RETIREMENT

Closest to my heart, since it is so recent, I thought I'd look at this transition first.

Although one might say I have not TRULY retired since I am still picking up Freelance work here and there, I have truly retired from the practice of Social Work.

How did the process go?  I guess I'll use the word 'Okay'.  I used the tools of investigation & planning to get my head around it.  I advised my employer early, gathered information about pension & medical insurance, planned last workshops and last days, cleaned out my office, produced a handbook for those who would come after me, gave away artwork to co-workers & friends, transitioned my clients and finally celebrated my 65th Birthday and retirement on the same weekend.  

I felt sad, angry, happy, exhilarated and anxious all at the same time that weekend.

But I was still a Social Worker wasn't I?  Still possessing the skills and experience I had gathered over 37 years in the field, still able to create curriculum for workshops, training courses and programs, still able to counsel, think and write and create, still registered as a Social Worker.  It is not as though you can just shut that experience down or off!

I had retired from my full time position mainly to prepare for our full-time travels with our RV and, truthfully, because I was terribly tired of all the frustrations around dealing with government funders and the devastating effects of their cuts and changes on our clients.  

Soooo Now what??  Could I perhaps write? Create? Spend some of my retired time assisting others on a Freelance Basis.

The Triple A - Awareness, Acknowledgement, Action model came to mind again as I gathered information about Freelancing - what works and what doesn't, what is in demand, courses I might take to assist me to get started etc.  I registered for an online course for Freelancing and soon discovered that I had an enormous set of skills to offer; but how was I to pare that down to a small set of specific skills to offer in the Freelance Market Place.  I started and stopped and started and stopped.  I was very confused and felt stuck. Small bits & pieces at very low rates of pay were all that I was getting.

Acknowledgement!  It took an in-depth phone call with a Freelancing mentor to finally realize that my three favourite activities were writing proposals for funding, developing programs to assist people and writing pieces of curriculum to use in those programs.

Yay!  Now on to action.  It took several days to reformat my profiles, develop examples of my work and truly begin to search for contracts under those headings.  Soon I found a few possibilities and wrote a proposal on one then received my first worthwhile contract.  Now I felt that I was truly on my way.  

I completed the project - an 8 week Anger Management Course for Domestic Violence Offenders.  Feedback was extremely positive and I felt very happy with what I had produced.

But then, nothing . . . Some bites, some short lists, some clients deciding not to go ahead with their projects.  UGGG!

At the same time, my husband and I moved to full time RV living and travel.  We were Campground Hosts in Canada during the summer of 2016, then explored Arizona and southern California during the 16/17 fall & winter (great adventure) and now we are in transition mode as we wait to begin our next Hosting job May 12, 2017.  During our travel time some friends and I began discussions on how I could help their business during their busy summer season.  We've now got some ideas on what I will be doing.

I still check my Freelance sites regularly and search specific key words on occasion but it feels as though my heart isn't in it.

I am excited to start working with my friends and their business this summer providing them with administrative assistance during their busy season.  The tasks are new and varied and I am keen to ensure that I am helpful to them.

So, am I retired? Not really! Retired from my 37 year career - certainly (i even let my registration go finally).  Am I retired from the world of work - certainly not!

The transition continues as I work through a succession of A, A & A moments, weeks and months!

I think that if I remain open to the possibilities all will be revealed in time.  

1. Does this piece resonate with you?
2. Do you have similar experiences you can share?
3. Do you have any ideas about how a person can truly retire and literally do nothing productive?  I might like to be there one day!
4. Did you use a different approach to retirement? Can you share it with me/us?

Should you like to share your ideas publicly, please make a comment.  

Should you like to share something with me privately, please send an email to bewise860@gmail.com