It has been a little over a year since I took early retirement, which is quite an important life event, so I thought that I might share a few reflections on what has occurred to me. More than one person has told me that they could not consider retiring as they would get bored, but I have never had that fear; I have too many interests. I find myself to be one of those retirees who is busier now that they do not work for a living than when they had a full time job!

One of the first things that I have noticed is that I feel healthier. Yes, I am physically disabled and that is something that I will never stop being, but I have mostly enjoyed good health generally. A former manager once commented that I took fewer days off sick than anyone else despite being disabled. Perhaps because of my disability, I have always valued being healthy more. One thing that I had noticed while I was at work was my weight, which had gradually increased. For most of my life I have been around 8 stone, but by my last day at work this had risen to over 9 stone. I know, for some people this is not a lot, but for me, with my impaired mobility, it was adding to my problems. I am now back to 8 stone and feeling much better for it. I realised that the main reason why I had put weight on was because my job had become uninteresting to me. As a result, I snacked more than I should, mostly because it was a means of getting through the working day. It was becoming a very unhealthy habit.

The truth is that most of us are conditioned to live our lives by the clock; time rules everything. I stopped doing that once I was free of work. I get up when I wake up. I eat when I am hungry and drink when I am thirsty. I go to sleep when I am tired. I do not care what time the clock says anymore. When I become engrossed in an activity I often forget to eat; I know, not everyone believes me, but it is true. I find that any creative process just pulls me in and holds my attention until either my wife, or a desperate need to go to the toilet, pulls me out again. It has become a very healthy habit. I am happier now than I have been for a long time. I am being creative, laughing more, indulging myself more, helping my wife more. We are not wealthy, but we are comfortable and reasonably content with the way things are. I would like Donna to give up work too; I know that she would benefit greatly from it. Like me, she has never been defined by her employment status alone. Also like me, she has dreams that go beyond what we have been inculcated to think were possible. Of course, our dreams have changed as we have gotten older, a privilege that some of our family and friends never got to enjoy. We do not lust after things anymore; just experiences. By experiences I am not referring to exotic holidays or stays in expensive hotels, well, not just them, but considering sitting together and sharing the moment as an experience. Of going out together and enjoying music, food, drink, friends, and even, despite 30 years of marriage, each other too!

The clock is ticking, but I choose not to hear it. I live in the moment where only being is important.