Time for a change 3

Following Frank into Retirement – 2 months into it

A series of articles starting 5 months from retirement and into retirement

By Frank

A retirement coach I know once commented that, upon retiring, people don’t often change their habits of a lifetime. This remark worried me at the time (even more than most things that she says to me) as I didn’t want to continue my lifelong habits. Instead, I was hoping to develop a totally new routine that better suited my image of a retired Frank. Unfortunately, so far old habits prevail. Last month I whined about not getting a chance to really retire; this month has been not much better in terms of having time at home. The days we are at home have not seen a change in our routine but have continued on as an extension of our typical working-life weekends. I’m not making much headway into my list of favourite things or even new challenges. It is time for me to rev up my will power and start making changes in my life.

Slug city

I like to be active. I also like to be a slug. I really do enjoy our weekend morning routine (now every day) of having a slow breakfast while reading and doing “Words with Friends”. It is often well past 10 a.m. before we start thinking about what we intend to do that day. We also read for about an hour at lunch and then either watch Netflix or read in the evening. While this routine fits well with a busy work schedule, I’m finding it a bit too sedentary for our new life.

While I was working I could always use the excuse that there just wasn’t enough time in the day or that I was too tired to pursue some enjoyable physical activities (note that I definitely did not say exercise). I can no longer hide behind my work. I find myself craving outdoor activity. Suzanne has been a really good sport about taking me for walks to our group mailbox or for a snowshoe around our property, but I need to start building my own routine since my need to run around exceeds her need or desire. I need to get out for more snowshoeing and skiing, start yoga classes, and maybe even lower my standards and go to a gym a couple times a week.

It is going to be an uphill battle (it’s too cold/snowy/early/late/boring/painful/expensive…).

Taking leave

One task that I did get done was cleaning out my work desk. I took several boxes of files to the dump to be recycled and boxed up my reference texts that still seem to function as my security blanket. While the purged work area was definitely a step forward, it was an uncomfortable experience to dismantle my work of the past 30+ years. While not in the least nostalgic for my work, I recognized that I was bringing to a close an aspect of my life to which I had devoted considerable time and energy; an area in which I had expertise, confidence and respect. I do not expect to return to my profession. It was a bit of a downer, which fortunately disappeared with the tossing of the last box into the recycling bin.

A note is sounded

On the positive side, my bagpipes are now airtight and I have been building up my lip and cheek muscles as I slowly relearn to play the pipes. There is a lot of spit flying around after only a tune or two so it will be a while before I can pipe in a haggis. I try to play at least once a day until I blow out a lip.

On other fronts, the stove, table, four chairs and sundry detritus from our children’s student apartments have been cleared out of my workshop. I’m converting a platform bed (that has also been stored in my workshop) into a large worktable to replace a dining nook (also in my workshop) that has never been used.

I figure that the next two months are critical for me in developing a new routine. I will have to push myself out of my well-worn ruts and start down a new path. While I am currently smugly content with my retirement to-date, I can’t help feeling that with some mental and physical stretching it could be so much more enjoyable and rewarding.