to the weekends (we now do our grocery shopping on Saturdays because we know we'll be home :D)
DeleteAppreciating all the small joys makes retirement all the sweeter - and I'm just so grateful to be here to enjoy it so many years earlier than I expected to be!
Hi Leanne, I’m. A bit late this week! I got to retire 3 times…the first not really on my terms at all but the principal’s job wore me out. Sadly it was t until 2018 - 16 years later that I was privileged to receive the retirement and farewell from my work as an educator within NSW Dept of Education. The next times were at age 60 when I decided that trying to balance my life (& health) around part time teaching, part time grandchild care and with a husband not well it was TIME. That decision actually left me so lonely I found the world of blogging a year later. The final time, from any paid work was aged 65 and I had a small consultancy and as we had moved from Sydney it was too far to return. I also had a few volunteer roles with a couple of charities teaching migrants English…and I admit those organisations were far more bureaucratic than my former paid employer So I left; I admit my husband found that the case with his work with a helpline. All that aside, my retirement was not traditionally funded - from poor decision making & advice in 1972…to leave state super ..don’t ask! Anyway, so much water under that bridge now. B and I are enjoying our lfie style now at 77 and 76 and have enough to do and be. We are content. Can’t ask more than that. Denyse x
ReplyDeleteHi Denyse - it's funny how retirement can have many different paths leading to it, and yet when we find our way there eventually it's a lovely place to be. Living within our means also makes it a much easier transition - nobody needs a million dollars in retirement funds to live a happy retired life, all it takes is adjusting your expectations and being content. I'm sorry your State super didn't end up being the golden egg, but that's where our lovely aged pension comes into play - I like that it's there if we need it down the line - we're very privileged to have it here in Australia.
DeleteGreat post...I need to get out a bit more and do some exploring locally... I have been thinking about it for some time and your post really inspired me...Thanks so much for stopping by!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Deb
Debbie-Dabble Blog
Hi Debbie - we're very blessed to live on the coast and that opens up lots of local areas with scenic places to visit. We're big fans of morning tea in a lovely cafe (cheaper than lunch and just as satisfying). I hope you find a nice little spot to visit. x
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