Retirement – Day 1.

I open my eyes and feel no pain. Gentle, grateful and warm , the cat curled and breathing raspy at my hip, I begin the first day of my retirement. It is 5.30 am, my usual time of waking on a work day. I close my eyes.

At 10.30 am I am dressed and ready …for what ? There is an inner exhaustion and emotion which I am not quite ready to process and an outer chaos in my home which I am not quite ready to process and amid it all , the balloons and gifts of the celebration just had. Not quite ready to process.

The ambience of Cafe Lekker is perfect. It is quietly busy and the music, good. There is a steady stream of customers , the room is cosily warm and there are papers. Several just perfect coffees and a breakfast later, I am ready …for what ?

The home wares store has been in the town years and I have never visited. I do now and the want of beautiful, unnecessary things is kindled .

Retirement Lesson 1 : Filling one`s life with beautiful unnecessary things is a luxury afforded only by retirees who have inherited or made much wealth. I have done neither and will need a plan B.