So my neighbor, Tim, put me in my place yesterday. In talking about my job (my soon-to-be ex-job), he said "do you not like your job?" I told him that I did for a long time, but after 17+ years I'm just tired of it. He told me that I was part of a very select group of people, those not liking their jobs, "you know what that group is called? It's called EVERYONE!"
Well, I'm sure there's a lot of truth in that. But then why does almost EVERYONE, when I tell them that I'm retiring, ask me "but what will you DOOOOOO!" I am very well aware that in not working I will no longer be collecting a paycheck, and it is that fact that keeps most people from retiring. I get that. What I don't get is the idea that someone wouldn't want to retire because they would have nothing to do?
I guess the problem, really, is that there will be very little you have to do. Of course there will be errands and tasks you must accomplish, say, in order to eat, keep your cars running, keep your electricity on. But for the most part, most of what I do will be what I want to do rather than what I have to do. And without someone telling you what you have to do, you actually have to figure out what it is you really want to do. Yes, I see the dilemma.
However, if you are really honest with yourself, you must admit, that during the time that you are at work collecting your paycheck, you are sometimes (shall I posit even often?) doing something you want to do rather than what you have to do (chit chatting with co-workers, planning your next vacation, reading something interesting on the internet, or perhaps even posting something about retirement on your Blog!) So part of what I do in retirement will be things that I was formerly collecting a paycheck while doing, but will now be doing purely for pleasure (not avoidance of work).
But also I will do all those things I don't feel I get enough time to do during the week (sleeping, gardening, home improvement projects, sewing, knitting, reading, exercising and dare I say it, possibly even sex!) Yes, perhaps I am over-glamorizing retirement. Perhaps it will be really boring. Perhaps I will be overcome with guilt for not being a productive member of society. Or perhaps I will just hate not getting to spend money on whatever I want whenever I want it, we'll see. I'm very much looking forward, though, to seeing just how awful it will be. . .
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