Jul 29 2008
Retired - What I Miss Most
Missing the Office and the Daily Grind
The things I miss most about being employed include the daily coffee, doughnuts, gossip-sharing, and feeling like it made a difference whether or not I got up each morning. I did feel valued for my knowledge and work ethic, if not for my social skills (which were sorely lacking).
I’ve visited the old office a few times since I retired. Hugs and handshakes all around. Lots of inquiries about what I’ve been up to lately. I asked them about their family stuff and about the employees who happen to be out of the office. I tried to “touch base” with everyone in the office. I asked about their projects and progress. I filled them in on my writing efforts (novel, memoirs and blogging), my family events, sickness, deaths, etc.
Then we had nothing more to say to each other. After I’d been to all the cubicles and offices, after I’d been brought up to date on their happenings, etc., we really ran out of stuff to talk about. I was feeling a little like the neighbor who stops in to chat without an invitation: after a few minutes there is an uncomfortable silence. It was time for me to leave.
So I am no longer a part of their work-lives. I never was a part of their personal lives. I didn’t socialize with folks I worked with. Forty hours a week of “shared time” was plenty. I am now a bit of a recluse; only sharing my life with dogs, cats, spouse, and a few relatives.
I will admit that over a year has passed since I retired from my last full-time job and career. The time has flown by! I am a year older too, and feel like I haven’t “accomplished” nearly all that I expected to do during this first year. The novel remains unedited, although written; the memoirs are a piecemeal hodgepodge of random events, often painful to recall; and the blogging is taking up most of my time and talent, with very little success in building an audience.
What this tells me is that I lack focus and discipline. That will be my concentration for the next few months: focus and discipline. I will feel better about myself if I have something to show for all my time at this computer. Write Write Write!
