The following “Letter to Editor” was sent to North Renfrew Times on Sunday 2007 March 10 for consideration to publish.
2007 March 10
R-Word
The R- Word is back in vocabulary. My vocabulary! I surely am not talking about the “Referendum” in our neighboring province. The Party Quebecois has lately banished this word and substituted it by “Popular Consultation”.
I am of different shade. I like the R word and it is consuming my time a lot these days. The R-Word I am enthused about is my impending “retirement” from income generating employment. Yes, the D-day is approaching like a fast running railroad. I am dazed by it like a deer in high beam light.
I do wake up occasionally at odd times just to think about it. It is an exciting time. It is depressing time! Retirement results in a transition from a regime of structured work to leisure type activities. I will not have to worry about a pay cheque! All will be taken care of by mysterious pension money. I am dreaming, right?
These thoughts have driven me to count every penny before I spend and follow it up with a tighter budget and chasing what I can stop spending. I know that we do budgeting all the time but this one is different. We need to worry about cash not now as much as what we need if our spouse or we live to be over 80 or become disabled. Lucky that both kids are grown up and are off on their own and thus do not impinge on my finances.
Lots of thoughts go thru the mind. Am I changing one master with another? How will that be? Are you going to be a burden on your spouse when remaining at home all the time? This has to be a win-win for both of us otherwise it can become a nightmare.
I have generated a “To do List” which I hope will keep me a bit structured and also avoid myself ending in a lazyboy recliner. The “To do List” deals, amongst other things, consolidating my lifetime writings and talks which can be posted on my website, converting earlier VHS tapes (of family and friends) to DVD records, participating in some community work, yoga and exercising as well as spiritual meditation. Some reading and learning new trades (such as electronics or cooking) would enhance life.
Like one of my colleagues recently advised, I would like to banish “retirement” word from my vocabulary and substitute it with “realigning of life duties”. R-Word now means that to me and not “retirement” This would then point to my focused duty to look after myself, my wife, my children and especially my grandchildren. My hope is that this will then help strengthen the community and the world around me.
Pravin Shah