Friends always say I am a young woman but have an old thinking, or mature per se. I disagree with them until recently I found myself imagining my days of retirement. Now I am in my 30's so I have 25-30 more years to go before I reach there. I know it is not advisable to worry about the future, but to me, no harm daydreaming about retiring so that I can embark on the pathway to the future correctly. Let me bring you to my wish lists of retirement. You can start imagining yours too as you read! 😃
Retirement Wish List
1. My spouse is still with me, both healthy and fit.
Here is our pre-wedding photo. Still young and fit. I include it here to remind myself to stay young, healthy and fit.
I told my husband I want to grow old with him and my wish is that we stay healthy and fit till the end. With that being said, we have to work towards the goal to be healthy start from now. I won't be able to enjoy my retirement if both or either one is sick or ill. However, I know the future is not in our hands, so our default mode is still sticking to our marriage vow as we grow old. Today, as I write this, I also make a new commitment to cut down my intake of coffee. I have 3 cups of coffee per day consistently (not counting one cup of tea occasionally). While the caffeine helps me to stay alert at home as a mother and homemaker, it has been giving me some headache. Not a good sign. I must decide to take care of my health. And of course not forgetting to eat healthily.
2. Own a caravan
Source image
I love caravan. I love the idea that I can spend 1-3 days at a favourite spot, out of the norm, out of the routine lifestyle, just enjoying some tranquility in the caravan. I often daydream I park the caravan at a nice beach, and I can do whatever I like in there, for example cooking, reading, blogging and listening to music or playing some intruments. Outside the caravan, I can spend my time walking on the sand, or swimming in the beach (Oh no, I haven't learned swimming!).
3. Pick up some outdoor skills.
Source image
I had used so much time in my growing up on academic skills and indoor skills that I neglected all the outdoor skills. I sort of regretted that I wasn't as active as I wanted to when I grew up and also before the arrival of children, so I wish to be active again in my 50's. I don't swim. I don't cycle. It used to be a secret but now not anymore since I write it down. So I really look forward to learning how to swim and how to cycle. Also, I would love to try sky diving and hang gliding. Again, staying healthy is a must for this dream to come true.
4. Travelling
Source image
If you know the condition of my 2nd son, I stop travelling. Now I devote my life for his well-being while daydreaming about travelling to Disneyland, the 7 wonders of the world and also China. Disneyland - because I grew up watching all the Disney cartoon plus I really love theme park. 7 wonders of the world - simply they are wonderful they make me wonder, so I must go. China - because I am a Chinese born in Malaysia, and my ancestors are from China.
5. Bless the community
Source Image
I wish I have alot of money by then to build at least one orphanage, one old folks' home and one for the homeless. How to manage them I will figure it out if this wish come to pass. My husband notices my teary eyes everytime I encounter poor homeless people, children without love and old people walking alone in the street, he said I will be the most suitable person to handle this. So it is in my retirement plan.
6. Babysitting
Own photo. Spot the joyful grandparents' faces.
I know it sounds weird to daydream me being old granny taking care of grandchildren while my children are still young. I can't afford to not think about this because I witness such immeasurable joy and flawless countenance on every grandfathers and grandmothers that babysit their grandchildren. I see it in my parents' faces and my parents'-in-law's faces. So I figure out the secret - you become young, vibrant, joyful and youthful when you babysit. Set!
7. Stay calm and be lazy and just enjoy my coffee. Haha!
Source image
Last but not least, when I reach the age when all the above are impossible for me to perform, I just want to stay calm, be lazy and enjoy my good old last days - with my cuppa of coffee (1 cup per day I hope). And continue to love my old look, love my spouse's old look, love my children and grandchildren, love my life.
Till I see heaven, I will bless the Lord.
What do I do now till then? I will love my life, live the love life, bless the Lord in good days and on bad days, stay healthy, work on being joyful, keep on being positive and never stop learning.
Enjoy this song of the day!
10,000 Reasons
Matt Redman
Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I'll worship Your Holy name
The sun comes up
It's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass
And whatever lies before me
Let me be singing
When the evening comes
You're rich in love
And You're slow to anger
Your name is great
And Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness
I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons
For my heart to find
And on that day
When my strength is failing
The end draws near
And my time has come
Still my soul will
Sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years
And then forevermore
Forevermore
Songwriters: Jonas Myrin / Matt Redman
10,000 Reasons lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group
I spotted this vehicle and lucky me! Asked permission, directed the traffic for cars to stop awhile for me to snap photo, and here is my entry for 
Car for the "Just Retired" (Vehicle Photography)
What about you? Do you have a wish-list for retirement? 😊