Being Retired

                I am still coming to grips with being retired.  I have worked all my life.  My first job was selling Christmas cards at age seven and there have only been short periods of unemployment since then.  I guess you could say my life has been somewhat defined by working.  Of course, this could be said about most retirees.  So, what makes mine different?  I can’t really say that it is.  What I can say is that it came too early.  I had planned on going on for a few more years.  However, the pain in my leg saw it differently.  Unfortunately, the pain became so severe that I had to start taking a strong narcotic just to deal with the pain.  The pain and the effects of the medication made work impossible.  So, I went on disability retirement.  Thus far, it has been good.  Una was also able to go on disability retirement, due to a work injury.  We have sufficient funds and life is good.  We have traveled the country in a motor home and are still on our journey.  Most days I don’t really miss working.  On the other hand, there are many nights filled with dreams about working.  I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss working.  Part of it is my chosen career, teaching.  It might be self-serving to say that I made a difference.  Yet, I strongly feel that every teacher’s influence has the potential to be life-changing.  I was a good teacher and I enjoyed teaching.  This played into my decision to retire.  I knew that given what I was going through with disability that it was impossible to give my students 100%.  Part of my missing work has to do with providing.  My life has been partly defined by my ability to provide for my family.  I am a provider.  Sure, I know that my retirement is still providing, but I am doing nothing to earn the money.  And, sure, it could be said that I have already earned the money.  There is merit to this.

        In the end, I am retired.  Life is good and fulfilling.  I am reading a lot, catching up on television shows that I didn’t time for before, and my wife and I are really enjoying time with each other.  All-in-all I feel good about retirement.  It is a new phase in my life – a good phase.  Una and I are loving the blessings God continues to provide.  We live in a beautiful country where there is more to see than we have time in our lives.  However, because we are retired, we are seeing more than most people ever dream.  I’m sure that as we progress I will miss work less, while enjoying retirement more.