3 Months

 It is now (just over) three months ago that I went into my office for the last time in my previous role as a Productive Member of Society.

I’m trying to wrap my mind around the change this retirement has brought and I don’t know if that is even possible to capture. Contemplating change, making the change, and living the change are three very distinct experiences. I must consider that perhaps writing this blog is productive in a weird way? At least in giving me a way to process this change: to make my new life my own.

Possibly I wasn’t as productive as I liked to imagine I was? I wonder what personal growth feels like when it is unattached to the desire to contribute to some greater good. I’ve been describing in these posts some of the adventures I’ve had in this first segment of the next chapter of my life. Of course, I leave a lot out. Some, because it’s too personal, or because it feels too mundane, or because it’s not yet formed into a state that I can describe. I’m not writing about a particularly satisfying shit I may have had. You can thank me. 

I recently bought a welder. Learning how to weld has been an interest I’ve kept in the background for years so now is the time. Partly out of necessity, now. Rather than buy a new truck, I’m doing some repairs on my old one, including replacing the bumpers which requires some welding and I’ll write about that (with pictures) when I get to it. 

It occurs to me that I’m no longer able to spend money without worry as I did before and frugality brings its own adventure. I’ve found less costly ways to entertain myself: hikes with family which I will likely write about at some point, a canoe trip virtually in my own back yard coming up, repairing things around this place. Going for a sail in the bay. Cooking at home rather than go out as often as previously.

I have a watch that is useful as a navigation aid, running coach, it’s an activity tracker that prompts me to “move!” as it keeps an eye on my heart rate. It also assesses the quality of my sleep.  It can detect if I’ve had a couple of beers or cocktails or wine, and informs me through a detailed assessment of my sleep.  If I have a sleep score of 50, I must have been drinking booze.  If it’s 85? I’ve been better, avoiding the stuff. 

Interestingly, this feedback has brought me to drinking less. This has has the salutary effect of having me spend less money at the liquor store. Not completely to quit, however. Thank you Garmin Fenix, for scolding my behaviour and shaming me into better habits. I’m more responsive to the watch than I am to my wife, I suspect she thinks. My wife, that is..

I’m still a couple years short of 60. That’s awfully young to retire, isn’t it? I’ve wondered. I was recently briefly struck with the idea that I need to go to work. Where on Earth did that come from? I remain committed to my six month complete break from the world of work. Let’s talk about this in November, when I’ve got an inquest to preside over (about which you may safely anticipate I will write here absolutely nothing. If you want to know my thoughts on that, then you’ll have to request a copy of my verdict explanation).

I know that my days are numbered at least in a realistic way, quite likely smaller numbers than many people my age. I don’t know what that number is. But each day can count as much as I make it, no?

Another upcoming adventure is a long-planned trip to Portugal and Morocco with my wife. We will be joined by some friends in Porto for a week long bicycle trip. And then travel to Munich and hope to see some cousins. That will be the subject of some writing I believe.

I’m not sure how much of this travel, adventure, and reflecting and writing about it resembles being productive but I’ve been enjoying life just the same. I’ve got more to write about if you want to keep reading. But for now, good night.