Editors Note: This was written two years ago but it illustrates the path I would start to follow. Nick 

Remember those first writing exercises just after the September school year began? The teacher asks everyone to write an essay on what they did on their summer holidays.

I really hated those assignments, yet at the start of each school year, your new Teacher would stand up there at the blackboard and write out your first essay assignment as if it where a brilliant creative idea.

Well here, I am years and years later and I want to write about what I learned on my latest holiday. Before you roll your eyes, if you haven’t done so already, and flip the page, give me at least one more paragraph to explain myself.

The first week of my holidays I entertained my three sisters, or rather they entertained me, by driving the length and breadth of the Lower Mainland doing something different, fun, and wonderful each day. They departed seven days later, back to their respective homes, and left me in a silent void.

I still had seven days left. What would I do? A trip to some exotic land? Out of the question. More roaming around the lower mainland, possibly. There where movies I wanted to see at the movie theatre rather than DVD rentals after all I would have the time. I managed to see the three movies on my list, and surprise, surprise they were all good. I wanted to go walkies with my new dog in some of our outstanding local provincial parks, like Campbell River. We   squeezed several walks in between the rain showers, to return feeling healthy and invigorated.

I also wanted some time to just chill, read, think, play computer games, write, and learn more about this fascinating instrument we call a computer. I did all of that too.

In the course of that, I made a huge personal discovery. I discovered that I liked the idea of retirement, albeit a somewhat different sort of retirement than most probably think about when they hear that word.

First, each day belonged to me. Other than self-imposed deadlines, I got to march to my own drum. Time blurred. I started going to bed a lot later than I normally do and consequently I slept in later too. I lingered over breakfast like a lover who did not want to break loves spell. I wandered down the garden to feed the goldfish, and assess the day’s possibilities. Back in my office, I spent time learning how to use Page Manager a soft ware package that came with my scanner. I started a project on my sisters’ visit, in the form of a holiday album that would be part of the “family” Xmas gift. This would test my skills with my new scanner and my growing interest in graphics, and graphic design.

Each day I spent time reading about writing and subscribing to the many free newsletters than I found interesting. From bitterlemons-international.com to a writer’s, market newsletters. I explored the Google search engine and made some startling discoveries about Google that I never knew existed.

Every day was calm, no gut wrenching panic about a work deadline, or the agony of trying to accomplish too much in too short a period.  I faced no mad commute among the other speed-crazed commuters, trying to beat the clock and arrive at work on time. I even forgot where I’d laid my watch down. I simply didn’t need it.

I felt calm and contented with TIME taken out to the equation.

Then like the flash of a camera, I realized this is what my retirement would look like.

I would be my own boss. Some how using the computer I could bring in extra money to supplement my pension.

A lot of people I talk to dread retirement. I look forward to it with a passion. I don’t need some place fancy to retire. I don’t need buckets full of money. All I need are the things I all ready have, minus the job.

Levitra Professional class=”MsoNormal”>I remember when my Dad retired at 65; he thought his life was finished. He became maudlin, wrote good-bye letters to the rest of the family, which he had to tuck away because he then proceeded to live to the ripe old age of 82. I am not going that route baby! I’m not giving up work, I’m just going to work on the things I want to work on.”

That’s what I Learned on my holidays, and you’ve just read my essay assignment. However, you’re not off the hook. I always wanted to teach, so: Class please write a 700 word easy on what retirement means to you. Essay’s are due two weeks Monday.

Nicholas Grimshawe

 

 

 

Popularity: 1% [?]