Update on being retired

In 2 months I will have been retired for a year. It's what I thought it would be and it's not what I thought . I thought I would miss school, but I rarely ever think about it. I knew I would miss the kids and I do. Funny how the two things seem separate to me. School was work, the kids were fun. That's kind of strange because school is supposed to be for the kids but it isn't. It's for the teachers and administrators. I wonder how many of them know that in the back of their minds but won't admit it and how many of them don't even have a clue!!!

We had a call at the elementary school a couple of weeks ago (I'm an auxiliary police officer...that means I volunteer to do the same as a regular officer but with no pay). They had lost a kid. He was supposed to have stayed for extra help after school but rode the bus home but didn't go home. Anyway as we were in the office trying to get all the facts straight, I was watching the teachers and office personnel and all I could think of was that it looked like you had kicked an ant hill open. Not only them but even the parents who were just picking up their kids seemed harried and in a rush. By the way...we finally found the kid...he got off the bus and went home with his buddy.

I think that's the biggest change I've seen. My life has slowed down to an almost slow motion like quality. No rush, no hurry, no got to get it done, nothing hanging over me any more. The days seem to flow into each other with a dream like motion. Oh there's still things I need to do, like cleaning out the smokehouse...been putting that one off since last summer and it will eventually get done but ONLY when I'm ready to do it. I think what it comes to is that "I" decide when, what, and where and not someone or something else telling me I have to do it now. Little things like doing the dishes or straightening up the house are a pleasure in themselves and not something as before that was done to get it out of the way.

So when someone asks me if I'm enjoying my retirement I just smile at them.

On being retired

I came to a fork in the road and took the one on the right. It led to a place that I'm only just beginning to explore. There is no feeling of having to be there on time any more, no pressure to get it done, no performing for others. Just the knowledge that I should have come here much sooner. I feel much like Red in Shawshank Redemption on the bus during his run to the border..."I'm so excited that I can hardly hold a thought in my head...the excitement that only a free man can feel on the start of a long journey."

I served my 36 years but it was by my own choice. I realize that now. But that's past and done. Now I have other choices to make and other consequences to live with.