For years I would say, “I’ll never retire!” I loved my work – the mix of research and consulting and the huge buzz I would get working with IT architects all over the world. But in 2016/7 it became clear that most of my work was in the USA and the travel wasn’t going to be sustainable. In the end I had the decision made for me; our biggest client decided we were too small and called in “the usual consulting suspect”. It would end up costing them an arm and a leg, but it was all about perceived risk. So, with my 70^th birthday looming I decided to call it a day.

I was lucky. I had the whole of 2017 to wind down and figure out the mechanics, and critically ask myself the question of, “what next?” Followers of my blog will know what happened – almost immediately we downsized, selling the big property and travelling for six months across the UK, Europe and Ireland. The answer to the question of what next has taken longer.

I have observed numerous colleagues and friends who find this process hard. Transitioning from a full-on career to retirement is traumatic. How do you fill the day? How do you evolve relationships? How do you live without or replace the adrenalin of work?

I observed friends going to college. Taking the course or degree they had wanted to but never managed 50 years previously. Others throwing themselves into community, committees or pastime related organizational management. Others into charity work. Others consumed by their family looking after grandchildren. There’s no doubt that some people never actually complete a transition to their own satisfaction. Always looking backwards with regret. I have wondered if some people become depressed. And I have speculated that there might be some relationship between depression and people that succumb to untimely illness?

But we can all see the successful retirees. They are full of energy and happy! In fact, I don’t even like to refer to myself as retired, because it has all the hallmarks of someone that does less; takes it easy and so forth. But there’s no good synonym, and clearly retirement is a formal status that is required for various purposes including pensions, benefits, transport etc.

While I worked to the grand age of 70, I count myself lucky that I had several interests down the years. First, I hill walked, a lot. Second, I painted, not so much, but wherever I travelled on business or pleasure I did take a sketch book with me; it must be said with variable results. Third I sang oratorio. During the process of downsizing and making the move to Cork city, which took more than a year, I didn’t have time to think about retirement. However, once we were established I realized that, apart from one evening a week, I didn’t have any structure or schedule. And that made me quite uncomfortable. Over a period of several months I deliberately started filling my diary. I joined the local hill walking club and have been leading an intermediate level walk most months. I joined two more choirs. I joined a daytime art class. I started doing voluntary IT work for a local non-profit organization and I acquired an allotment. Just today I have signed up for an art history class at UCC for the 2019/20 year.

If this all sounds like a lot, it’s entirely deliberate. I have met loads of people and feel like I’m just starting to become part of the community in a very small way. But I will drop back some of the commitments in time. I can already see that I want to apply more effort to art. I have also agreed to pass one of my smaller chunks of allotment space to others and will continue to downsize that a bit more.

I expect and plan ongoing fine tuning of my workload. What else should I call it? I don’t feel I am just filling in time. I am highly energized and believe the activities are productive. I certainly have a more mixed load and have free time to explore other interests. Oh yes, I also run a Facebook page for Brits in Europe to help them understand the nuances of this terrible Brexit process. And I follow climate change technologies and related issues closely and work hard to ensure I am doing my bit. For example, I use my bike or take the bus everywhere possible and have reduced my carbon footprint by over 50% over the past year! And again, that activity will run and run. I don’t feel in any way retired!