I was asked today about the type of part time
work I would do after I retire. My 5yr plan is
all about NOT WORKING A JOB!!!
I have a feeling that active men & women can
only identify with a 'job title'. I choose to run
away from that theory as fast as possible.
I feel I will have 'work' to do because that is
what God expects of us. Sometimes my 'job'
will be to volunteer. Sometimes my 'job' will
be to chauffer my grandchild around or be
his caregiver while his parents work. Sometimes
my 'job' will be to travel and enjoy our world.
In 'retirement' I do not want to pull the 'age
discrimination' card to get hired 'part time'.
I have nothing to prove. I have no 'larger'
home to acquire. I want to be free of material
trappings and just live!
Recently Tom Petty was interviewed by CBS and
asked about his next birthday when he turns 60.
I just enjoyed his above quote so much I needed
to add it to my blog.
I have a similar feeling about aging. In less than
a year and a half I will reach that 60 mark. I say
'Bring it on!' I'll be that much closer to completing
my 5 year plan toward retirement.
In my plan I am attempting to be debt free as I've
done on one or two other occasions until the men
in my life chose for that accomplishment to become
only a faded memory. I then had to rely on credit
to remove us from financial calamity and keep us
afloat. Neither man thought he should be accountable
for our family responsibilities since I was making a
decent income (lower middle class to most!)
Retirement from the corporate mad rush is something
I cherish as time to write, reflect,volunteer and enrich
the lives around me in my local community. I am in
restraints because of the hourly portions of my days
devoted to my employer. Yes, I am thankful for the
job I have in this time of depression and uncertainty
in our country. On the other hand, I feel stifled that
I have so little time to mentor young adults and be
creative in my community.
I am grateful for each day that passes and getting
older. I have so much to accomplish before I'm dead!
Just before the holiday shopping experience gets
out of hand I am halfway through the book 'Enough'
by Adam Hamilton. This is a little church project
my Pastor started 3 weeks ago by purchasing just
enough copies of the book for everyone to take home.
Now she uses a different topic from the book each
week as her sermon.
This little paperback is hitting me right in the checking
and savings account! It is on target with my 5 year plan.
I've been in and out of debt through 2 marriages and
with and without children. It seems to come in waves.
My debt repayment plans work until everything happens
at once. If the car breakes down that's ok. With me it
is usually followed by 3 major appliances dying and a
major home repair.
I truly am making that 5 year plan to pay off the house
and dump the credit cards before I retire. Beefing
up the retirement savings a notch is also in the works.
If you are looking for a little game plan of your own then
find the book 'Enough' and see if it can give you track to
run on to live simply and find joy in your life.
Are we committed to change?
Whether it be for health issues
or relationships or careers?
Are we willing to explore what
the possibilities will be if we
move out of our comfort zone?
Since I have announced my
committment to retire from the
corporate world in 5 years I have
set the wheels in motion to change.
I need to use each day wisely to
move toward this goal.
I have decided to work toward the
'work' of being retired from my
current work and it's challenges
to a series of tasks I can not devote
my time and energy to now.
Will my ideas of volunteer work and
part time endeavors change in 5 years?
Maybe they will. As quickly as our
society changes and new technology
updates our daily tasks so too may
my choices change in the next 5 years.
All I know is that I want to keep learning
and be mindful of the digital world around
me so I can work within the framework of
my community to make lasting contributions.
