Being able to afford it though was only part of the transition. My job was who I was. I was good at it. I know I made a difference there. Leaving meant figuring out what to do with myself besides reading and doing jigsaw puzzles. I've done a lot of both this year because I really enjoy both activities but for me, that's not enough.
One year in, I don't feel like I've found the "enough" to matter yet. However, a lot of thinking about it - and if you know me you know that means likely too much thinking about it - has helped me realize I don't need to figure it all out in one year. On one hand, at my age, there is the realization that I don't have forever to figure things out anymore. On the other hand, also at my age, is the realization that it's silly to waste time thinking about the finite amount of time. I just need to keep smiling and keep moving and "enough" will show itself when it's ready. Probably when I least expect it.
So what HAVE I done, besides the reading and puzzles already mentioned?
I committed to purposeful exercise every day. I'm pleased to report I kept that promise to myself. Since November 23, 2024, I've missed very few days. Even on vacation. I've walked or hiked 754 miles, spent 44 hours swimming and 22 hours in yoga. My osteoporosis doctor says I need to spend more time in yoga for bone health so I will endeavor to do so in year 2.
I joined the American Red Cross as a volunteer Blood Donor Ambassador and Blood Transportation Specialist. I enjoy both opportunities a lot. I have committed to at least one Donor Ambassador shift each week. Each shift is 5 hours and I really enjoy the interaction with donors and red cross staff. It's just enough to get me out of my own head but not enough to exhaust my introvert personality. Dave has joined me in transportation. Once a week we take boxes of blood out to Hershey Medical Center. On occasion we combine those trips with stops at Lancaster General Hospital and/or St Josephs (in Reading).
I haven't hiked as much as I thought I might and it's ok. I've hiked when time (and blood donations allow). During my time in the workforce, hiking was an escape. I still enjoy hiking a lot, but I don't have the decompression need that I had when I was working 40+ hours a week. The commitment to daily exercise has done wonders for my state of mind. I have been able to share walking with one of my sisters almost weekly in Spring, Fall and Winter and every other month with my sister-in-law. So while hiking less, I've found joy in those activities with others. I do miss some of the folks I used to hike with. IN retirement, when we do hike, Dave and I have hiked during the week but that doesn't work for everyone. Perhaps, purposely mixing in some weekend opportunities with others can be something for year 2.
I've attempted two volunteer opportunities that didn't work out for me. That was hard. Giving those up feels like failure and I'm not good at accepting failure in myself. I'm trying to consider volunteering like the library. If you check out a book and decide you don't enjoy it, you give it back. Life is too short to force yourself to finish the book. It's not quite the same, but I'm working on accepting giving up on the volunteer opportunities. If I don't enjoy the opportunity I'm going to find it hard to give it my full effort and that's not good either. Right? Ok, still working on that one.
Something I have stuck with is learning Spanish. Wanting to learn another language has been on my long term to-do list for years. After the last election, I moved it up on my list. In early February 2024 I started Duolingo for Spanish. I've done a lesson every day since except on our cruise because we did not have Internet access on the ship. So I did my morning walks on the ship but not my Spanish. I'm perfectly ok with that.
I wanted to do mediation in retirement. I organized the program at Tri-County when I was there. Upon leaving I joined their mediator roster. I've mediated three cases this year. I like it and hope to do more in year 2.
One year in, I've found peace in doing nothing when nothing presented itself I am not made to do too much nothing though. So it's on to year 2, now, and taking in what's next. One day, one stop, one smile at a time.
Thanks for reading,
Keep Smiling and Keep Moving.
