Reflections on Retirement: Five Months In

On January 1st, I retired from work. Now, halfway through my fifth month, I find myself wondering if I made the right decision.

My original plan was to pick up a part-time job—something low-paying so it wouldn’t impact my Social Security benefits. But life had other plans.

Shortly after retiring, my mother fell ill. It took me three long, stressful months to get her placed in a nursing home. I didn’t have Power of Attorney, so I had to involve Adult Protective Services (APS). The process was messy and emotionally draining. My anxiety was through the roof. (I’ll share more about that in another blog post.)

These days, I spend more time reading the Bible and getting involved in church activities, which helps keep me grounded. Still, being home alone can stir up anxiety and stress, especially when your mind drifts to all the problems waiting to be solved. Thankfully, I’ve found a few escapes.

I make good use of my Cedar Point and Kalahari season passes, often enjoying them with family. I’m a big movie buff—so far this year, I’ve watched 103 movies. Streaming apps keep me busy with TV shows, and yes, at 62, I still play Xbox. But even with all of that, I sometimes feel like I’m just going in circles—bored and restless.

Now that the weather is warming up, I take my chair, grab my iPad, a cold drink, a snack, and head outside to enjoy the fresh air. Sometimes, my energetic two-year-old grandson pays me a visit, thanks to my daughter. Other times, we FaceTime. There’s nothing quite like a grandchild’s love. I’ve also started reconnecting with friends and family—not just through Facebook, but with long, meaningful phone calls.

I want to blog more. I’m trying to steer clear of politics and instead focus on current events that affect the community, as well as self-help topics. I plan to start reading more, which I hope will inspire fresh content to write about.

One thing I’m working on is not becoming an introvert. I don’t want to be that person who just stays home and avoids people. I’ve had to make a conscious effort to change how I interact with others. We’re all human, and we’re not always going to agree. Sometimes, it’s healthier to separate ourselves from overly negative people—not engage, just walk away.

I suppose you could say my retirement is becoming a journey toward a better version of myself—learning to embrace the adventure of my golden years.