I’m going to have some fun with this. People often make a big deal about transitions because of the change involved. Transition equals change, right? Transition can be change over time, though, and I think that’s what normally happens. Sure, sometimes change hits us in the head like a brick mortar (does such a thing exist?), but more often than not, transition happens over time.
I have a wine cellar. We buy French Bordeaux futures, then wait for about a year to actually get them and then stick them on their side in the cellar for a few more years before actually drinking them. My transition to retirement feels a little like this right now. And, joyously, I’m actually having some fun thinking about this transition rather than feeling desperate that it’s not here yet!
My transition into retirement began about 3 or 4 years ago. Before then I didn’t think I’d ever stay at a job long enough to retire from it and I certainly never thought I’d have enough money to ever actually retire. But about 4 years ago, I started really getting into the idea of retirement because I was, well, 4 years away from my minimum retirement age and if everything fell into place, the age and the years would have made me eligible for an early retirement.
Well, fast forward those 4 years, here I am at the minimum retirement age, but, well, everything did not fall into place and early retirements being offered may well be a thing of the past. Hey, is it MY fault that I landed right into the whole baby boomer thing?
All kidding aside, this is a blessing in disguise as just about everything in my life up until now has been. I’m serious when I say that. Like a fine wine, I am laying on my side (well not all the time) waiting to ripen and flower. Ok, my money is laying on its side waiting to ripen and flower. I love that analogy.
And, thankfully and joyously, my job has, well transitioned into a place I really enjoy. I really love my job now. Sure, there are parts of it that I can do without, isn’t that true for most jobs? But as I’m enjoying the final years of working at this job, I know there is yet another transition into whatever I’ll do next after I leave this job and do something called retirement.
Popping the cork on that bottle should be pretty awesome.
