HTSI – Retirement

Three weeks in and I am happy to say nothing has changed. I admit that I have been prepping for ‘Retirement’ for quite some time, so it would never come as much surprise. A number of people still seem to be baffled at the whole retirement thing; “But what are you going to do? Have you decided to take up golf? Are you going back to uni? Are you going to learn how to play tennis?” Happily the answer is No to all of the above. I think the word retirement needs to be updated. It probably has and I missed it. Was it Gary Neville that famously described a long weekend break as a mini retirement? Any suggestions of a better way to describe the time spent after you stop work until you just stop would be very welcome.

I have no urges to do anything new in my life. I guess starting retirement at the beginning of the year could be similar to making a New Year Resolution. Have never been able to stick at anything for very long which isn’t always helpful but I know in my heart that if I say I will do XYZ every morning, or ABC three times a week, it will happen for maybe two weeks tops.

A few people asked me if I had any plans for my retirement. My stock answer was more travel and walk more. Maybe get a dog (Husbant agreed to this while in merriment over the Christmas period but denies all knowledge. Plus I have never owned a dog so would have to learn how to be a dog owner – see earlier comment about sticking at things). So yes I am excited at the thought of being able to travel at anytime rather than squishing it in during the three months between working for three weeks and having another three months off. And to visit new places is high on the agenda. Arriving in a city that I have never been to gives me a thrill. It is a great balance between being a bit nervous and excited. Scientists or medical people might explain it as a rush of adrenaline, or maybe a fight/flight response. I think I am more of a flight person really.

Despite the idea of spending more time travelling to new places, I have spent most of my retirement in Barbados. I think I have written about our trips to Barbados before but it is a very special place. To wake up and go swimming in a warm sea that is 20 paces away from your front door and spend some time just reading, eating and having the occasional rum-infused cocktail is pretty good for the mind. But it does feel different this time. I realise I am very lucky to be able to come here. Having a birthday in a hot place after many, many years of cold birthdays (and even a few on the annual Blue Monday when apparently everyone is depressed except me) is very lovely. Am happy to make an exception to my new rule of only going places that I haven’t been to already. I also admit I will be going back to Sicily later in the year, and to Bristol. But I am also going on a cruise (no, not that sort – more of a fine-dining/gourmet/catch your dinner on a small boat off Skye) and walking in the Dolomites. i would like to investigate a month’s train pass for Europe, or a cycle on a new route in the UK. Or Mexico.

As Arthur Daley said: The world is my lobster.