Comments on: My So-Called Retirement http://www.juicytomatoes.com/2010/01/10/my-so-called-retirement/ ripe living after 50, with Susan Swartz Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:20:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Judy Gardner http://www.juicytomatoes.com/2010/01/10/my-so-called-retirement/#comment-774 Judy Gardner Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:56:29 +0000 http://www.juicytomatoes.com/?p=232#comment-774 Susan, you hit the nail on the head (excuse the cliche but I'm NOT a writer). Being conscious, being 'mindful', is key. Glad you said it. Susan, you hit the nail on the head (excuse the cliche but I’m NOT a writer). Being conscious, being ‘mindful’, is key. Glad you said it.

]]> By: Susan Swartz http://www.juicytomatoes.com/2010/01/10/my-so-called-retirement/#comment-771 Susan Swartz Sun, 17 Jan 2010 19:16:45 +0000 http://www.juicytomatoes.com/?p=232#comment-771 hi Martha: I am interested in your so-called retirement, too, because you had such a full, public, fulfilling and challenging career. And broke barriers as a minister. I think the transition, like Judy says, is a big part of the process. for me the challenge is to be mindful of the transition. hi Martha: I am interested in your so-called retirement, too, because you had such a full, public, fulfilling and challenging career. And broke barriers as a minister. I think the transition, like Judy says, is a big part of the process. for me the challenge is to be mindful of the transition.

]]> By: Martha B. Wagley http://www.juicytomatoes.com/2010/01/10/my-so-called-retirement/#comment-769 Martha B. Wagley Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:43:16 +0000 http://www.juicytomatoes.com/?p=232#comment-769 Susan, Thanks for this great article. It has been 6 months of retirement for me. While I try and dress it up with "readventure" language, it is still the uncertainty of this new relationship with myself and life that pulls at me. Last week at a conference where I was speaking, I had my title, "Pastor Emerita, First Church" on the Power Point presentation and told them it was a fancy way to say "retired". They laughed. The title helps my ego but doesn't capture what I do and who I am. I also liked Ellen Goodman's recent article about her own retirement and "letting herself go"...into new ways of being (as the lady on the beach so aptly put it). I will look forward to future articles about this transition. Susan, Thanks for this great article. It has been 6 months of retirement for me. While I try and dress it up with “readventure” language, it is still the uncertainty of this new relationship with myself and life that pulls at me. Last week at a conference where I was speaking, I had my title, “Pastor Emerita, First Church” on the Power Point presentation and told them it was a fancy way to say “retired”. They laughed. The title helps my ego but doesn’t capture what I do and who I am. I also liked Ellen Goodman’s recent article about her own retirement and “letting herself go”…into new ways of being (as the lady on the beach so aptly put it). I will look forward to future articles about this transition.

]]> By: Judy Gardner http://www.juicytomatoes.com/2010/01/10/my-so-called-retirement/#comment-767 Judy Gardner Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:30:22 +0000 http://www.juicytomatoes.com/?p=232#comment-767 well ... as you might expect, the challenge and work of it was sorting through options for activities, giving myself permission to pursue interests. Because - simultaneous with my retirement we moved to a new location where my husband had new work - my adjustment/transition was a lonely one at times. I often felt very much 'on my own' with the process. well … as you might expect, the challenge and work of it was sorting through options for activities, giving myself permission to pursue interests. Because - simultaneous with my retirement we moved to a new location where my husband had new work - my adjustment/transition was a lonely one at times. I often felt very much ‘on my own’ with the process.

]]> By: Susan Swartz http://www.juicytomatoes.com/2010/01/10/my-so-called-retirement/#comment-766 Susan Swartz Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:49:05 +0000 http://www.juicytomatoes.com/?p=232#comment-766 Hi Judy: What was most challenging about those years after 9-5 work life before you settled into your new life? How did you make the transition? Hi Judy: What was most challenging about those years after 9-5 work life before you settled into your new life? How did you make the transition?

]]> By: Judy Gardner http://www.juicytomatoes.com/2010/01/10/my-so-called-retirement/#comment-765 Judy Gardner Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:09:11 +0000 http://www.juicytomatoes.com/?p=232#comment-765 Well, wow, this is a huge subject. I like the woman on the beach, her reply! I almost feel the same way, retired. I don't mind at all identifying myself as such - retired - because I'm busy with activities that I value and feel good about. I tell people I was awarded a 'Gardner Photography Fellowship' because now I have the time to pursue an interest AND my husband is supportive and generous about the time and resources I'm using. In addition, volunteering for hospice (after social work played an important part in my working life) is hugely satisfying. To be so lucky to still have good health, a husband with similar good health and compatible interests for travel and more, adult children who are very friendly(!) and grandchildren that are the best! Admittedly, it took a while to settle into a life that felt good after the 9-5 work life was over ... those were challenging years (years!!). I'm looking forward to more in your " ... so-called retirement" columns. Let's keep talking! There's so much ... goals for these years...the 'spiritual' component, where we chose to live and why and how much it matters, time? how do we define the value of how we use what's become a very treasured resource?! Well, wow, this is a huge subject. I like the woman on the beach, her reply! I almost feel the same way, retired. I don’t mind at all identifying myself as such - retired - because I’m busy with activities that I value and feel good about. I tell people I was awarded a ‘Gardner Photography Fellowship’ because now I have the time to pursue an interest AND my husband is supportive and generous about the time and resources I’m using. In addition, volunteering for hospice (after social work played an important part in my working life) is hugely satisfying. To be so lucky to still have good health, a husband with similar good health and compatible interests for travel and more, adult children who are very friendly(!) and grandchildren that are the best! Admittedly, it took a while to settle into a life that felt good after the 9-5 work life was over … those were challenging years (years!!).

I’m looking forward to more in your ” … so-called retirement” columns. Let’s keep talking! There’s so much … goals for these years…the ’spiritual’ component, where we chose to live and why and how much it matters, time? how do we define the value of how we use what’s become a very treasured resource?!

]]> By: Marylu Downing http://www.juicytomatoes.com/2010/01/10/my-so-called-retirement/#comment-764 Marylu Downing Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:44:08 +0000 http://www.juicytomatoes.com/?p=232#comment-764 Hey, this is great. I like the personal touch to a common subject!! Hey, this is great. I like the personal touch to a common subject!!

]]>