My Journey
A series of articles about being given working notice shortly before retirement (Final article)
By Nancy
Senior Project Manager
Retired November 10, 2016
This is the third and last article in which I share with you my experience going through a working notice: my layoff date was 18 months after receiving my letter of termination, after 28 years of dedicated work. This article continues my journey from that devastating day to some acceptance and peace of mind.
A choice, a decision
After months of unrelenting confusion, low self-esteem, and mourning, I started to realize that I could not influence the executive decision to shelve me until my termination date. The decision was motivated only by money-saving and organizational restructuring – nothing personal. Once I fully realized this, and owned it, I could steer my way to a new world… a world that for years I could only dream of, and could only get a taste of during vacation.
Months before my termination date, my husband George and I met our financial advisor to acquire and discuss our long-term financial forecast. The first thing he said when we sat down with him at Tim Horton’s was, “You can retire if you want to.” I felt I could breathe again; the grey cloud over my head had been blown away. The very conservative numbers he showed us proved his statement. Frank would continue to work until 2020, as we had planned. I now felt I had a choice: if I wanted to work, it would be because I chose to work. What a feeling!
Making a life
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” ~ Winston Churchill
I always wanted to volunteer but working full time had limited my choices. When I retired, I continued to volunteer at the library’s To Go program, bringing bags of books, music, and DVDs to people who can no longer visit the library. I like the freedom it gives me to schedule which days and times I’ll visit, and I like meeting people and discussing book preferences. So, I have taken on more offsite library patrons. I’m now up to nine.
I continued to volunteer for an organization that provides therapeutic horseback riding for physically challenged people. Besides grooming the horses before and after a class, my role is to either lead horses or assist a rider by walking alongside the horse and ensuring the coach’s instructions are followed. I will continue volunteering there from spring to fall.
I have also continued to enjoy my role as Event Coordinator on the Board of Directors for a local trail club. Our club hosts at least four events a year. My role consists of planning dates and activities, finding and renting halls, coordinating all necessary details, committing volunteers, and final execution. Since my retirement, I added trail blazing, trail maintenance, and group hike lead. Our section of the trail is about 170 km long. Having been a career project manager in my past career, and loving the outdoors, this volunteer work is a good fit for me.
To my volunteer portfolio I have now added one-on-one weekly visits to six residents at a long-term care home. Volunteer work like this is new to me. For six years, I volunteered at a nursing home as bartender and event volunteer. The nursing home was located across the street from my home, so I could help at lunchtime and after work. When we moved to a new city, I didn’t have the motivation for this kind of volunteering while still working. However, I felt that I wanted to, and could do it, once I retired. I was a bit apprehensive, though, about visiting residents. I’m an introvert and small talk is not in my nature. However, I wanted to improve this social skill. I wanted this challenge. I knew the residents would appreciate my visits, and I would enjoy our chats. The residents I visit have different histories, different levels of lucidity, and different challenges. Therefore, each visit is unique. And, really, today, I can say that I do like it.
The amateur theatre group is a new and fun volunteer opportunity for me. Actually, even though I work for no pay at the theatre, I don’t consider myself a volunteer. It is so fun! And at the same time, it also challenges my skills and uses my expertise in project management. I work with a variety of individuals, each a different age, and each with varied personalities, theatre experience, etc. During all phases of putting a play on stage, I learn so much from everyone, and they are happy to share their experiences, skills, and knowledge. My first experience was helping with makeup for Les Misérables. I also auditioned for any small role in the ensemble. I didn’t get the part, but I met wonderful people who offered me opportunities to spring headfirst into stage management, production, and props. I love every minute of it!
Sailing the world
George and I own a Jeanneau 37-foot sailboat, which we keep in a small harbour town nearby. Even though I grew up on a farm in Quebec City, my feet firmly planted in acres of strawberries and potatoes, my sense of adventure and my complete trust in my Frank’s sailing abilities gave me an instant love of sailing. I took sailing courses in Toronto and learned a lot by experience and through George’s direction. I now have confidence that I am a good sailing partner. We have been planning, learning about, and experiencing cruising for many years now.
In 2020, we will start cruising every six months – for six months at a time – until we can no longer enjoy it. Whenever we end our six-month stretch, we will store the boat wherever we are and return to Canada. We plan to start by sailing the Caribbean and British Virgin Islands for two to three years, then cross over to the Mediterranean. After a couple of years there and in Europe, we’ll sail back toward the Americas, where we will sail along the East Coast of South America and then back north along its western coast. After many years of international sailing, we plan on sailing in Western Canada.
During the couple of years left before our departure, we will buy the big-ticket items, such as a lifeboat, wind and solar generators, water maker, emergency position indicating radio beacons, and more spare parts. And the list goes on. It’s unnerving… yet exciting!
A few lessons learned
We keep learning as we move through the years and through the various phases of our lives. This whole experience of ending my career and starting a new phase taught me a few lessons. One is to plan for the future, but to trust my capabilities when storms threaten. Also, if I were to work for a business again, I would never give up vacation time and evenings with my family in order to complete a business deliverable. In today’s business philosophy, this would not be acceptable. Hence, this is one of the reasons I’m no longer part of the business world. And, finally, I’ve learned the value of creating a peaceful harbour for myself in the world. There is nothing quite like coming through a life storm safely, to a place of acceptance and contentment. I am pleased to say I have accomplished this.
To read the other articles in this series, please see:
I love your series of articles, and appreciate the wisdom you have shared. Happy adventures!