I retired today from my paid work with the University of Alberta.  After 43 continuous years in the workplace (post University) I am no longer “working for the man” (A sixties expression that has hung with me).

However, lots of unpaid work beckons me, actually looks like my spouse has been compiling the post retirement “to-do” list for the last 43 years.  That could take awhile to finish.

Attitude

As the baby boomer generation begins to retire, around the globe, we see a lot of studies and associated recommendations for how to succeed in retirement.

I am not really looking to achieve any specific aim or result so for me retirement does not have any success or failure criteria.  It is just another moment in time to be happy, enjoy and bask in the pleasure of life, albeit a different context.

I found my own attitude to retirement attitude is clearly stated on a quote from Mr. Rogers of children’s TV fame,  “Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” – Mr. Rogers

Leverage the Opportunity

Most importantly, retirement is best viewed as an opportunity.  It is a new beginning in which you can choose to partake of even greater happiness and pleasure from life.

Human life is a gift (I know this is a very trite statement).  The key to having the best possible retirement experience is to continue to explore all the opportunities the gift of life offers us.

Sadly, for many of my loyal readers as I move into retirement I do plan to keep posting to this blog, although perhaps not daily, so you will still need to put up with my very random musings (if you so choose),