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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

My retirement ain't what it's supposed to be. (1)

I'm sixty-five years old and retired from the 9-5 rat race. For the last several years that I worked, I thought a lot about retirement, actually looking forward to it, because I would then have the time to write that I've always dreamed of having.

How would my day go? Sleep until I feel like getting up (sleep has been a problem for me for the past fifteen years--just couldn't get enough of it). Drink coffee and settle down to my computer and start writing. Or, go outside and sit by the swimming pool and read and write--my favorite thing to do. Work for two or three hours, have lunch, take a nap, then write for another two or three hours. The rest of my time would be for whatever I want to do. I'd finally get published and make enough money to pay off the bills and do some traveling. My wife, who's six years younger than me, could quit her job if she wanted to, or just work a couple of days a week (she's a dental hygienest).

It would be the life I've always wanted to live. Give me fifteen or twenty years of good health and writing and I could accomplish my dreams.

But reality has a way of being quite different.

7 comments:

Misha Gerrick said...

Reality does have this nasty way of derailing our best laid plans. I'm just hoping it doesn't derail mine too much. I've got a lot of things to do. ^_^

Juliana L. Brandt said...

I have no idea what I'd do if I didn't work...I'd get so bored!

Valentina Hepburn said...

We have a new year ahead of us, Richard--and I think that can bring us all new hope, new dreams--and hopefully, a realization of old ones. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a very good new year. And you never know--you may still realize your dream of publication.

Tanya Reimer said...

Your life can change in a minute. Hey, maybe your retirement is better than it was planned. Can't wait to read more!

I remember ten years ago when we started planning for our retirement. Our adviser looked into our eager eyes and said, "early retirement? with these amounts? not a problem if you go back to work at 65." Hahahaha. Reality sucks.

Happy holidays, Richard.

J.L. Campbell said...

Oh yes, reality is never quite what we expect.

graceonline said...

Curious to find out how it's different! New post coming up?

writing and living by Richard P Hughes said...

@Kathryn Grace
There's a lot to say, but I'm afraid of saying too much. So, I'm waiting for the right words to come.