Comments on: My So-Called Retirement: The R Word http://www.juicytomatoes.com/2010/01/27/my-so-called-retirement-the-r-word/ ripe living after 50, with Susan Swartz Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:07:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Penny Hastings http://www.juicytomatoes.com/2010/01/27/my-so-called-retirement-the-r-word/comment-page-1/#comment-792 Penny Hastings Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:53:54 +0000 http://www.juicytomatoes.com/?p=239#comment-792 Very thoughtful column, Susan. For 'women of a certain age' who are nearing or into retirement (love the term jubilada!) there are internal questions. One of mine is: how do I feel 'productive' when I'm not working for a living? Does productive mean making money? Does being productive mean actively working on a schedule or keeping busy? After my mother retired, she was dressed with makeup and hair combed by 7:30, afraid someone might come by if she was still in her robe and think she was lazy. This is an important topic and one I hope you return to fairly often on your website. Many of us have questions, and luckily, some have found answers that I hope they will share. Very thoughtful column, Susan. For ‘women of a certain age’ who are nearing or into retirement (love the term jubilada!) there are internal questions. One of mine is: how do I feel ‘productive’ when I’m not working for a living? Does productive mean making money? Does being productive mean actively working on a schedule or keeping busy? After my mother retired, she was dressed with makeup and hair combed by 7:30, afraid someone might come by if she was still in her robe and think she was lazy. This is an important topic and one I hope you return to fairly often on your website. Many of us have questions, and luckily, some have found answers that I hope they will share.

]]> By: Diane http://www.juicytomatoes.com/2010/01/27/my-so-called-retirement-the-r-word/comment-page-1/#comment-784 Diane Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:26:39 +0000 http://www.juicytomatoes.com/?p=239#comment-784 I hate retirement.......maybe because it was not my choice.......I was dismissed from Ursuline High School after 20 years along with seven other teachers, including two nuns........ ....... it seems that everyone who was let go from their positions because of this terrible economic climate has taken the C-BEST and gone on the substitute's list so even that part time employment has dried up.....I DO volunteer.......but it is not enough to make me feel like a productive member of society.....I have a heavy duty work script as my father had fruit ranches and no sons to drive trucks, pick and carry boxes of prunes, walnuts, etc....also my children have chosen not to reproduce so their are no grandchildren to dote on.... I can't get it out of my head that retirement is a limbo state where one just waits around to die......sorry to be so depressing..... I hate retirement…….maybe because it was not my choice…….I was dismissed from Ursuline High School after 20 years along with seven other teachers, including two nuns…….. ……. it seems that everyone who was let go from their positions because of this terrible economic climate has taken the C-BEST and gone on the substitute’s list so even that part time employment has dried up…..I DO volunteer…….but it is not enough to make me feel like a productive member of society…..I have a heavy duty work script as my father had fruit ranches and no sons to drive trucks, pick and carry boxes of prunes, walnuts, etc….also my children have chosen not to reproduce so their are no grandchildren to dote on…. I can’t get it out of my head that retirement is a limbo state where one just waits around to die……sorry to be so depressing…..

]]> By: Susan Swartz http://www.juicytomatoes.com/2010/01/27/my-so-called-retirement-the-r-word/comment-page-1/#comment-783 Susan Swartz Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:47:38 +0000 http://www.juicytomatoes.com/?p=239#comment-783 Yes, it IS exciting new ground and my hope is that our generation of women, just as we re-modeled the world of work, will do so with what happens after work. Ride the horse, sleep in, finally do what we never had enought time for in the 9-to-5 world and then find that other thing that feeds us. Yes, it IS exciting new ground and my hope is that our generation of women, just as we re-modeled the world of work, will do so with what happens after work. Ride the horse, sleep in, finally do what we never had enought time for in the 9-to-5 world and then find that other thing that feeds us.

]]> By: sophie jensen http://www.juicytomatoes.com/2010/01/27/my-so-called-retirement-the-r-word/comment-page-1/#comment-782 sophie jensen Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:13:11 +0000 http://www.juicytomatoes.com/?p=239#comment-782 Liberation. Liberation.

]]> By: Steph http://www.juicytomatoes.com/2010/01/27/my-so-called-retirement-the-r-word/comment-page-1/#comment-781 Steph Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:02:37 +0000 http://www.juicytomatoes.com/?p=239#comment-781 Jubilada. Perfect! Jubilada. Perfect!

]]> By: Dee http://www.juicytomatoes.com/2010/01/27/my-so-called-retirement-the-r-word/comment-page-1/#comment-780 Dee Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:02:30 +0000 http://www.juicytomatoes.com/?p=239#comment-780 Well. I am one of those looking forward to retirement, never mind the word itself, because I am tired of being structured and required. I want to ride my horse, sleep until I wake up, read, read, read, write, have more time with grandchildren, drive with my friend to Alaska......sounds like liberation to me. I suppose changing my identity might take a minute or two, but I got over worrying about identity long ago. I like what you are writing, as usual. Well. I am one of those looking forward to retirement, never mind the word itself, because I am tired of being structured and required. I want to ride my horse, sleep until I wake up, read, read, read, write, have more time with grandchildren, drive with my friend to Alaska……sounds like liberation to me.
I suppose changing my identity might take a minute or two, but I got over worrying about identity long ago.
I like what you are writing, as usual.

]]> By: Bonnie McFarland http://www.juicytomatoes.com/2010/01/27/my-so-called-retirement-the-r-word/comment-page-1/#comment-779 Bonnie McFarland Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:04:33 +0000 http://www.juicytomatoes.com/?p=239#comment-779 Good post, Susan. In my work with women in their 50s and 60s I've not come across many who want to sit on a porch & rock away the rest of their years. Some of that is nice, of course. But a whole life of it!!! Not for me or others I know. As more people get the bonus 20+ years of living longer compared to a generation or so ago, we are on new ground. Without many words, concepts, or role models to guide us. It will be fun to watch how this all plays out as we re-define life after "retirement." Good post, Susan. In my work with women in their 50s and 60s I’ve not come across many who want to sit on a porch & rock away the rest of their years. Some of that is nice, of course. But a whole life of it!!! Not for me or others I know.

As more people get the bonus 20+ years of living longer compared to a generation or so ago, we are on new ground. Without many words, concepts, or role models to guide us. It will be fun to watch how this all plays out as we re-define life after “retirement.”

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