Work and Retirement
By Shiva
@Shiva49 (26202)
Singapore
December 4, 2020 1:25am CST
After having settled into retired life for over two years, it is but natural to look back at my work life even wishfully at times. I then comfort myself that life has stages and it is best that I enjoy them. In a way, I like to embrace life, even death, when it comes and with no regret.
During my student days, I used to think how to make a living later. Soon it was the turn of working life and with the challenge to make it last. However that has tenure too and soon it is time to move on to the final stage here.
For some, retirement is stretching their legs for a well earned rest, but for others it could be anxiety filled how to tide over their days. A sense of worthlessness can visit us too especially for those who suddenly find themselves sedentary with nowhere to go.
I try to indulge in passions that I had to let go earlier and find new interests to keep myself occupied. An idle mind is devil’s workshop is truer after retirement. I have seen a few taking up the odd jobs but I would rather let them pass. I have already slipped into a phase and I want to explore and live it.
How do you see the retirement years? Do you look forward to them? Have you planned for them?
Image: Retirement from Pixabay free images site
17 people like this
19 responses
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
4 Dec 20
Both my husband and I are retired. My husband keeps busy all the day at the computer. He created some sites that he follows and updates and he is never bored. I am a woman, a woman is never retired, clean the house, do laundry, cook, take care of the garden... I am busy all the day.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
4 Dec 20
@arunima25 We always work in the house even after we have no more an official job.
4 people like this
@Shiva49 (26202)
• Singapore
4 Dec 20
Now I help my wife except with cooking.
My friend's daughter calls her father the sous chef at the beck and call of her mother!
My wife and I live alone and I like to be alert to keep the household on even keel.
Yes, women are the real deal all the time and when given a chance they outshine men too.
I see them as multi-taskers and men cannot hold a candle to them in this regard as also the primary care givers in my opinion. .
3 people like this
@arunima25 (85305)
• Bangalore, India
4 Dec 20
That's so true! Women don't retire and we work 24*7 without any leave and benefits. Such is our dedication and we should be proud of ourselves. 
4 people like this
We are never bored.
@innertalks (21024)
• Australia
4 Dec 20
Ha, ha. I have looked forward to retirement from the day I first started working, more than 45 years ago.
I have always hated the rat race, and working with the rats. There is a certain stress that we might get caught in one of those big rattraps, scattered all around.
There is so much to do in retirement that I do not know how anybody could ever be bored.
2 people like this
@innertalks (21024)
• Australia
5 Dec 20
@Shiva49 We can not be bored, but not contented either.
I tend to fill in my time with things, but most of the things l do, l have not found real meaning from my doing them.
I am still looking for interests that can really connect me to who l really am, so fulfil me fully.
@innertalks (21024)
• Australia
5 Dec 20
@Shiva49 Thanks, siva.
I have been writing on writing sites for 15 years now.
I get a certain satisfaction from my doing so, but it still feels more of a stopgap activity, which l am not sure if it is just really a waste of my time, or not, or if it is serving me in some real way, or not too.
My eyes are also not so good these days either, and my hands get sore now too, more easily.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26202)
• Singapore
5 Dec 20
@innertalks That means, Steve, you are still on a spirit of inquiry with a restless mind for a positive reason. I too am like that but settle down to what I can do best at that time in the circumstances.
I wanted to read a lot but my eyesight has to be corrected if possible. I wanted to go for a check up and follow up action but this virus is a stalker curbing the carefree lives we knew earlier. The devil seems to have the upper hand now!
As for me, for over ten years I have been on online sites when I had nothing else to do. I like it here too as one can post short or pretty long ones as we desire.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85305)
• Bangalore, India
4 Dec 20
You are so right there. We should embrace the different stages and enjoy it. Well, my husband has already started working on his post retirement plan. I have made a lateral shift in my career as motherhood came into picture. And I have moved between full time job, part time job, break for some time etc in my career depending on the demands at home and work front. Anna is right that women never retire.
I would like to indulge in more of gardening ,art work and learning some new languages in my later stage of life.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26202)
• Singapore
4 Dec 20
@arunima25 Family is the bedrock for a happy and contented life.
I used to tell my son only one thing - he has enjoyed some comforts and to see to it that he at least retains them.
I had worked for a very rich businessman/industrialist and my relationship with him was more than that of an employee, friend, relative. There was zero misunderstanding in the 22 years I was with him before he passed on. He knew I would never let him down despite my opting for balance between work and family life.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26202)
• Singapore
4 Dec 20
I was never career oriented especially after a while as we did not have children for many years.
After my son was born, I wanted to spend time with him but made sure we had a comfortable life.
Most of my time, I was working for others and when I tried independent consulting, I realized I had multiple bosses to report to. High pressure jobs never appealed to me though I took up a few challenging ones from time to time.
My wife was most of the time not working but held the 24/7 job that women do. I chip in whenever I can to ease the burden.
Technology is really a boon now as one can pursue our passions with up to date information and ideas.
WFM has also opened new vistas to take up assignments without wasting time traveling, dressing up, etc. In fact, I did half the work during my later years from 2005 from home as I worked in office only during mornings.
We should seize the change when we feel the urge as when we postpone them it becomes too late. I have realized I am not the same person physically every ten years and that affects our mental disposition too. I fight not to come under the moniker "Grumpy Old Man"
2 people like this
@arunima25 (85305)
• Bangalore, India
4 Dec 20
@Shiva49 Now a days we are getting grumpy young people. People are getting over ambitious and too competitive. They are in stress and develop a lot of health issues. In this fast paced life people are missing a lot.. Missing real life in this rat race.
I prefer to live life well.. In a productive way. And for me my family is the priority because I am responsible for my children. They need me.
2 people like this
@yoalldudes (35040)
• Philippines
4 Dec 20
Even now at 41, I am having a hard time doing the 40 hour work week. I will need to look more into my health for example my eyes easily get painful staring at the computer screen.
When I am on extended leave, it also gets somewhat boring without the structure reporting to work brings. So it is a bit confusing for me.
We only say we will do what we wanted to do once we are retired. But when we get there the fire is no longer there.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26202)
• Singapore
4 Dec 20
I was a CFO for many years in a few countries working for a limited number of concerns.
Working for others was not pleasant at times. More than the challenges in my area of specialization, I found a few colleagues a real pain as they put spokes in the smooth working of companies.
I loved to rise to the occasion when the situation demanded. I had a clear approach to balance the stress. Work life only during working hours and family time when outside it. Of course, one has to be flexible.
And WFH is a new norm but some seem to enjoy too.
After retirement, I like to do what I missed during my working years and writing sites have been a boon.
Yes, health issues are a dampener. My eye sight is not good for example.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26202)
• Singapore
4 Dec 20
@yoalldudes I am a professional accountant.
I was able to handle the demands of the profession but a few staff were the personification of selfishness and they spread their tentacles all over.
I used to tell them, I can handle outside pressures but not the insidious inside ones!
1 person likes this
@yoalldudes (35040)
• Philippines
4 Dec 20
@Shiva49 CFO is a rather stressful job I must say. But it is specialized so you were able to focus. Mine is rather specialed but also jack of all trades.
The politics and toxicity is hardest to bear.
2 people like this
@Letranknight2015 (51523)
• Philippines
4 Dec 20
I'm sure you can do a lot more. Retiring means going in for another dream.
2 people like this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
4 Dec 20
I have a lot of hobbies, so I think for me settling into retirement would be very easy. Plus, I have often considered getting an RV so I can do some traveling as well. I couldn't do the 24/7 RV life. But just taking it out for a couple of weeks at a time every other month or so I think would be a lot of fun.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26202)
• Singapore
4 Dec 20
Yes, what we really want to do, better we pursue them before it is too late as things change dramatically like now when international travel is at its nadir.
I had a plan to visit a few places, but it looks a dream at the moment. Thankfully, we can at least visit them through travel channels from the comfort of our homes.
Come to think of it, we need not worry about boredom in retired life and I am busy with time at hand now too rather than having work life issues at the back of my mind all the time.
2 people like this
@Nakitakona (56302)
• Philippines
4 Dec 20
Retirement is the best gift for a worker to enjoy like me. I'm already retired for 4 years.
2 people like this
@Nakitakona (56302)
• Philippines
4 Dec 20
@Shiva49 you are absolutely correct. That's already our savings which could be used to make us happy. Let's enjoy it.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (98826)
• India
4 Dec 20
Monetarily I planned. But there are other issues that rule my mind. If only I could be sure that relatives are not gonna trouble me post dad, and dad will not get into mood to order something that would exceed the yearly budget, life would be simpler for me. LOL. But there are issues that occupy my mind. Recent amendments to health insurance in the country for example. I am keen to understand the impact.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26202)
• Singapore
4 Dec 20
As for me, I have always been - take it easy.
I took care not to spend more than I earned but I lived well overall.
I have been outside India for nearly forty years but took care of my parents by taking turns.
That meant I was on call at short notice and I couldn't pursue a challenging career.
But in the end it was a blessing as my health is still not bad.
It is easy to proffer advice but taking a day-by-day approach eases the worries.
Like could we have foreseen this virus but WFH has its benefits too.
We are survivors in the final analysis and can adapt more than we give ourselves credit for.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
4 Dec 20
maybe you can do consulting, mentoring, coaching or volunteer work.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (86754)
• United States
6 Dec 20
Well as I have been at that a few years now, what I occupy myself with is simply everything. It seems I have less time now than when I was working. No time for hobbies or passions at all. But days are filled with worry and stress and jobs. I pray your days are filled with peace.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86754)
• United States
9 Dec 20
@Shiva49 I like this thank you Shiva . Your words brought comfort to me. 
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26202)
• Singapore
7 Dec 20
I do hope and pray, Ocean Tiara, your stress levels due to worry are soon past.
I have taken a view to take life day by day and meet the challenges when they come.
I have experienced good people are rare and during tough times there are always the few who step in, those we did not even know existed before. That I believe is our creator in disguise!
We have no idea what is in store the next moment. The virus is sort of running our lives now and we never saw it coming. But we shall survive whatever the circumstances.
The unseen hand takes us for a rough ride often!
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26202)
• Singapore
7 Dec 20
There is a lifestyle change nowadays in the sense many prefer to work to live than live to work.
I was always for working to live and then retire to pursue the passions that I had to put on hold during my working life.
Happy to hear both you and your husband are happy and contented in life pursuing interests that are fulfilling and meaningful.
1 person likes this
