Lockdown and Retirement
I am 57. Three years until 60. Do I want to retire? Yes! I have so much to do. Retirement from daily paid work would be really freeing. Can I afford to. No! I cannot. At least I don’t think so. I really want to know if it is possible.
I have books to write, pictures to draw, singing to do, gardening, veggies to grow, clay to sculpt, knitting to improve, needle felting critters to create, books to read, games to play, friends to see, conversations to have, dogs to walk, cats to admire, nurseries to walk around, walks to take, meditation to do, moon circles to enjoy, endless cup of teas and chats, ideas to share, groups to be involved in, swimming, kayaking, and I want time for all of it. Then there are the new things to learn, macramé, crochet (again), sewing (again), remaking with fabrics, drawing classes, pottery, making paper, garden sculptures, more about writing and publishing, painting classes, printing classes (as in art), and goodness knows what I don’t even know about yet.
Time at home during this pandemic has shown me how little money I can spend and how much money I can spend. I have collected more craft and made more things, saving money on not buying those things. (hahaha!) I have bought far too many plants. I intended to and the time has allowed me to make the garden happen. I’ve purchased home furnishings, finally finding the curtains I want for my bedroom. Found the most delightful hooks for my bathroom. Found a chair for my tiny front porch and bench seats for my garden. Finished my front garden and planted 300 bulbs (yes, paid in pain for that but, worth it). I bought more but it will become embarrassing if I list it all.
Have I saved anything? Well yes, actually I have. Not a lot but more than I usually manage. Now the flurry of online purchasing has calmed, I can see myself saving a lot more. Certainly there have been substantial savings with the car. I’ve not gone far at all. It’s also shown me that I don’t need to go far. It’s been really nice staying at home. In fact, I’ve caught myself mid-pout when I’ve had to put on my shoes to go out.
Everything gets delivered. Food, household items, garden supplies, plants, honey, food, chocolate, art supplies, food. I am happy on days I don’t have to venture out. Then on days I do, I am happy I have. Work is zoomed, webinars are zoomed, conversations are skyped or zoomed, yoga is zoomed, meditation is zoomed, and choir is zoomed. I’m just zooming.
Every morning I’m up and dressed and ready for work by 9am, sometimes earlier. The dogs sit very close in case I want to pat them. (I have to mind their tails under my wheelie chair, they are a few less hairs.) I work, remember lunch, back to work, walk the dogs, back to work. Eventually stop and shut up shop. I am lucky that I can do my work online and maintain contact with everyone. I am very grateful. I am glad I have work to get up for every morning, even when it is exceptionally hard to get out of bed.
That worries me about retirement. I will need something to get up for every morning. Still I know I will only loll in bed until I’m finished. I will eventually have had enough and get up to do. I know that lolling in bed endlessly is not good for well-being. I wouldn’t mind a little lolling in bed, though. How much lolling in bed would I do, or sitting in my comfy chair pinned down by animals, before enough was enough and I got going again? Work has been my saving grace in that way. Work and cups of tea and my bladder. Things to get up for.
Retirement from paid work sounds more to me as graduation into life. I need to know more about it. It may be some years before I can retire but I am keen.