Happy, Shiny People: Retirement
I had an opportunity to go to an outdoor band event – a live band! It’s so hard to get to hear a real band with real musicians these days.
It was at a local winery, the weather was gorgeous, and the hits were from the classic oldies including my era, the 80s.
All the gray-hairs were having SO MUCH FUN!
It got me thinking about how we see life at this stage. Looking across the sea of happy, smiling faces, I felt these people had no weight on their shoulders. All the years of fretting over finances, raising kids, obligations – all dissolved away.
Well, not for me yet. My circle of friends and acquaintenances are starting the wrapping up discussions. Some have dipped into early retirement or a hybrid of semi-retirement.
I am sooooo longingly watching from the side lines. That light-hearted feeling is an irresistible dream at this point. I’m ready to stop chasing my tail, but will my uniquely-wired brain let me?
The pattern of working harder, not smarter should pull into reverse any day – I hope. You know what? I think we get tired of our brains, we’re tired of fighting them. Our stubbornness loosens its grip a bit, things don’t seem so hard anymore.
We enjoyed the event with another couple. Talk soon turned to an acquaintance who had sold his business. The retiree shared with the new owner that “he looked forward to not dealing with people he didn’t enjoy.”
Ugh! Can you imagine years of that? Why, yes I can.
Another conversation turned to the couple’s own work situations. We all agreed that it was strange to find ourselves as now the “old people” at our jobs. For some of us, it’s not a hard stop when we retire. Some of us have evolving work plans.
I would be one of them. I can’t imagine myself not working, but my vision involves not working for others. I fancy that most of you will ride out your curiosity well into your dimming years.
Now that the door has been cracked open, I’m planning to attend more concerts by this great band. I encourage you to set aside the rat race, at least for a little while, and have some fun – retired or not!
#inthistogether -Renee
