In retirement, time …

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life, Peace, Retirement, Time

I saw this question on the Blog of my good friend Dr Spo, the question was about time and retirement and how it is viewed all together. Are there weekends or Monday Mornings? No not at all. Time becomes very fluid and the old markers established by school or work life are gone. They are no longer important, you have all the time in the world in front of you and you decide how to use it.

I remember when I retired some 9 years ago now, that day leaving the Office for the very last time, never to return, passing through the doors and unto the street, it was like leaving prison. The next morning I did not have to get up, I did not have anywhere to go, I could stay in bed all day, do as I wished, no more constraints.

What I discovered since you simply re-organize your life around activities you set up for yourself, you can become as busy or lead a quiet life, it is all up to you. I was told that it was important to decide before retirement from an active work life, what you will do afterwards. To decide to do nothing is dangerous and can lead to depression and an early death, television/internet is not the answer.

I knew what I wanted to do and went after it. I became involved in activities I liked. You become the manager of your own time and not the one being managed by others who set your schedule.

So no there is no melancholic Sunday afternoons, no dreaded Monday morning or TGIF either, none of that matters anymore. In fact I find that I simply forget what day of the week it is and just do what I want. As I often say to people if I am waiting in line for service, I have no where to go so don’t worry, I’m retired. I think that in retirement you can be very happy and have no stress, just enjoyment, you make of your life what you want it to be. Work what a concept, someone invented it, but who?

Villa Borghese Park in Rome, a beautiful, peaceful place.

29 December 2012

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Charlottetown, Ottawa, PEI, Retirement, Rome

I just realized that four years ago today I was retiring from the Foreign Service after 33 yrs of service to Canada, serving in 8 different posts over 22 years abroad.

I was re-reading the post I wrote in Ottawa on that day and how I came to that conclusion to retire by end of year in 2012. This is the motto I have been following since, which led to our move to PEI.

To invent the life you want to have rather than the life someone says you must have. It takes time.

Old Charlottetown seen from the roof of the Holman Hotel, I can see our house.  

In March 2012 I decided to return to Rome to consult with friends, I walked a lot in Rome  something I truly enjoy doing, the City is built like a theatre set and anywhere you look there is always something to attract your eyes.

Via Sistina at the top of the Spanish Steps

Looking down this street Via Sistina that morning in March I was just waiting around for Nancy de C. to visit the Convent at Trinita dei Monti, top of the Spanish stairs. So I was just looking down the street, Via Sistina, I took this photo at 9:55 am, if you look all the way you can see at the other end the steeple of the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The street changes names twice before you arrive at the other end, to Via Quattro Fontane and then to Via Agostino DePretis. It was busy that morning like all morning in Rome are and I do not know why, but a calm little voice told me, you know retiring would not be such a bad thing after all, you had a wonderful career. Rome and it’s sunlight can inspire.
That is when I decided that I would retire by year end. I came back to Ottawa, told Will of my decision. He arranged a very nice party with friends at our home on the 29 December 2012 and had our florist Minou make the most beautiful flower arrangement for that day.

How many times Will and I lived by that Chinese saying, our home has been the world and now four years later here we are in Charlottetown.