Peanuts In My Pocket

The most notable difference between working and retirement, at least for me, is that I enjoy waking up in retirement.

In the old days, I woke up to an alarm and rushed through my morning routine, leaving almost no time for self-care or my mental well-being. I stayed in bed until the last possible minute, then hurried through a shower and shave, drank a cup of coffee, and jumped in the car for my morning commute. Depending on the job, that commute could be as short as 20 minutes or as long as an hour and a half. If I was lucky, I ate breakfast at home. More often, I grabbed something at work or from a nearby restaurant.

By contrast, I now wake up without an alarm as the sun comes up. I take my time getting ready, including a self-care routine that includes exercise and physical therapy. By the time I walk out of my bedroom, I feel ready for the day.

A cup of coffee is usually at the top of my mind. Then I clean up after the birds and refill the feeders. I water the garden and check for vegetables ready to harvest. Afterward, I usually spend some time watching the 30 to 40 birds that visit our yard while sipping coffee. Other mornings, I journal or simply enjoy a conversation with my adorable wife.

I’m rarely stressed, anxious, or annoyed these days. Instead, I’m quiet, relaxed, and content. The work I do each day is something I look forward to.

Take today, for example. I’m shredding old documents and making a run to Goodwill with a few donations. Later, we’re hosting family game night and a picnic at our house. None of it feels like work. It’s partly a self-imposed honey-do list and partly fun. I’ll also spend some time writing, as I have two projects on my mind. I’ve found it’s usually best to do what needs doing and then spend an hour at my computer thinking and writing.

Like I said, the difference is striking.

Things have only gotten better since my wife retired at the end of May. We’ve already managed a trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Aside from the long drive, the entire trip felt like one big breath of fresh air.

Speaking of the drive, we were stopped outside St. George on the way to Las Vegas by a fatal traffic accident. We sat on a remote stretch of Interstate 15 in the Utah desert with a few thousand other people while emergency crews cleared the scene. It took four hours.

Oddly enough, it was the most stress I’ve experienced all year. Even then, it was softened by good music, a few chapters of Dungeon Crawler Carl, and long conversations with my wife.

I used to fear the uncertainty that comes with a life change as large as retirement.

Not anymore.

If anything, I wish I had pulled the plug a few years earlier. Of course, retirement only feels this good because I spent forty five-plus years working toward it.