OH SO you are retiring? What are your plans? Queries which started an array of thoughts. For one who was gifted with the opportunities and loved ones, here was a million-dollar question. Sixty is an age I would look at with respect in the senior citizen category. Surely, I was not there mentally. Seriously with the mortality rate rising an extension of retirement age should be considered. It is of another matter that such thoughts creep in only when you reach this milestone. For the past ten days post-retirement I started mapping my day with counting steps a day, morning exercise, housework and calculated food intake. Somehow this filled only a few hours of the 24 hours. OTT came to the rescue and then this too became a mundane timepass. I could see myself asking what date and day is it. As a driving force to my students and giving gyan on how to live life and face tough situations, here I was in that phase of life. My Mumbaikar son who has attained an advisory role, incessantly inquired what I have been doing all day. Red faced, I had little to offer. Gone are the days when in your twenties you have this eagerness to prove to be a good cook or house manager.

 

My house is spick and span with well trained staff and no one around to make a mess. Anyways priorities change with time. Well, Mom, he says, “You are equipped with this vast experience of nearly 37 years and knowledge, I want to continue seeing your regular updates on social media, your achievements and you cannot get lost in oblivion.” Oblivion, the very word was scary for my mental well-being. What if no one remembered I existed and my unknown number of remaining years of life would remain in a self-imposed house arrest? What is this second innings people are referring to, when did I complete my first? Still facing these rhetorical questions, my wealth manager arrived to manage a Government employee’s countable accrued earnings and had his own opinion. Madam, he says, I have seen people who stopped working, ageing in no time. That is certainly not happening to me I decided. What about the compliments “Mam you do not look sixty”.

 

Well for the sake of preserving that look and my school girlish complexion, I am again in this busy world and loving it. I started working on my own terms and time. This is the sole advantage of retiring from regular service. Well, not an Einstein to be quoted for eternity, but definitely, I seek a few co-workers who can seek my proficiency and refer to my work. Someone said you don’t need a job and I replied I need to be productive and diligent. One thing is definite, my time is valuable and time is money. Free service would be for attaining social equity. As American comedy writer Gene Perret said “ It’s nice to get out of the rat race, but you have to learn to get along with less cheese.” Equipped with this renewed youthful energy and enthusiasm a rat race will definitely not be chased and cheese is an added bonus.