Today I started a new job. While I was working full-time I used to dream about what retirement would be like. Whole empty days to devote to hobby projects - time to tackle long-distance footpaths, learn a language, cook more adventurous food... Sundays without the drudgery of sets of exercise books to mark, a chore which nothing made bearable. Mondays without the inevitable battle through rush-hour traffic...
And, to some extent, this turns out to be true. I certainly don't envy those women just slightly younger than me who are still waiting to qualify for their state pension in order to be able to retire at all. Most of all, I enjoy being able to be outdoors when the weather is fine, making the most of the daylight in these short December days.
And yet, I find myself drawn to volunteering opportunities for what can only be called work.
The other day I was at the National Trust property in my village for a winter cleaning day, along with a small team of others. My colleague, a retired banker, was hoovering the floor of the Great Hall so that I could apply polish to it in the old-fashioned way, on my hands and knees.
"I don't do this at home," he said, wonderingly. "I pay a cleaner who comes in to do it for me."
"Yes," I replied, "that's because that is housework, whereas this is a leisure activity." Now this is true, but it is also still hoovering.
A week ago we were at the local nature reserve having a cup of tea in the visitor centre. Through the open door of the kitchen I could see a volunteer loading a dish washer. "I could do that, " I thought.
So today, I drove across country in blazing sunshine to spend the day clearing tables and loading the dishwasher at that same centre. From the kitchen, as from the café, a panoramic view of the reservoir teeming with birdlife: lapwings, cormorants, Brent geese... As a view from a workplace it can have few equals.
I drove home through the dusk, feeling tired but pleased to have been of some use. Not such an easy feeling to come by in retirement.
And, to some extent, this turns out to be true. I certainly don't envy those women just slightly younger than me who are still waiting to qualify for their state pension in order to be able to retire at all. Most of all, I enjoy being able to be outdoors when the weather is fine, making the most of the daylight in these short December days.
And yet, I find myself drawn to volunteering opportunities for what can only be called work.
The other day I was at the National Trust property in my village for a winter cleaning day, along with a small team of others. My colleague, a retired banker, was hoovering the floor of the Great Hall so that I could apply polish to it in the old-fashioned way, on my hands and knees.
"I don't do this at home," he said, wonderingly. "I pay a cleaner who comes in to do it for me."
"Yes," I replied, "that's because that is housework, whereas this is a leisure activity." Now this is true, but it is also still hoovering.
A week ago we were at the local nature reserve having a cup of tea in the visitor centre. Through the open door of the kitchen I could see a volunteer loading a dish washer. "I could do that, " I thought.
So today, I drove across country in blazing sunshine to spend the day clearing tables and loading the dishwasher at that same centre. From the kitchen, as from the café, a panoramic view of the reservoir teeming with birdlife: lapwings, cormorants, Brent geese... As a view from a workplace it can have few equals.
I drove home through the dusk, feeling tired but pleased to have been of some use. Not such an easy feeling to come by in retirement.
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1 comment:
Interesting post. I think of retirement but not a real one were I am at home enjoying a life of leisure and creating. I know I will be working but I just want to be in a less stressful environment! Plus, I hope the work will be a bit more on my own terms.
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