Retirement Bliss


The first four months of my retirement were crazy busy. Remodeling projects kicked off the first week of January and continued well into April. I’m happy with the results and thrilled to have the near-constant disruption behind me.

Having to work would have complicated things. Telecommuting would have been a challenge with all the noise and I had no desire to go anywhere. Call me weird, but I want to be home when strangers are in my house.

Had I been working, Toodles would have been an issue. I stopped kenneling her when her diabetes was diagnosed and have never confined her to one room. Mostly, she sat with me. Once in a while, she wandered back to check things out, but otherwise showed little interest in all the activity.

The last week of April was our first without interruptions or commitments. I finally got a real taste of life in retirement. Other than the occasional doctor appointment, my calendar is wide open for pretty much the rest of my life — like a never-ending vacation.

The freedom to do whatever my heart desires whenever I want is hard to beat. I have plenty of chores, errands, and interests to keep me busy. Stuff gets done when I feel like it — not just when I can find the time.

Figuring out what to do with myself is not a problem. More often than not, the day gets away from me. I get busy doing something and, next thing you know, I’m out of time. How did I ever find time to work?

If I needed to work, whether for money or my mental health, there’s nothing I’d rather do than teach. Fortunately, I don’t need the money. As to my mental health, not having to work makes me happy. After much deliberation, I’ve decided not to return to the classroom.

I’ll miss interacting with students, making a difference in their lives, and having a captive audience for my stories. There’s a lot I won’t miss — like the hours spent grading, responding to emails, and dealing with problems. Now that I’m retired, I just don’t have the time.