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Worst part for me is missing the anticipation of a three day holiday weekend or vacation time coming up. None of those any more
But everyday is a xxxx day holiday when you're retired!
I spent more years than I care to remember sitting or crawling through insane traffic trying to get to or from my work destinations in southeast Florida. I'd mentally count the years, months, weeks, then days till I could retire and not have to deal with the mind- numbing traffic anymore.
Now, I turn on the local traffic and weather reports in the AM just before I get up, and watch the traffic reports and rejoice that I no longer have to worry about the traffic snarls, the wrecks, the sheer number of souls on the road that make the traffic such a mess.
When I was a kid, I dreamed of being a "grown-up" so no one could tell me what to do. An independent little cuss, I wanted to be in charge of my own life. Hated being ordered to do stuff and "no talking back."
Now, an adult and retired, I feel as though my dream has come true. Love getting an allowance, staying up into the wee hours to read (on occasion), eating as much candy as I want (rarely), not eating the vegetable I loathe (lima beans and Brussels sprouts) and choosing my own clothes (all the time).
Traveling when ever we want, visit family whenever we want. More time for hobbies. More time to do everything. Can stay up all night reading. Never feel rushed. Can take time to cook more extensive meals, no traffic.
Can run errands while everyone else is at work.
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Even the flu is SO much better when you are retired than working.
When I was working, I had to call in to my boss at work each and every single day to tell him "I am still sick, I can't come in today". Too many would ask if I was going to see a doctor. No, I have had the flu 4 days and it will probably run its course in a few more days, so why the hell do I need to go to a doctor? I never said this, but the aggravation of being asked was unbearable. As the days ticked off and the flu bug soldiered on, there was always a point during calling in sick when your boss felt you "should have been fine by now" and you could hear a hesitation in his voice, a little interruption when you know he is starting to wonder if you are faking illness to stretch out staying at home.
I detested having to call in each and every day to say I was still sick. How about I call you to tell you I am sick and you will know I am not sick when I show up again? I mean, that would work woudn't it? And then there is the inevitable requirement to go to the doctor, because you just can't keep calling in to your boss after 5 or 10 days with the flu and explain you are doing nothing to get better, and so you are FORCED to go to the doctor and get some medication you don't want to take.
Fortunately, my federal agency provided free flu shots onsite and most people got one so I rarely got the flu. And my co-workers were older and did not have small vectors (AKA children). But colds were another issue especially if I was on an audit or working long hours to finish a project. This would run me down and I could feel that I was getting sick towards the end of the week so got to spend my weekend in bed The last three years of my career, we hired a lot of younger people with small children and I started to get bad colds that lasted for at least a week. Another good reason to retire!
We were able to call in sick with the administrative assistant. Of course my boss preferred that we call in early, about the time I was sleeping soundly after a night of coughing, etc. but I was able to stretch that to 9 or 10 am since I usually took little sick leave. Others had family members call in for them but I did not have that option.
Just don't break your glasses if you lock yourself in a bank vault when there's a nuclear attack and then find a library.
Or develop an illness that prevents you from doing what you always dreamed of doing in retirement....or lose the person with whom you always dreamed of doing it... Retirement can last a long, LONG time!
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The last three years of my career, we hired a lot of younger people with small children and I started to get bad colds that lasted for at least a week. Another good reason to retire!
