Finding My Stride

I've been "retired" for over a month now and I feel like I'm finally finding my stride in this new life.  If I were to be totally honest, it has been just a little difficult.  Before you call me CRAZY let me explain......

When I was working I didn't feel bad about not having a place for everything and everything in its place.  After all, I worked hard - Monday through Friday.  I was up early and away from home nine to ten hours a day.  When I was home I took care of what HAD to be done but it didn't leave much time or energy for other FUN things.  Now that I am here all the time there should never be a time when we run out of clean underwear.  :)  During times of our Summer or Christmas shutdowns (usually ten days or so) I felt like I was just getting the MUST DOs done and could have time to play a little and then it would be time to go back to work.  For a long time I have felt like my value was based on the amount of work I did or the money that I brought home.  Being "retired" puts a different light on things for sure and I've had to remind myself that my value comes from the fact that Jesus died for me.  I am valuable in His eyes by living a life that is worthy of His sacrifice for me.

Now I find myself with that precious commodity - TIME.  At first I struggled with a routine, which is something I must have.  When I was working I was in Marion every day so I could take care of Mom's needs, grocery shop, get horse feed, etc. without much thought going into it. I was already there.  We don't live that far out but I try to make my trips to town count.  That was a struggle for me at first.

I've always been pretty selfish with my time at home.  I didn't feel like I ever had enough and when I got a chance to choose - GO or STAY - it was usually to STAY (unless the GO was to the race track :) ).  I've been able to lighten up in this regard much to John's liking I'm sure.  He likes to go different places and believe it or not, I think he likes it when I go with him.

I spent a great deal of time during the first few weeks trying to muddle my way through the Medicare Supplement maze.  I'm so afraid of making the wrong decision.  Both of our medicines are very expensive and the wrong move could wipe out all that we've saved!  I'd probably take my chances and not take the medicine if it came down to it.  Fortunately during my travels in the maze I came across a very helpful gentleman and believe that I am making an informed decision now.  

While a part of me doesn't feel like I should be retired for several reasons -

1.  I really don't know anything different than to work.
2.  I don't feel old enough (blessing in itself).
3.  I really liked the steady income.

every day seems like a vacation day now!  I've been home long enough that I have gotten a lot of the MUST DOs done and now I'm starting to work some PLAY into the routine.

A wise person (my daughter, Ashley) told me that even a good change takes a period of adjustment. This is quite true.  So... I'm out of the gates and settling into my run down the backstretch.  Hopefully it will be awhile before my final stretch run, but as I've said before - none of us know.  All I can pray and hope for is that it is a race well run.

Remember friends, every day is a gift.  Savor each one that you are blessed with.

Love to you all!

Sue

ahhh..... Retirement!

Tomorrow, May 1, 2019, will be my last day at General Cable.  I have gone to the same place for almost thirty-one years.  That, my friend, is a very long time.  I have seen a lot of good people come and go - some on their own, others not.  And only by the grace of God have I been able to complete my career here.  I do praise Him for that.  I think it was fifteen years or so ago that I was told, "obviously there is no place for you in the new Marion."  Not true!  The ones that told me that have been gone from General Cable for a very long time.  I'm still here!..... until tomorrow that is.

The stapler pictured has been on my desk since the very beginning.  Even though I have sat in fourteen different locations in the building, my desk and stapler followed me wherever I went.  I decided to leave the desk but not my stapler!  Yeah, I'm kind of a sentimental gal.....  and this is kind of bittersweet.  I've made a lot of friends working and even though we say we will stay in touch I know that we won't.  Some I have never even met, only having an email/phone relationship with them, but I still consider them my friend.

I'm excited about this new chapter in my life.  I started working when I was fourteen - car hopping at a Dog n' Suds, working all through high school at a Burger Chef, taking a couple of months off my senior year, then getting a job a week or so after graduation.  This was an office/secretarial job and from there I went to running Thoroughbred Race Horses in West Virginia - not too lucrative and a lot of hard work but pretty cool job for me (because I've always been that horse crazy lady).  After that I did some time as a dispatcher for the Marion Police Department - I liked this job too - good people protecting us.  Then I moved to Hawaii where I acquired a very good job working for the Navy.  When I left there I went to a sister command in Norfolk, Virginia.  Then back home to Marion, Indiana.  On June 18, 1988 I was hired at General Cable (actually Cablec at the time).  I've been there since that day.  During this time we also have raised, trained, and raced Thoroughbreds and as John would say, that is a full time job in itself - but a dream come true for me. 

John retired last October and he has settled into it just fine.  I think I will do fine as well.  We have a lot of things on the bucket list.... well, maybe not a lot of "things" but plan to spend a lot of "time" on several. And if I were honest, that is probably what I look forward to the most - having time.

• time to sit on the deck in the morning and read in my Bible or whatever other good story I'm reading.
• time to listen to the birds sing their praises.
• time to water my flowers in the cool of the morning instead of the heat of the afternoon when I am already tired and wondering why I planted so many.
• time to work with our dogs when we are fresh instead of dragging after a long day at work.
• time to work with the "orphan" that is four years old and knows NOTHING - it's okay, he's a horse.  He is fed and taken care of and he will learn.
• time to clean my barn and keep it clean.
• time to help John with the mowing and gardening.
• time to go fishing!  And not feel guilty about things that aren't getting done at home.
• and yes, time to blog and write more, and spend quality time with my cameras.

Don't get me wrong, I know none of us are guaranteed "time".  We don't know when we will be called Home.  I also believe that when that time comes for me, Heaven will be much more glorious than any of the things I have listed above - it's hard to believe, but I believe it to be true.


I'm thinking I will like this retirement gig just fine.  It's going to be great!  Stay tuned........