Now Just Idling (Retiring From Work Stress and Alarm Clock)

I was on my last semester in the university when I started receiving pay slips while on the job training (OJT) as they call it here, a 6-month apprenticeship where we were thrown into the real working environments. Luckily for me, the firm where I had mine decided to hire me even before my graduation. I was 19 so it got me excited and saw myself working until I get tired.

We had a colleague then, an old maiden who often talked about retiring in a few year's time and what she would be doing (i.e. spending time with her nieces, growing sweet potatoes, starting a piggery etc). We used to tease her to find a man whom she would tour around the world with and enjoy. She would just laugh. I left the firm 3 years later and she was still working.

Most people here especially those in government agencies tend to think retirement only comes when one reaches the age of 55, 60 or 65. I never imagined myself going that route though. My idea was to save enough then stop and do something else. Little did I know that the 9-5 lifestyle would tire me out really early but it did, so I decided it was enough.

Some relatives and even my brother-in-law thought I was crazy throwing away something that others would do anything and everything to have. I was lucky they said. They may have thought I was just on my butt in an airconditioned office signing papers and stuff, lol! My parents and siblings however were quite happy that I'm finally coming home. I was 30 then and was ripe to get married.😁

And so the Farmboy and I tied the knot and started living life as we knew it. Our savings got depleted 4-5 years later as we led sort of a "happy-go-lucky' lifestyle then – eating out, going place to place and not knowing how to budget and such. So when my former company called me in, I returned abroad along with the husband. Then stress set in and was just too much so we quit amidst the protest of the company and came back home. I was 36 and had no idea what to do next but thanks to my parents and siblings, we were able to start anew and had our own livelihood here in the countryside which up until now is the source of our bread and butter.

So yes, I've not been working since 2019, although I do some commissioned work once a year, I no longer have the hate relationship with Mondays, nor need to set an alarm. I can sleep or wake up whenever I want and perhaps if I have not a spouse, I can go anywhere too.😅

If there's one thing I found out is this – what am I going to do today, tomorrow, the next day?

And that is what I often hear from those who are nearing their retirement age, especially those whose kids are all grown up. My eldest sister, now 49 is still employed and wanting to retire but letting the thought of "what would I be doing day to day" stop her from taking the leap. They have businesses which I believe are enough to sustain their lifestyle but what she dreads the most is being idle. And I think many people share that thought. It is important then to have a hobby to keep one occupied during the transition period.

Valeria Ushakova

I realized that as I remembered back when I was starting to let go of work. I was into gardening and it felt tireless then. Maybe that was how I adjusted from being so active to now, just idling.

Even so, I still ask loudly from time to time, "what will I do today?" The husband has an answer to that, "eat and sleep."😂 Not exactly the life we want, ain't it?

But thanks to Hive which I think came right on timing, I did not have to do that. And whilst the husband manages things in the real world, I'm on my butt Hiving.😅 Hope however that before I get bored with such a way of life, I would discover something else that would make me tick and which I can do at least in between.

Until then, I will enjoy writing and sharing my musings and build this lil nest in the process.