Anniversary: Retirement from Full-time Employment

Today 18 January 2013 marks my first anniversary of retirement from full time employment. It has been a year since I decided to stop working on a full time job. For the last ten years since my compulsory retirement from government service, I had been working on a 8.30 am to 5.00 pm job. And driving 64 km to office and back home five days a week, often through massive traffic jams!. Oh, I am glad that I do not have to endure that anymore. 

Though it was a tough decision to make, I thought it was time to let go and have more leisure time for myself, doing things that I enjoy. There was the fear with what am I going to do to keep my day fully occupied. Actually during the past year, I had kept myself busy working as an independent consultant. I have also been engaged by an United Nations' organization to provide my services in Laos. Was in that lovely country for 3 times, with each mission lasting for about one month. That took up 3 months. There were also two local consultancies that kept me occupied. These two working activities kept me mentally challenged!

I must say that I have enjoyed my past year. I now spent more time working from my small home office. While working in my own office, I could also listen to my music. This was something I missed when working full-time.  I could go for my regular morning exercises. Spent time reading and working for a few hours a day on my consultancy work. And whenever I feel lazy, I could just relax or take a nap without feeling guilty! And of course I am now more regular in posting on my Face Book and blog. And more importantly, I am spending more time with my family. My wife and I took a holiday touring Dubai, Moscow and St. Petersburg. We hope to go on more overseas holidays.

Life is a bliss in retirement, while working on a part-time basis!
I pray that all the coming years will be as equally blessed as this past year.

With the office secretary on my last working day

My Small Office, Home Office (SOHO)

The Winter of My Life

Sometimes I received emails with very interesting contents.
This particular poem was sent to me by a friend, who like me are in our twilight years.
It reminds us of how we have lived our lives.

The poem is by an unknown author.

"The Winter of My Life"

You know .....Time has a way of moving quickly

And catching you unaware of the passing years.

It seems just yesterday I was young.

Just married and embarking on my new life with my mate.

And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago,

And I wonder where all the years went.

I know that I lived them all ..............

And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams .....

But, here it is ... The winter of my life and it catches my by surprise ....

How did I get here so fast?

Where did the years go and where did my youth go?

I remember well .....

Seeing older people through the years and thinking that those

Older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off

That I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like ....

But, here it is ...

My friends are retired and getting grey ...

They move slower and I see an older person now.

Some are better and some worse shape than me .....

But, I see the great change .....

Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant ....

But, like me, their age is begining to show and we are now those

Older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day!

And taking a nap is not a treat anymore ... it's mandatory!

'Cause if I don't on my own free will .. I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so, now I enter into a new season of my life unprepared

For all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability

To go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!

But, at least I know, that though the winter has come,

And I'm not sure how long it will last ....

This I know, that when it's over ... It's over

Yes, I have regrets.

There are things I wish I hadn't done ....

Things that I should have done, but indeed,

There are many things I'm happy to have done.

It's all in a lifetime ...

So, if you've not in the winter yet ....

Let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think.

Whatever you would like to accomplish in your life, please do it quickly!

Don't put things off too long!

Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today,

As you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not!

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life ....

So, live for today and say all the things you want your loved ones to remember ....

And hope they appreciate and love you for all the things

You have done for them in all the years past!

Life is a gift to you

 The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after.

Make it a fantastic one.

~ And, Remember ~

"It is health that is real wealth

And not pieces of gold or silver."

"May You always have Love to Share, Health to Spare and Friends that Care!"

My Retirement - In Retrospect

After working for 35 years in the government service, I took my mandatory retirement in August 2001 at a relative "young age" of 55. From October 2011, the retirement age was extended to 56, then to 58 and now it is 60. 

While I did not really plan for my retirement, however, going back to work for a few more years wherever my experience and expertise are needed was a tempting option. I thought that I would like to continue working for just a few more years to keep myself active and then enjoy my full retirement to "smell the roses". However, one thing lead to another and I worked for another 10 years. So if we want, government retirees can still enjoy gainful employment for an additional income to their monthly pension.

Came this January 2012, I decided that I should really quite full-time employment and just work as a free lance consultant. And its working out well!

Upon retiring from government service I joined a private company to experience how the private sector works. I learned that it was all about making quick money and with odd and often unreasonable hours. That definitely was not what I opted for as a "post-retirement career". I took my leave after 10 months.

A golden opportunity came along when I was offered a position in an International organisation, a position that matches well with my experience and expertise. I stayed on with it for slightly more than 9 years until this January 2012, when the sparkle begin to dim and I realised its time "to smell the roses!".

During this period of 10 years, I also had the opportunity of serving as an International Consultant with some organisations within the United Nations and other international donor agencies. There were opportunities of working in foreign countries, with totally different cultures. Lots of traveling and visiting beautiful and exotic places. Serving as an International Consultant is a very enriching experience, interacting with consultants of various nationalities and people of different cultures and mindsets which often are totally different from our own. Each of these consultancy missions was for a period of at least a month. This is a good time period to really appreciate the countries and interact with the people, unlike being a tourist when you go, see and leave. The period would also not make you feel too homesick! I treat consultancy missions as working vacations!

In retrospect, my post-retirement 10 years had been eventful, productive and a blessed journey. And I could not have asked for more considering I am "officially retired".

I had the opportunity of working in and visiting a number of countries. Most memorable trips are to Fiji (2002), Dhaka in Bangladesh (3 times in 2003), Rome in Italy (2003), Manila in Philippines (2003), Phnom Penh in Cambodia (2003), Bangkok in Thailand (2004), Surabaya in Indonesia (2004), Syria (4 trips in 2005-2008, its a pity this beautiful country is in great turmoil now), Guangzhou in China (a couple of trips during 2006 - 2011), Northern Mindanao in Philippines (2007), Bhutan (2007), Bogor in Indonesia (2008), Paris in France (2008), Bandung in Indonesia (2011), Lagos in Nigeria (2011), Younde in Cameroon (2011) and Laos (3 times in 2009, 2 times in 2012, with one coming soon).

There were also many happy and memorable vacation tours with my family during the last 10 years.

And now I am still engaged with consultancy services on a short term assignment basis, both locally and overseas. I am now making full use of my little SOHO (Small Office, Home Office), a pleasant space renovated for my retirement retreat, equipped with Wifi and sound system!
True to Ernie J. Zelinski's book "How To Retire Happy, Wild, and Free".
I should continue with this retirement joy for as long as I can!

Nadi, Capital of Fiji

Dhaka, City of Trishaws

Taking a trishaw ride to town in Dhaka

Statue of Saladin, Damascus, Syria

Damascus, Capital city of Syria

Beijing Ru, Guangzhou, China

With my Filipino friends in Northern Mindanao, Philippines

Visiting a rural school in Northern Mindanao, Philippines

Dzong (Buddhist Temple), Bhutan

Morning Market, Thimphu, Bhutan

Thimphu, Capital City of Bhutan

Tat Luang (The Golden Stupa) in Vientiane, Laos

Patuxay (Victory Gate), Vientiane, Laos

Buddhist Monks receiving alms, Luang Prabang, Laos

Younde, Capital City of Cameroon, Africa

Bogor, Indonesia

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Keeping Fit in Retirement

Since my retirement from full-time employment in January this year, I still wake up at 6.00 in the morning.
Instead of driving to work, trying to beat the traffic jams to and back from work, I have been enjoying my morning pleasures of walking in the nearby park. Or just go cycling around the residential garden.
Its so refreshing seeing so many people, the young and elderly, taking their morning exercises in the Park.
This is an activity I seldom have the opportunity of enjoying on a regular basis.
Now I am able to to maintain my "Keep Fit" programme at least 3 to 4 times a week.

Time, however, is an elusive commodity.
I seem to feel that time just passes by so quickly each day.
An hour or two of morning "Keep Fit" programme, followed by breakfast and catching up with the news on my iPad, its already almost mid-day and ready for lunch.
How time can easily pass by.

In keeping myself active and occupied, I still do some 'free-lance" consultancies.
Without proper planning for the day, I could easily be distracted by other activities.
Anyway, with organised discipline, each day has been well-spent!

 Scenic View of the Lake 

 Its a pleasure to enjoy the morning freshness

The young and the old enjoying a good workout

 Taking time to watch the pigeons

Such great pleasure to just watch these beautiful birds

 Some running, some walking and others having quality time strolling with their chidlren

 Its a pleasure to be with nature

Retirement

Just finished reading this book by Ernie J. Zelinski.
I was introduced to this book by this BLOGGER who posted it in her Face Book.

What I like most about this book is this paragraph:
"...you would have attained true freedom in this world when you can get up in the morning when you want to get up; go to sleep when you want to go to sleep; and in the interval, work and play at the things you want to work and play at --- all at your pace. The great news is that retirement allows you the opportunity to attain this freedom."

How very true!
I am now in my second retirement (more on that later).
And now I can spend my time at my own pace!

I also learn that "retirement is not the time to sleep, but a time to awaken to the beauty of the world around you. .........You actually retire from your job but not from life!"

And in retirement, what do you call yourself or what title do you give to yourself or introduce yourself to others?
While working, you would probably proudly give away your status or job title.
Ernie has suggested a title which I like very much.
You can tell people that you are now a "Connoisseur of Life." 
Yes, as a Connoisseur of Life, you can tell people that "you only work when you want to, and only on projects that make an important difference in this world. I do work on special and interesting projects, but only at my leisure."
That's exactly what I am doing right now in my retirment.
That made me change my blog title to "Connoisseur of Life."