A Look Backwards or a Glimpse Forward

Sometimes I actually do read my blog. Usually, I am drilling for hidden nuggets of wisdom or, in other words, looking for some *%^** inspiration!  I ran across one post on my early planning for retirement. I had just attended a workshop on wills and estate planning and learned a few things about life in the process.  Now, since this session was about "death & taxes" that might seem a little unexpected - but planning for any momentous occasion generally applies many of the same principles!

One of the most challenging issues facing me was knowing how much is enough when it comes to planning.  I rattle around in my own head a lot - it is a familiar space and I am used to the twists and turns that have developed over the years - however, it seemed like I was roaming in circles on this question of retirement.  Conversation with self: "So, if I age in place how long will that last and does that mean keeping the house or buying a condo and when should that happen - before I get frail and lose my grip but not too soon so I can still enjoy sleepovers with my grandkids and leisurely visits with my more adult friends and family and then what about nursing homes and do I have enough money for them and ....."  Round and round - if I go this way then that will happen; if I don't go that way then this will happen.

If I walked away with anything that night it was this:  You don't need to plan for 10 or 20 years.  You only need to look about 5 years down the road!  Simple thinking really but it was like someone stepped in and opened up the hidden exit I had been rolling past on each subsequent circuit in my mind and - PING - I popped out like a bingo ball - Under the O - OH!

Five years?

"I can do five years," I said to myself two years ago.  "Why, I will still be a 60-ish person in five years," I muttered smugly. Nodding my head sagely, I noted I will still be travelling; still hosting family and friends; still walking the neighborhood and still living in my house!  "That wasn't so hard." I laughed at my fear. "There are a few details to be ironed out, of course, but what a relief to take on only one chunk of the journey." I sighed with a huff and sauntered off into the sunset of 2013.

Well, here is where I zigged instead of zagged. Although I did retire it was one year earlier, I actually sold the house, changed the neighbourhood, made new friends, took up painting and got my first story published. Those must have been the "few details" that needed to be worked out!

There is a lesson here somewhere. I think it has something to do with being open to opportunity, willing to go with the flow, fearless (well, not really fearless, but still able to stand!) when facing change and crazy enough to try something new, no matter what the original plan. I admire many people in my life: sisters, daughters, friends. But, for this moment, I humbly applaud me - not to beg accolades from my peers but to encourage you, too, to stand up and applaud yourself along the way of becoming you. Your opinion is the one that matters!

Here's to the next FIVE years!

AND Story #2 accepted and ready to be pre-ordered on Amazon!

Voices from the Valleys - Stories & Poems about Life in BC's Interior

Three Reasons Why Old Eyes Sparkle

Let's face it - not everyone has the privilege of getting old, but few of us look forward to it.  I am here to share why the place I am in right now is the best place there is in a long life of "places."

First of all, time speeds up when you get older - or at least when you pass that theoretical threshold of being in the last third of your life.  I will leave the math up to you when that might be!  Do you remember when a week was a very long time - especially when it was a week before Christmas or a week before summer holidays?  Now, a week goes by so quickly I no longer have to wait in agony for those special events.  One birthday heralds that another one, God willing, will be just around the corner.  One month to Christmas is really just a blink of my baby blues!

Secondly, I am finally in a stage in my life when I can embrace each moment and do what I want to do when I want to do it.  Life squeezes us into corners and narrow alleyways when we are children or teenagers or young adults.  Now the morning sun wakes me, the day stretches out before me and gives me 24 hours worth of choices.  Walk, paint, write, clean, rest - my choice.  Not all is perfect and I certainly don't live in some utopian paradise, but I do love being in charge of most of those minutes!  Bring on a nap or a whole afternoon with a book.

Finally, (and I am limiting myself to three!), I can be silly without concern for the usual repercussions.  We start out that way; I am sure I started out that way.  Babies and toddlers don't worry about what someone might think if they fall down trying.  They just keep on trying.  I did worry.  I cared what people thought.  I still do sometimes but somehow, I found IT again.  I mean, who cares if my earrings are a little large, my eyebrows are sprinkled with as many white hairs as brown, and the leggings I wear are pulling a little too far out front!  The twinkle in my blue eyes far outshines the rolling eyes of the spectators as I dance to "Happy" or capsize my "float boat" on the public beach yet again.   Silly ladies, like precocious toddlers, make people smile.  We give them hope that one day, they too might be able to let it all "hang out!"
 

"Enoughness" in Retirement

I found this word recently on FaceBook.  It intrigued me.  It inspired me.  It made me ask: Where can I find "enoughness?"

I remember when I was planning and planning for my retirement.  My beloved partner would often calm my fears, telling me we will be fine.  We can do this.  It will just mean living with what we have.  It sounded scary at first, but then we did a trial run pre-retirement - simplifying our lifestyle, discovering what was important and needed to stay and what really wasn't missed once it was gone.  Cable TV  - gone!  Eating out a lot - reduced, a lot!  Cell phone data plan - well, still pondering that one!

Of course, it was not just about money.  Retirement had to have enoughness in other areas too - enough to satisfy, and even beyond that - bring joy, peace, and, of course, continue to protect and grow our love for each other.  Yowzers!  I listened to my heart, took a measure of my health and made the crazy decision to retire early.  I also made the decision to move eight hours west to a resort community built around the warmest lake in North America!  But, then, many of you know this.

So, I ask you, how does one find joy, peace, love and good health on a budget?  That is a very personal decision. For me, that meant engaging in an experiment that will, I think, last for the rest of my life.  Leaving the nine to five realm released me from the constraints of a fish bowl into the ocean.  Sometimes I ventured into the social and physical wonders of small-town living and sometimes I retreated to a peaceful, lovely casa in the mountainous desert of British Columbia. Sometimes I drifted.  Other times, well, I fought against the current or even treaded water!  Ebb and flow.  Of course, this can be a life directive at any stage along your journey; however, for me, I never seemed to have the time and energy to discover this phenomenon; or, perhaps, I just never had the courage to give it a try!  

Sometimes you just have to jump in and start swimming! 

So far, one year has pushed me and prodded me to write a story for a new audience, paint with a group, swim (or float) with no concern about the rolls and wobbles exposed to the world, and relax in the quiet of my own home to read, paint, sleep, repeat.  I walked the shore, photographed the emotions mirrored in the lake, and rested on a bench, alone or not, content and full of awe at the tranquility water can integrate into my soul.  Here is where I could talk about the storms, the sharks, and the empty sails - but, maybe that will be for another blog!

Enoughness.  

Today,  

This moment.  

Breathe.

Ah, there it is!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow............!

My twenty-three year career in post secondary education is about to come to an end.  I wondered back in March if it would come to a grinding, painful halt or if I would ride off into the sunset singing Dale Evan's songs.  Since I can't remember any Dale Evan's songs and, although I can ride, it would not likely be a gentle one, I prepared for the grinding, painful kind!

When my real countdown began I had over one hundred days left - plenty of time to clear off my "managing director" desk, sort out the myriad  files and shelves of reference books (you know - those "I might need them some day" ones) and train the team of people replacing me.  I slowly moved my in basket further and further from my office door until it was hidden on the darkest corner of my desk.  I forwarded inquiries that would require weeks of input to those who needed a real life example of what I do did for the past many years so they could hone their skills!  I cleaned out files and then I cleaned out more files and then........well, you get the picture.

I took time to remember - special students, challenging students, interesting characters and crazy projects - and then, I filed them - well, the paper they produced anyway! The shredding box filled up, the recycling box was soon overflowing and my garbage was bursting with everything else not coming home with me.

Day -1 to lift off and my walls are now bare - my office looks like a prison cell.  I cleaned off my bulletin board of thank you cards and phone lists yesterday and ripped down the year old calendar I used knowing that the new resident will not need to refer that far back!  I sorted out my desk drawers (with all my spare time I have now mysteriously accumulated) and toyed with leaving some old CD's or a manicure set for the new much younger man taking over my lovely corner office.  I smiled at the picture of him puzzling over any potential secret message I might be trying to send.

Today I waved to my colleagues on their way to a morning meeting about a new contract and thought - "how strange I am not at that table this morning!"  A little twinge of loss flitted through my heart but quickly disappeared as I continued on through campus.  The sun was trying to shine and I stopped to check on the raspberries in the little garden near the kitchens that just a few weeks ago were filled with students learning their trade.  I felt a little bit of the excitement our graduates feel as they prepare for the next phase in their life.

I imagine that tomorrow I will walk - not ride - out of here with nothing but my lunch bag and my memories.  The door will gently close behind me and I will smile.  No grinding pain as I say goodbye to this phase of my life - there is a new world just waiting to say hello!  The Beatles will be more likely in my head than Dale Evans - a little Hello Goodbye as I walk across campus one last time.  I expect procedures and processes will quickly fade but the sense of purpose, the satisfaction of making a difference, the thrill of being that "door opener" for those seeking to change their life through education - that I will keep in my heart forever!  So goodbye to the every day and hello to tomorrow - "you are only a day away!"

Hello Goodbye - La La La La

The Countdown Continues

My counter is running down and I now have 18 days of work left before I head off into the re-design of my life - RETIREMENT.  So many decisions are scattered along this road to retirement - the when and where, the how and how not - I shuffled and dealt and finally the deal was done!  The when was decided first; then came the where and the how.  I chose an oasis in the desert surrounded by the beautiful Rocky Mountains and a day's drive to visit daughters and grandchildren south, west and east!  A house was sold (YEAH!) and a new one purchased (YEAH).  Movers were hired (Williams Moving Solutions and they were awesome!) and furniture dispatched.

Although I am contracted to work until the end of June, I took two weeks off to meet my furniture in the lovely Okanagan and Raouf and I unpacked and established our new retirement home.  I was too busy to have second thoughts.  Too joyful to think about the last pay cheque.  Too excited to even pull up my budget spreadsheet and re-enter the numbers as the actual numbers started to flow in!

Our view from the back yard.  serene!

By the end of the two weeks, my head was surfacing into reality just a little.  I started taking care of the business of a move into a new province.  I was so glad I had made initial inquiries and set up all of our utilities well ahead of time.  Note to snowbirds undertaking an inter-provincial move:  Never leave these to the last week or two - you won't have time to mull through all the options. Although gas and electricity were a snap (Fortis BC for both but set up separately) the internet provider was more challenging.  We were moving into a smaller community and I had underestimated the choices that might NOT be available!  I discovered that Shaw was almost into Osoyoos but not into our area; Telus could provide service but the speed was too slow for Netflix; and, satellite is apparently so unreliable you only go that way if you have to!  We were attracted by Naked ADSL but just reading about it and all the considerations became a wearisome process.  Just when I was almost ready to go Naked (heh heh!), I discovered another provider through an overlooked source - the Osoyoos Town website!  Eastlink provides all services much like Shaw.  With a few phone calls, we were all set to get set the day after our move.  With Eastlink we had phone and internet.  We have eschewed cable TV for six months already and will not likely go back.  Utilities Box - CHECK!

Inter-provincial car registration - next!   ICBC website has a NEW to BC help section - guess I should have read that first!  However, with a little help from the staff at the insurance company, we got it together and the car was registered and insured.  The cost of my insurance was through the roof due to a recent accident in Alberta (no witnesses!).  Bad news!  But it will go down significantly next year when I  turn 65 - good news!  Also, if you are from Alberta, you will need to install a plate on the front of your car!  We were lucky to have a brand new Honda Civic and dropped into our local dealer who installed it free of charge.  The plate "holder" was in the trunk under the carpet so don't panic - your's may be too!   Vehicle "stuff - CHECK!

Property taxes - next!  We sauntered over to the Town Office (so awesome to walk into a small town office rather than trying to figure out what department to access!  We were pleased to find out that BC subsidizes seniors (65 or older) to the tune of 60% on property taxes!  Yahoo.  Note to new arrivals- you will need to have your drivers licence and your health care changed over before you qualify as a resident.  As long as you can do this before the end of the year, you can get a refund on your taxes paid.  You just have to fill out the form and pop into the town office!  We will - cost savings will more than cover the additional auto insurance premium!!  Property Tax - CHECK - well, partially as we don't qualify yet for the health insurance!

Before you can say "red or white", I was hopping on to my flight back to the big city of Calgary.  I am now settled into my daughter's guest room for my final days of work - 18 but then who's counting!  Well, for one - ME!!  Eighteen days of actual work - wow.

My blog will take on a new theme soon - the life of a new retiree!  My main priority will be settling in and exploring our new hometown!  Raouf is already sniffing out new fishing holes and I - well, I will start to get the arts/theatre/writing scene sorted out!  Oh yes, with plenty of wandering through the desert checking out the flora and fauna and sampling the local wines along the way.

One CRAZY Shopping Trip

When I first set out to make this move to retirement happen, I was pretty sure selling would be much harder than buying. Then, with a 3-hour quick sale bolstering my confidence, I was filled with the anticipation of an easy/breezy buying trip as I packed for the BIG weekend and looked forward to coming home with a house in my shopping cart!  Famous last words?  Keep on reading!

I have been shopping online for months to find Retirement Home #1 to kick off my retirement this July.  I finally sent my criteria to our new Realtor-on-the-ground, Alina, last week.  After spending many months renovating our last house, we made the decision we wanted a move-in ready home, quiet neighborhood, two bedrooms, one-story with a decent patio/deck to enjoy the balmy, warm evenings that the Okanagan brags about.  Easy access to cycling paths and good wine were also high on the list.  That was the simple part!  Packaging all of this into a small budget was much more challenging.

We landed in Kelowna with our bags in hand and soon had the keys to the Chevy Sonic rental car in our hot little hands.  Wheeling out of the parking lot, I realized, REALLY realized, that this was actually happening.  I was retiring.  I was moving.  GULP.  An easy drive through Kelowna on a mid-morning Friday before the tourist crowds mingled with the locals, and we were on our way.

We whizzed by orchards with black, empty branches reaching the sky.  The vineyards were showing some signs of life as their keepers were spotted cleaning out remnants of last season and fussing over their "babies". We skimmed by beautiful lakes and snow capped mountains and then down, down into the Southern Okanagan.  Even with only the first blush of spring peeping out and showing off her pink or yellow blossomed-branches or shy tulips or more showy daffodils hiding in sunny corners, there was a promise in the air that just spoke to my heart.  The closer we came to Osoyoos, the more excited I became!  Vineyards stretched from mountain to lake and orchards filled in the gaps.  Closed and boarded fruit stands dotted the landscape preparing for the summer harvest of cherries, apricots, peaches and so much more.  Signs shouted Cukes, Tomatoes and Strawberries to our parched, Albertan souls!

Like little kids, we parked (diagonal parking, small town friends!) for FREE (Calgary victims!) and explored the downtown - Main Street!  Coffee houses, boutiques, Home Hardware and wine bars - my smile grew incrementally with each short stop.  We dined on gluten-free quinoa salad and headed to the resort where we had scored an off-season suite.

Welcoming Committee!

We dashed out to the complex of ranchers we had our eyes on for a sneak peak before our official visit the following morning.  We drove through the neighborhood and my stomach lurched a little.  Old people everywhere smiled and waved.  They stopped on the sidewalk to do a double take on the couple in the rental vehicle.  No lawn mowers in this mainly desert landscape - just pretty little houses in gravel-covered yards and friendly seniors dotting the scenery.  They all seemed so old, so quiet, so......retired!  Doubt overwhelmed me!  Maybe I had overstated our wish for a quiet neighborhood.  Perhaps I had been wrong in thinking 55+ complexes were a good idea?  Maybe I was REALLY wrong and I wasn't ready to retire!  I started re-thinking my many decisions and went back to the hotel with a lot of feelings bouncing around inside of me.  I fired a quick email off to our Realtor - "Alina, maybe we should expand our search!  Maybe the Casita del Sol is TOO quiet."  With grace, she agreed to try and add some properties to our afternoon search the next day.

The next morning we WALKED to our Realtor's office.  We had the advantage as her lovely smile was posted on websites and For Sale signs all over town.  Knowing we had the right person, we prepared for our tour.  The sun was shining as we pulled into the visitor's parking at the Casita del Sol.  We checked out BIG cedar decks with lake views and cute little patios for that proverbial sip of wine.  What to do?  The neighbors were awakening on this fresh Spring day with outdoor and garage chores galore.  They waved and smiled as we walked between houses.  The house I had been day dreaming about for weeks was everything it had promised to be.  My thoughts of too quiet or too old calmed.  I easily pictured us with our morning coffee listening to the birds flitting around the mountain landscape as I typed my latest blog on my laptop. Oh, joy - I was home!  I was ready to be a RETIREE!  I wanted to embrace peace and quiet and beauty near a lake in a valley surrounded by mountains.


We bought it - that very day.  Easy. Confident. Calmly.  I discovered how much joy I had been holding back when we were homeward bound and stopped in a little park in Kelowna to finish off our bottle of wine - from the bottle!  Toasting our new house and our new life - in the beautiful Okanagan.

Tipping Point

I have been around and around these questions: 'What will retirement look like? Where will we live? and what will I do with all of those hours that will no longer be filled up with students and teachers and excel spreadsheets?'  I have also wondered, 'When will I know?'

I spoke with a lovely and wise retiree this past December on a quick foray into a warmer climate and she shared one of those "tipping-point" tidbits that stick in your brain.  I have often quizzed any retiree that has crossed my path lately, and I put my usual question out to her, 'How do you know when it is time?'  She smiled and shared that, for her, it was reaching that point in her career when there were no more mountains to climb.   She felt she had arrived and a new life was beckoning to her with a new role and new experiences. I carried this little bit of observation home with me, back to the winter blizzards, icy sidewalks and my life work.

I measured the distance I had traveled in my career and what was over the current mountain top - all I could see for miles was crystal clear air, blue, brilliant skies and a crisp new page of my life.  In the past, I had already usually filled in a few lines before I took a glance in that direction.  Then, I was well on my way defining the next challenge I would take on, how this program here might be elevated from great to fantastic or that process over there might be made more efficient or effective. I always had a plan brewing before I peaked into the next year.  Not  this year.  I felt like I was standing just below the tip of a ski jump, not yet able to see what lay ahead, not even mapping it out from past experience, but finally, just ready to jump!

The biggest decision was to go for it; the rest of it is the details.  I think the details always preempted the decision before.  A new perspective broadened my horizon - thank goodness for wise women!  So, I am retiring within the year.

The first detail to manage was our living accommodations.   These details have been littering my path for at least three years as I ran the scenarios through my mind, back and forth, here? there? where?  That was then followed by hours of number crunching, thousands of words of discussing and months of thinking.  So, the numbers are crunched and the silence is deafening as the words fall into their slots in the plan for the next five years.

What lies ahead?  Many of you have already arrived and thank you, as you were my best source of data as I mined for guidance.  We have been blessed with a gift I wish I could claim as forethought - one of those, all knowing decisions you make when everyone slaps you on the back for being so brilliant.   Alas, this was more an accident than a plan but when we purchased our small home three years ago, we actually had latched on to a source of income that will hopefully pad the retirement rocking chair somewhat and catapult us off into the rest of the world we so want to explore.  

A year ago, we finished the bottom two levels of our house because it seemed to be a good investment and it would give us the extra room to entertain our large family and the many grandchildren.  Well, the family has spread out across our beautiful country and the grandchildren who are close are not quite as inclined to hang out at Grandma's when it is only a few blocks to go home so, we have finally realized that with a few more dollars, we can change our lovely family room, guest rooms, bathroom and backyard into a rental property that will finance our dreams over the coming years and maybe even provide living space for a live-in caretaker that could keep us out of the nursing home - but that will be in a later plan!

So, now, we are sourcing plumbers and general contractors, cabinet makers and finish carpenters and getting closer to our dream.  With the vacancy rate near 0% in Calgary, I think, it is now or never.  We can at least pay for the small renovations required  and, if it pans out, we will hopefully be able to finance some sunny forays into new countries, cultures and experiences.  Next career - Landlord!  Stay tuned!