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Retirement goals

I am not quite sure if people set retirement goals, but considering how I will live my life for the next 30 years makes me think I might need to. Certainly not the first of my goals, but on recommendation from a doctor (to slow down my highly active and anxious mind) I enrolled in a course on Meditation and Mindfulness. I set my goals around the things that bring me the greatest pleasures: write, read, exercise, garden, travel, and socialise.

The most important goal or direction I will take is to develop and understand myself by doing inner work. This work is to ensure that my relationships with friends, family, and the community are undertaken in such a way that they are meaningful, purposeful, and loving. My intention is to slow life down, listen, and hear what people are saying.

I acknowledge the work of Robert A. Johnson. Through him, and his Jungian influence, I have learned more about people and relationships than I could have ever have learned from any other.

Retirement rehearsal

Country cycling lane — Quiet country cycling lane

I’ve been rehearsing retirement these last few months. In saying that, I have been working; in the home, helping out on the farm and project managing a renovation. I guess I have never acknowledged these things as work. Mind you, I don’t get paid for any of those jobs (where payment for work creates the differentiation between them).

On my Home page, I referred to a set of goals that I hoped to achieve by creating this website. I was going to ‘document the transition from work to retirement’ and this is how it is looking thus far.

Renovations under travel restrictions

Border shutdown

Under the COVID19 lockdown, there had to be clear and compelling reason for travel outside your residential border region. Other than for medical purposes, travel restrictions could be lifted where it relates to work and other essential services. It became apparent throughout the lockdown that doing renovations under restricted travel conditions during COVID19 were not mutually exclusive.

Pushing out the walls so that the room opens onto the garden — Pushing out the walls so that the room open onto the garden

Taking a break from work during COVID19

A BREAK from work

I am taking a break from work after almost 30 years in the same job. The older I get, the less I am able to tolerate work stress and pressure. Right now, life is wonderful. But we are in the midst of a pandemic and countries all over the world have closed its borders. I am self-isolating at the farmhouse during COV19. In fact, I joke to others that I have been self-isolating for years because we are so remote.

Some of the stunning trees of the wheatbelt.

City Beach and self-isolation

Despite the need for social distancing and self-isolation during Covid 19, the lawns at City Beach are filled with picnickers, couples, and families. There is an eerie feeling out there though and I cannot pinpoint it. I am sitting here alone, feeling miles away from the sunsets on the farm.

Work pressure

How does one cope with prolonged work pressure? I sought medical leave when the stress and pressure were more than I could bear. Waking at 4 am and not being able to get back to sleep, thinking of what I needed to do to get through the next day meant that I was always worrying about work. I was undertaking complex tasks while sleep-deprived. This became extremely mentally challenging. My work involved travel between the campuses of the college; undertaking tiring, unforgiving, and often thankless tasks.

Leaving work- the first few days

Today, I left my job. Prior to this monumental event, I never considered how the act of leaving work (or retiring) would present a challenge. In the first few days, answers to the questions that would naturally arise needed thought and reflection.

What am I going to do today?
What am I going to do with my life?
How do I structure each day?
What do I do with my work wardrobe?
Why do I feel so guilty for not working?