Ah, I'm the kind who loves having an empty calendar. I spent 30 years responding to a school bell so there's nothing better for me than waiting for inspiration -- hopefully from a higher power. I will be celebrating my 80th birthday this month, and I'm excited to see what other opportunities arise for me to serve -- ones I can say yes or no to. Since I retired, I've directed numerous productions at our community theatre, actually raising $25,000 for charity from one of them. I started a hand-on fine arts program for 300 kids Gr. K-5, edited several friend's books and a guy's PhD thesis -- along with writing a blog and publishing a book of my own. I supervised student teachers and taught part-time at a small college. I just stopped volunteering at Hannah's House, a place for dysfunctional families. I've been to Europe twice. I had no idea I would do any of these things when I retired. I love my empty calendar. I love the lack of stress that comes with it. Yesterday, It gave me a fun opportunity to be interviewed by a college student about old age. Ha!
WOW! That is filling your decades with amazing and valuable activities. I can feel your vitality, Jan and I love it. I must say Substack is now one of my main activities. The other is to make sure I am being a person with something valuable to say.
Good post. You're on the money re those thirty years and the fact we just don't know how long we've got. At 84, I'm happy having an open schedule, although even a fortnightly Substack commitment keeps one busy. Keep your health and keep your options.
Thanks Ann. I agree, we never know how long we've got but it's lovely to plan for 30 more years. It certainly made me think about making sure I kept my health and fitness - I call it 'ready to be ready' for any opportunity that may come along. Right now I am loving Substack and the people like you I am meeting.
Excellent and thank you. I'm not sure I was ever that purposeful. In my 60s, I was still getting work (I worked freelance, so retirement was never a set time) and in my 70s I was involved in writing books as well as helping my two grandchildren. I never found myself in a rocking chair with nothing to do.
Now into my seventies, I still make plans for the next 5, 10 and 20 years. Who knows what the future brings? But I sure as hell would like to create my own future, not just let it happen to me!
This is a great essay...I LOVE having an empty calendar! A career in advertising has made me really appreciate freer time now. I have so many interests and every day is an opportunity ....especially to travel. I'll be 71 soon... I could never just "sit".
The pull of relaxation is strong. But I keep fighting it because I want to maintain my momentum. So sad for your loss. The "Beryls" in our life are remembered for the lessons they teach us.
Hi Rob. Gosh - don't you just love Beryl! May we all know and love someone just like her in our lives. You were very blessed. I have been thinking about your post all day. It occurs to me that we spend much of our adult life working to live, pay mortgages, bring up children and contribute to society. Though busy and sometimes manic, it had a purpose. On retiring, and after the excitement of not having to deal with the annoying people in the office (after all we keep in touch with the ones we like), we do stop and pause. It's at that vital junction that we decide on the road we will take.
I think it's important to choose the path that carries a purpose.
Virginia Woolf once said, "There's only one thing you should not waste in life, and that's life itself". I'm doing my best to do that.
Ah, I'm the kind who loves having an empty calendar. I spent 30 years responding to a school bell so there's nothing better for me than waiting for inspiration -- hopefully from a higher power. I will be celebrating my 80th birthday this month, and I'm excited to see what other opportunities arise for me to serve -- ones I can say yes or no to. Since I retired, I've directed numerous productions at our community theatre, actually raising $25,000 for charity from one of them. I started a hand-on fine arts program for 300 kids Gr. K-5, edited several friend's books and a guy's PhD thesis -- along with writing a blog and publishing a book of my own. I supervised student teachers and taught part-time at a small college. I just stopped volunteering at Hannah's House, a place for dysfunctional families. I've been to Europe twice. I had no idea I would do any of these things when I retired. I love my empty calendar. I love the lack of stress that comes with it. Yesterday, It gave me a fun opportunity to be interviewed by a college student about old age. Ha!
WOW! That is filling your decades with amazing and valuable activities. I can feel your vitality, Jan and I love it. I must say Substack is now one of my main activities. The other is to make sure I am being a person with something valuable to say.
Good post. You're on the money re those thirty years and the fact we just don't know how long we've got. At 84, I'm happy having an open schedule, although even a fortnightly Substack commitment keeps one busy. Keep your health and keep your options.
Thanks Ann. I agree, we never know how long we've got but it's lovely to plan for 30 more years. It certainly made me think about making sure I kept my health and fitness - I call it 'ready to be ready' for any opportunity that may come along. Right now I am loving Substack and the people like you I am meeting.
Excellent and thank you. I'm not sure I was ever that purposeful. In my 60s, I was still getting work (I worked freelance, so retirement was never a set time) and in my 70s I was involved in writing books as well as helping my two grandchildren. I never found myself in a rocking chair with nothing to do.
Same here. Retirement has always just been the rest between ventures.
Now into my seventies, I still make plans for the next 5, 10 and 20 years. Who knows what the future brings? But I sure as hell would like to create my own future, not just let it happen to me!
If we don’t put our future out there someone else surely will. Thanks for reading Bruce.
This is a great essay...I LOVE having an empty calendar! A career in advertising has made me really appreciate freer time now. I have so many interests and every day is an opportunity ....especially to travel. I'll be 71 soon... I could never just "sit".
The pull of relaxation is strong. But I keep fighting it because I want to maintain my momentum. So sad for your loss. The "Beryls" in our life are remembered for the lessons they teach us.
Hi Rob. Gosh - don't you just love Beryl! May we all know and love someone just like her in our lives. You were very blessed. I have been thinking about your post all day. It occurs to me that we spend much of our adult life working to live, pay mortgages, bring up children and contribute to society. Though busy and sometimes manic, it had a purpose. On retiring, and after the excitement of not having to deal with the annoying people in the office (after all we keep in touch with the ones we like), we do stop and pause. It's at that vital junction that we decide on the road we will take.
I think it's important to choose the path that carries a purpose.
Virginia Woolf once said, "There's only one thing you should not waste in life, and that's life itself". I'm doing my best to do that.