Retirement

Retirement what will it bring? How do we know when to retire? Seems like only yesterday when at 16 I started my working life. Saturdays and Sunday mornings in the local and only store in a small country town. Those were the days the shop closed for lunch I would walk home, relax for an hour then back for the afternoon. More often than not people would see me making my way back and join me, so as soon as I opened the door I was awash with shoppers. The afternoon would wear on with a few children wanting to spend their pocket money on lollies and drinks. Twenty cents would purchase  a thrilling amount of lollies, I can still see the expectant little faces saying “one of those, two of those, um” as they slowly and oh so carefully chose their booty. Usually I would throw in an extra one for luck. The store carried all manner of goods from the afore mentioned lollies through to groceries, hardware, shoes and clothing, calling for many skills. One of my favourite tasks was slicing meat, no deli section those days, it was cut to order everyone wanted it differently, some had the slices so thin you could see through it others preferred thick slices for a better taste experience.  Have any of those many skills assisted in my life, I wouldn’t like to say. Though I do know that I like my deli meats sliced not shaved as is the current fashion!

I went on, into many and varied employment incarnations, sometimes having two jobs just to get by, never really being out of work.

Now in the twilight of my working life I remember the young me enjoying work and having my hard earned cash to spend on items of my choosing. This was of course before I purchased my first car, had to buy my own clothes and eventually took on a mortgage and children of course. The years have flashed by I still feel like that sixteen year old fresh faced employee. Now I look at my children and wonder what they will do with their lives as they venture out into the world, as I’m sure my parents looked at me as I took to life on my own.

So here I am ready to set sail into the wild blue yonder of retirement, I ask again what will it bring and am I truly ready for it!