Experts have written volumes about retirement. Some of the advice relates to what to do in pre-retirement. Other recommendations concern adjusting to retirement and living with new opportunities as well as losses.
I read a recent article that described three stages of retirement that I personally interpreted as “getting down, slowing down, and winding down.” The more I thought about it, the more it seemed those phases could be metaphoric for galloping, trotting, and walking. Regardless of the label, I believe I am at the beginning of the second stage of slowing down, or trotting.
I retired from higher education at the traditional age of 65. I felt professionally I was still near the top of my game. However, I also knew that I had been studying leisure all my life and while I still had the energy, I wanted to experience it. I enjoyed the 27 years I lived in North Carolina, but John Muir had been speaking in my head for years: “The mountains are calling and I must go.” I was privileged to retire for a relatively minimalist lifestyle in the mountains.
The past 12 years have been filled with activity—getting down (galloping) with volunteering, hiking, and travelling. I have kept busy as has been my approach to life since I was a kid. I am beginning to feel, however, that slowing down has appeal by design as well as circumstances.
I do not have as much energy as I had in the past. Having a day with little planned is a luxury that I have not often allowed myself. I am also feeling the aches and pains in joints and muscles more than in the past. I know that “motion is the best lotion” and I will continue to be active, but at a slower pace.
This change to a new mindset about my life is challenging. By slowing a bit, however, I hope to head off the last phase of decline for many more years.
I can reflect now on my mother, particularly, as she lived through these stages. I am a lot like her and hope that I have the same dignity as she did, especially when declining health resulted in her life being far more sedentary than she wanted. Change is not easy. I recognize its inevitability. Understanding change and facing reality does not mean I give up. Nevertheless, I am striving to be more patient with myself as I trot through life.
I am with you Sister! GoGo has moved closer to Slow Go for me. Cathie is almost 66 years old and has far more energy and less need for rest than I do. I require structure to keep moving on ANY level, being a natural lazy person.
We head to Switzerland on a tour next week. I am happy that Cathie’s sister is joining us as I anticipate a couple of times telling them to go out exploring a city during free time while I catch a few winks.
Thanks for your well timed post.