BLOG # 14: Moving On
Where to start?
I can’t believe that I’ve had so much trouble starting and completing this final blog. Unlike the late Issac Asimov (who, once he’d perfected his craft, didn’t do more than one edit and never a major edit), I seem to have digitally torn up, tossed, and re-started this last blog several times.
But, here I am. Thanks for sticking with me.
Twelve months have passed since I left SAIT, and here I am writing my last A-Year-In-The-Life-Of blog about my transition from full-time work to retirement.
June 21, 2018: Last day of full-time work at SAIT and that day I had or gave more hugs than I ever normally give or receive in a year. (Remember, I’m an introvert and we tend not to be huggers.) That June 21 was hot and sunny.
June 21, 2019: This day marks the first anniversary of my retirement journey. This June 21 was cold and rainy. However, this June 21 also happily marks my friend Janeen’s retirement and her retirement party. Like many of life’s landmark events, my similar-aged friends and colleagues are now transitioning to some sort of retirement.
I’ve learnt so much in the past 12 months: about the process of blogging, about writing for blogs, about the transition to retirement, about myself. So, it seems fitting that I wrap up with a selected summary of the year’s learnings.
Do you remember that fabulous Australian movie The Man from Snowy River based on the famous poem by Banjo Paterson? Do you remember that slow-motion scene where our drop-dead gorgeous hero and his equally good-looking yellow dun horse jump over the cliff?
No?
Then watch this YouTube clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo51fIu_fjk.
If you don’t want to watch the entire recitation of the poem, then the clip you want is between 2:37 and 3:17 minutes. That scene captures what the leap into retirement has been for me (minus the inspirational music, naturally). Fortunately, (if we continue the metaphor), hero and horse safely make it down the cliff and successfully complete their task – which you will see if you watch the entire clip.
By the way, prior to this movie, our hero was a novice horseman, he did his own stunt work, and the leaping-off-a-cliff scene was shot in one take.
Retirement Preparation:
What I’ve learnt is that it is not enough to put money away and build up pensions and investments. Important, yes; absolutely yes, . . . but it’s not enough.
Serious consideration has to be given to what one is going to “do” for 20 or 25 years and that what one does in those years might be different about every five years.
There are stages to retirement just as there are stages in career building, and what I am developing a better understanding of is that one must give serious consideration to what one’s retirement will look like when one is fit, active, still has one’s partner, grandchildren are arriving (…whatever the big events are in your life). Then there’s the transition to slowing down and possibly ill health. And then there are those final few years when the things you enjoy now might no longer be possible.
Tied in with my thoughts on retirement preparation is one of those "worms" of an idea that keeps creeping around in my thoughts. Half formed and currently not well organized, but . . . I’m beginning to think that my career-related knowledge, skills, experience, and qualifications are absolutely bloody useless.
Yup. That’s what I said. Absolutely bloody useless.
Ummmm, . . . well, perhaps with the possible exception of my horse-related qualifications. Horse-related “stuff” had been my vocation for many years and has been my avocation for some sixty-odd years, and my current volunteering with a therapeutic riding centre makes good use of the knowledge, experience, and skills 60 years in the making.
Okay, okay. Let’s return to my comment about workplace skills being useless. Yes, I know that without all the workplace experience I’d built up, all the committee work, all the special project work, all the professional development, all the conference attendance and presentations, and all the various "official" pieces of paper . . . I wouldn’t have had the interesting career I’ve had, and I wouldn’t have had the same access to a decent salary, benefits, and a pension.
But . . . NOT ONE SINGLE THING connected to the doings of my career, nothing I did or didn’t do, has one whit of influence on my “career” as a retiree. Which is a little alarming, or a little confusing, or a little amusing, and/or a little comforting depending on my mood and the day and my interpretation of my musings.
Now, even as I write this provocative declaration, I do realize that my fuzzy ideas are wide open to misinterpretation (even by me) . . . but give it some thought and let me know if you (if you are already retired) use your workplace-related skills and/or qualifications in retirement, and give it some thought and let me know if you (assuming you are still gainfully employed) can anticipate using your workplace-related skills when you transition to retirement.
Government Forms:
You may recall my traumatic events with form filling for my LAPP pension and my CPP/OAS pension applications. I'm not anticipating more trips to the Harry Hays building in my future, and I don’t expect any more tears of frustration and an exercise of my vocabulary. Yet, the pension-related paperwork never seems to end because further paperwork is required by the CPP folks to prove that David is my spouse and prove his age (even though we’ve already provided the appropriate paperwork). I have temporarily put this paperwork aside as I just can’t stand the thought of trying to tackle it.
This graphic popped up on Facebook recently. Seems appropriate.
Source: Facebook, June 19, 2019
In the meantime, I’m starting on the British pension. Please don’t get me started on the trials and tribulations of British pensions . . . sufficient to say that successive British governments have successfully screwed up the whole pension system and especially for women and even more especially for women in my age group. There are many groups lobbying the government of the day. Understandably, the government of the day is engaged in figuring out what to do about Brexit and has little patience for the concerns of women and their pensions. There may yet be a court case at the Hague, but I could be pushing up the daisies long before that all gets sorted out.
In the meantime, I got my first answer for a request for more information . . . although I don’t know why government personnel can’t fully answer questions and so now a second letter is required to sort out one more piece of my pension, and then (and only then) can I actually process the application form.
It’s a good job I’m not depending on this pension for my financial survival.
Learnings and advice? Perhaps be a guy . . . maybe that makes picking up one’s pension easier.
Rabbit Holes and Miscellaneous Stuff:
Estevan: Twelve months ago, I took off for Estevan, Saskatchewan, the day after I retired. This year, I was back in Estevan to help Joyce celebrate her 40th (ruby) wedding anniversary. The rabbit holes are around the side trips, the stop in Moose Jaw, and the odd and interesting things I saw on the trip. (Did you know Moose Jaw has a huge statue of a moose? Not what you’d expect either. Not a big male moose with an impressive rack of antlers. Nope. The moose is a female moose.)
Wardrobe: Well, believe it or not, it’s still something of an issue. Barb gifted me with the term “elevated casual" which means a level of sartorial consideration beyond pressing one’s jeans . . . and I’m still figuring it out . . . and I’m still looking for a denim dress . . . and I’m still completely stunned that my retirement wardrobe is occupying so much of my energy.
What am I missing about work? Not much, to be honest. To be fair, I do miss my colleagues, and I do miss the interesting projects, but I don’t miss the politics of work. And while the first eight months of retirement were very rocky, I think I have found some peace with my new “career” as a retiree.
I was downtown this week meeting a former SAIT colleague for breakfast as she was in town for a conference. As we talked about her current work and her future career plans, I felt no losses and no overwhelming longing to be back in education. As the conference goers got ready for the plenary speaker, I watched them beetling around and felt no pull, no longing, no loss. Am I cured? Have I got working out of my system? Not sure, and I say that because I have an idea that I’m still not yet done with teaching or curriculum projects. Ask me in five years’ time.
Blogging: I have learnt sooooo much about blogging. I had thought of setting up a horse-related blog for post-middle-aged gals with the idea that this blog could generate some money for me (even if it were only $5.00/year). The level of research required for the postings, sticking to a calendar and posting at set times, maintaining a high quality of writing have caused me to re-think the direction of my blogging energies. Actually, I know I can manage the research, project management, and writing . . . but what has turned me away from the idea is managing the negatively of some readers. I have recently removed myself from some horse-related groups because of the crude, rude, unkind, unhelpful, and/or vitriolic comments by some readers. I plain and simply just don’t need that negativity in my life. So, the horse-related blog has been shelved . . . but I’m pretty sure that I’m not done entirely with blogging. With my new interest in cell phone photography, perhaps there’s a blog in the making called The Happy Snapper for techno-adverse photographers like me. Perhaps this is one of those blinding flashes of the obvious to which I need pay attention.
The “What’s My Value?” question continues to plague me (and I expect it always will), but I may, in part, have addressed this through the volunteer work I’m now doing with a therapeutic riding group. I have been reflecting on the comment of one very disabled young man who needs four helpers. He said, “It’s good to be back on a horse.” Well, it’s always good to be on a horse . . . but for this young man, the team (which includes the horse himself) made the difference to his riding or not riding. Hard to walk away from a comment like that . . . and I clearly see my value in this volunteer work. And, heaven help me, . . . now I’m thinking about looking into studying to be a therapeutic riding instructor and/or an equine-assisted-learning facilitator. I guess I really am a life-long learner! But, I’m only “thinking” about it!
As things are wont to do, this graphic popped up on Facebook recently. It, too, seems appropriate.
What’s Next?
Estevan: Forty year cycles seem to feature prominently for me right now. The trips to Estevan being one example..
Trail Riding: A proposed trail ride up to the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House (aka the Little Tea House) is another example. Forty years ago, friend Linda and I did this ride. Of course, I was 40 years slimmer and 40 years fitter. I’m currently “thinking” about working on getting into suitable riding shape to tackle this ride again this summer. Have a look at the ride here: https://www.travelyesplease.com/travel-blog-plain-of-six-glaciers-tea-house-ride/
By the way: I absolutely do NOT recommend this trip for folks who have never (or barely) been on a horse and who don’t know how to ride. You are a liability to the horse, to the other riders, and to yourself!
Change: Change is disruptive . . . even when one is controlling the change oneself. Our horses are moving to new digs at the end of the month. Finding new equine accommodation is as stressful as finding a new day home/daycare for your little ones or finding good elder care for your senior family members. But, I’ve broken the move down into project-like pieces (minus the Gantt Chart) and I’m sure by the time the dust settled on the move, I’ll be just fine with the new digs and the new opportunities that come with the new digs.
Crochet Work: My daughter Heather (who is a great knitter) expressed an interest in learning to crochet. She’s a self-taught knitter (yeah, YouTube), and she’s well on her way to being a self-taught crochet craftswoman (YouTube again), and somehow I’ve been talked into taking a crotcheting course! Do I really need to learn this particular fibre art? Nope, but I’m always open to learning new things.
Cell Phone Photography: I have several friends (and my daughter) who are talented photographers. Naturally, I pay most attention to their images of cats and horses, but I try not to be biased and look at all their postings with the same level of enthusiasm and appreciation. They have (to me) complicated equipment and enviable skills and equipment. But . . . I truly am a “happy snapper” when it comes to photography. Even my fairly simple digital camera proves to be a challenge for me (remember, technology basically hates me). My friend Marian (herself a talented photographer) mentioned that cell phone photography is a thing (who knew?), and my friend Jeanne sent me a link to an online cell phone photography course, so guess which rabbit hole I’m heading down now? Those of you who are also my Fb pals can look forward to seeing some of my efforts (as I hone my craft) over the next twelve months.
Bees: In my small effort toward saving the planet, I’ve been working on creating a bee-friendly garden, and I’ve decided to become a bee keeper. Well, sort of. Bees, while they fascinate me also scare me. So, I’m not looking to become an urban bee keeper of honey bees, but I have recently painted my Mason Bee house a sunny yellow. Then I find out that (a) the girls have laid their eggs by the end of June and are done for the year, and (b) commercial bee houses are too shallow so the bees can only lay eggs that will become boy bees. I see a discussion with my two wood-working friends in my future and the creation of a new bee house for next year. Which indirectly connects to Rosie the Riveter. . . and my daughter pointed out that I’m the handyperson in our house (heaven help us) and I could put up the bee house without any help. Just in case you’re interested in Rosie, here’s a piece of information about “Rosie’s model: https://www.facebook.com/georgehtakei/videos/2378934868802619/UzpfSTEzNjI3NjQ2Nzg6MTAyMTU3NDIyMzMwOTMxNDA/?__tn__=%2Cd-]-R&eid=ARDPlKwaensk-Jb6StFG7nbZh4wTj7ws3iQTrX6UvkxXWFlA11jEoTyG2s7Q-wcleBJEaIDBBMKiv4AR&hc_location=friend_browser&fref=pymk
And Remember . . .
It’s not sufficient to save for your old age; you need to give considerable thought to what you’ll do while you are spending your money. However, and I’m reminded of a piece of advice from a former colleague, Brian: “A plan has to be flexible enough to change when necessary.” CBC host Michael Enright (one of my favourite hosts) recently gave a convocation address and here’s one comment he made: “I have learned that you should not do too much planning; always leave room for chance.” Here’s the entire address if you’re interested: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thesundayedition/laughter-is-prayer-work-is-therapy-michael-enright-s-advice-to-new-graduates-1.5184709?fbclid=IwAR3q2_OA_PXj0rBbT9VuynfNHZTTmrUryAhN45oCR61GtKynCUTaztfloT0
. . . So, maybe you should take my retirement preparation advice with a pinch of salt.
There aren’t many situations in life that can’t be fixed or made better with well-pressed jeans, the right shade of lipstick, and a nice cuppa tea.
I’m not sure what my next blogging adventure will be, but this Year-in-the-Life-of now comes to an end.
Thanks for reading my blog (because writers always need readers), thanks for sticking with me, thanks for the positive comments and questions. I hope, in some small way, I have helped you if/when you make your own transition to retirement. If I have not taught you something useful, at least let my journey help you avoid disaster.
Cheerio and cheers, Chris J
