tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430310340733122486.post5183217767310295082..comments2024-02-14T10:20:33.725+00:00Comments on Relatively Retiring: Not so Retiring.....Relatively Retiringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07648407316162715318noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430310340733122486.post-7305515522909014052009-01-25T20:55:00.000+00:002009-01-25T20:55:00.000+00:00This post made me think about the assumptions base...This post made me think about the assumptions based on appearance which I make about other people, as well as about those which other people make about me. Then I found myself thinking about "relative" and "absolute". I came to the conclusion that so much in life is relative, even though we may think it's absolute.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430310340733122486.post-52330868299016182442009-01-21T17:10:00.000+00:002009-01-21T17:10:00.000+00:00mm: thank you for some lovely thoughts. The 'desir...mm: thank you for some lovely thoughts. The 'desire to be of service' semms to become highly significant these days.Relatively Retiringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07648407316162715318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430310340733122486.post-50136244275267901382009-01-21T00:54:00.000+00:002009-01-21T00:54:00.000+00:00What a great post. I think a gift of growing older...What a great post. I think a gift of growing older is greater clarity around one's abilities (and lack of them). Fewer internal pressures to perform well in order to impress, rather the desire to be of service and the satisfaction of a job, however small, well done.<BR/><BR/>Good luck. Enjoy it.mmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12602566764008799383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430310340733122486.post-34620674224493911882009-01-19T08:50:00.000+00:002009-01-19T08:50:00.000+00:00Isabelle: thank you for your comment. I think it's...Isabelle: thank you for your comment. I think it's necessary to learn to be retired - and to go on learning. But I am doing it alone and learning to be a widow at the same time. So many of my friends have 'retired' into a life with grandchildren, which much be very different, and which gives another ready-made identity.<BR/><BR/>I'm pretty sure no one's looked at my stomach (or anything else) for some time now!Relatively Retiringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07648407316162715318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430310340733122486.post-84836516966665151372009-01-18T23:57:00.000+00:002009-01-18T23:57:00.000+00:00A very interesting post as usual. I'm really looki...A very interesting post as usual. I'm really looking forward to retiring (in two and a half years) but have a tiny fear that I may feel a loss of identity. I think it'll be worth it, though. <BR/><BR/>And I like being invisible - not to the extent of being pushed off pavements, of course. But I like not having to pull in my stomach because I know no one's looking at it...Pam https://www.blogger.com/profile/12641269043817163165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430310340733122486.post-38369015637002576892009-01-18T17:26:00.000+00:002009-01-18T17:26:00.000+00:00That's lovely, Julie. I will especially cherish th...That's lovely, Julie. I will especially cherish the remark about cheese! Many thanks.Relatively Retiringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07648407316162715318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430310340733122486.post-85024935396738527622009-01-18T11:03:00.000+00:002009-01-18T11:03:00.000+00:00My Ex claims to be too old to change careers at 54...My Ex claims to be too old to change careers at 54. This is a man with a double first in theoretical physics from Cambridge!<BR/>I recently confounded his lack of expectations by doing precisley that at the age of 52. <BR/>Age only matters if you're a cheese is one of my favourite quotes.<BR/>I like getting older. I like the self-awareness, the experiences, the compassion and, dare I say it, the wisdom, that comes from having lived a full life.<BR/>The young are as an empty book, each page containing a few random and confused scribbles<BR/>The mature person is a whole thesis drawn from their life-long adventures<BR/>Here's to growing older!juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04283759962211889152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430310340733122486.post-18637078986391811442009-01-17T18:14:00.000+00:002009-01-17T18:14:00.000+00:00Leslee: I am very touched by your most generous co...Leslee: I am very touched by your most generous comment. Thank you so much.Relatively Retiringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07648407316162715318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430310340733122486.post-56255961630405550592009-01-17T15:19:00.000+00:002009-01-17T15:19:00.000+00:00Since I went out into the working world, I've had ...Since I went out into the working world, I've had older women friends that I've admired and watched navigate the world. They have endlessly inspired me. You may be invisible to some, but at least some younger women are seeing you and learning from your wisdom. Go forth with grace!lesleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09127872882510411387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430310340733122486.post-46658542163019213802009-01-17T07:53:00.000+00:002009-01-17T07:53:00.000+00:00Anne-Marie: thank you for your comment. Yes, I kno...Anne-Marie: thank you for your comment. Yes, I know the poem, and a friend of mine belongs to an affliated organisation. The other month they visited a cheese-factory and then went out for afternoon tea. How disgraceful is that!<BR/><BR/>No, you are not too young to be given respect. That is what I'm aiming for - respect for all ages! (In UK he would probably have called you 'luv', 'doll' or 'babe' unless his supervisor was listening).Relatively Retiringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07648407316162715318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430310340733122486.post-8884507639196128432009-01-16T23:19:00.000+00:002009-01-16T23:19:00.000+00:00Very thought-provoking, RR.Do you know that famous...Very thought-provoking, RR.<BR/><BR/>Do you know that famous poem by Jenny Joseph? It starts: "When I am old I shall wear purple, with a red hat which doesn't match and doesn't suit me." Some thing like that. There is a social organisation you may have heard of called "The Red Hat Ladies" - named in honour of this poem - and they are devoting themselves to growing old disgracefully and in style. Bravo to that!<BR/><BR/>At the supermarket the other day the polite teenage check-out boy called me "ma'am". At first I was impressed by his politeness, then appalled. I'm 36. Surely I'm too young for "ma'am"?Anne-Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06769343406187885283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430310340733122486.post-9154962300362603492009-01-16T16:29:00.000+00:002009-01-16T16:29:00.000+00:00Persiflage: thank you. I quite agree about the new...Persiflage: thank you. I quite agree about the new purposes and freedoms. It's a privilege to still have access to the old identity, though.<BR/><BR/>Zhoen: Yes, but it's when you're invisible to the white-haired blokes as well that you know you're really out of it!<BR/>I'll look out for Anita and Me.Relatively Retiringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07648407316162715318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430310340733122486.post-48505971049465271252009-01-16T13:22:00.000+00:002009-01-16T13:22:00.000+00:00Start carrying around a big sword. And some reall...Start carrying around a big sword. And some really high speed computer vocabulary. Use as necessary. <BR/><BR/>I have actually enjoyed my relative invisibility to young men as my age shows.<BR/><BR/>Have you ever seen the movie Anita & Me?Zhoenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03515663141425057088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430310340733122486.post-31654942246454111032009-01-16T12:52:00.000+00:002009-01-16T12:52:00.000+00:00Yet again your perspectives on life broaden my own...Yet again your perspectives on life broaden my own horizons. I like the idea of a white-haired old lady giving people a clip on the ear.It sounds good to be able to return to a job. Now I wonder what it is you do.<BR/>When I retired, earlier than planned, I missed the sense of purpose and achievement that working provides. It took a while to adjust and to find new purposes and challenges, and to find freedoms in all sorts of areas.persiflagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05161607100227748374noreply@blogger.com