It popped up in my facebook feed today that it was two years ago I made my decision to take early retirement public. I had handed my notice in on 19th January 2016, but it had taken us ten days to draft letters and adverts in readiness as we wanted to make sure parents and staff heard on the same day and everything was ready to go. I had just six months left of work and I was exhilarated that I had made the decision. Nigel and I had been talking about it for quite a while, but his surgery and subsequent issues of December 2015 finally made that decision real for us and the timing was right. The earliest I could justifiably retire was when I was 55 - so I was 55 and that was it. I was soon to be done with the work, the stress, the politics, the constant negativity of some people, the pressure of targets, of policies, of 14 hour days. I was finally to get a life where I could do the things I wanted with the people I wanted. So two years ago today it became public and 18 months ago I became a very young and very happy retiree. And I haven't looked back - not for a second. People told me it would take me a while to adjust. I think it took about a week!
I know I am very lucky. I have had an amazing 18 months - and I hope we have another 18 years, no ... 28 years - at least - to share the adventures together but the truth is you never know what might be around the corner. You never know how long your journey will be and so it is vital to seize the day if you can. We did. We seized and we are so happy. I know how blessed I am and I am eternally grateful for that. We have had to cut our cloth, substantially, but that doesn't matter at all. We are fortunate that we want for nothing and that we enjoy simple things that cost little. We would rather take our sandwiches to the park than dine in fancy restaurants, we don't drink or smoke or go clubbing and our luxuries of Starbucks and cinema membership are cost effective.
Two years eh! Fancy!
Compared to two years ago my day has been very different. It didn't start early to begin with. It started with a lie in (we are not late sleepers and usually awake by 8) and a scrappy morning and a lunch together and a scrappy afternoon and a haircut and lots of chat and an evening free of work, of e mails and of stress.
And thank goodness a haircut was a part of the day. Goodness me. I was almost at the stage of plaiting Nigel's hair. We have both been suitably shorn!
I scrapped a page for the weekly challenge on UKS this morning
I thought the title was very apt - a Parthenon - in Nashville. Why???
Today I am thankful for
- retirement and togetherness
- new adventures, new experiences, new friends
Congratulations on TWO years since the HUGE decision. I remember you really talked it out quite a bit here, but once your decision was made, you felt a huge weight off your shoulders--even though you had a ton of things to tie up before you packed up your office. I know you have not regretted your decision one little bit.
You are correct to say that one does not know where our roads will lead, but how wonderful to be at ease and with the one you love and hopefully much less stress through the years ahead.
Can you tell I love retirement, too? :-)
Posted by: Barb inAK | February 14, 2018 at 08:43 AM