Am I turning into a slow-moving old biddy who doesn't know what day it is and clogs up the grocery aisles on busy long weekends socializing with other customers? Sometimes, I have to admit. I'll try to do better.
My goal when I retired a year ago was to always know the date, day of the week and be mindful of the busy people who still work and are paying into my pension, thank-you very much. Oh, and to write on my blog page regularly.
Not having to be in front of a computer at specified times doing less-than-fun tasks has been freeing. Now when I sit down at mine, it is for creative and informative purposes. But the freedom is proving to be a hindrance to ever accomplishing anything worthwhile again.
And not having a structure to my days can lead to embarrassing moments like looking up and realizing one is still clad in bathrobe and slippers, sixth coffee at elbow, and it is noon.
Not that that should be an issue right? Well, I guess...but I did set out on this last stage hoping to immerse myself in some of the fun things that had been shunted aside by other obligations. And I have to a certain extent. I won't bore you with how I took up kayaking and quilting and attending operas and made the Top 20 for distance this winter at my cross-country ski club. (One would think that with all that exercise one would lose weight. That was not to be, however, probably predicated by the abundant time to read and the proximity of the snack cupboard. Sigh.) Frankly, though, I am shocked at how fast time gets away on me and how much of my Bucket List remains a wistful wish list.
The other complicating factor of retirement is that well-meaning volunteers doing good work on worthy causes seek you out and, since you don't have the excuse of having to work, it is difficult to avoid all the requests for assistance. Ho hum.
I now sit on two boards, am chairman of the Friends of Powassan Library, have joined the Friendship (aka Seniors) Centre--and run when anyone starts a conversation with "Now that you're retired..."
What I have always longed to do was have the time to write--editorial comments, funny emails, this blog, a novel ... And I kind of have the time, just not the discipline to ignore all the phone calls and emails popping up and nudges to make my move in online Scrabble and, well, you get it. I think we all have the time; it's the prioritizing that is the issue. As I sit here in my bathrobe with coffee at hand, it will soon be noon and I will bemoan the fact that I didn't get a walk in or the sewing project started or the catch-up email to friends and family.
Wait A Minute
This week I did get out a couple of comments to CBC programs that I listen to. So, if you're still reading, I'll pass on the latest issue that tweaked my That's Not Right nerve. (I am a firm believer in the necessity of "ordinary" Canadians to voice their good sense when things seem to be heading off the rails. I call these Wait-A-Minutes.)
CBC's The Current did a piece on Wednesday about the muzzling of Canadian government-funded scientists who do research on--get this--fish(!) and are not allowed to speak to the media about their findings. I believe this is merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to managing freedom of speech by Steven Harper and his gang of gagsters.
I always thought freedom of speech meant just that--freedom to say what one thinks. That this mentality has been allowed to seep into a government mindset and be implemented so thoroughly by one person is disturbing. (To listen to The Current interview with scientist Steve Campana who left the employ of Canada to take up a position in Iceland where he is willing to speak out, go to iTunes, The Current on CBC podcasts and listen to the May 20 episode.)
The other assignment I would recommend if you have the time, download or buy the book Plain Speaking, An Oral Biography of Harry S. Truman by Merle Miller. It is an old book and it is about an American but it is truly refreshing to read about a man who believed a government's sole purpose should be to enact legislation that benefits the greatest number of people in the most affordable, compassionate manner. Period.
Mr. Trudeau are you listening? Are you looking for an election issue that regular people could get behind? I might even volunteer to knock on doors for you now that I have all this time on my hands....
