I occasionally hear speculation from friends and relatives
that I might not be “Retired for Good” as my Facebook page announces. Therefore
a little self-examination and research are in order. Using the Google search
engine I found the following definitions of “Retired”
“Having
left one's job and ceased to work.”
“Retirement
is the point where a person stops employment completely.”
“Not
working anymore.”
While it is true that I have not received a “pay check” in
the previous three years, I haven’t given up “thinking” and certain “projects”
that come to my attention intrigue me to the point that I might be lured into
some activity that resembles work. I am not seeking employment.
Further study on the subject revealed these definitions:
“Having
ended one’s working or professional career.”
“Withdrawn
from or no longer occupied with one's business or profession.”
Does “thinking” negate the concept of retirement? Does one
have to give up thinking to be “Retired for Good”? Are there activities that
benefit from one’s former training and experience that are worthy of pursuit?
Am I relegated to limiting my decisions to “Paper or Plastic?” at the grocery
store?
Still pondering. In the meantime, we will continue
exploring the world, visiting different cultures, enjoying the sights, people,
food and transportation and looking for fire stations.
