Communications
Laurie Semler | Chair, Communications Committee, ARTA
“ What Will I Do With All My Time?”
This is a common concern expressed by many
people contemplating retirement. Change is scary.
After a lifetime of following a predictable routine
of going to work every day, it is often hard to
envision a future that looks so diff erent. During
one’s working life many decisions are governed by
the requirements of a person’s occupation. Even
something as personal as going on vacation can be
dictated by the parameters of the job.
For those willing to embrace the changes that come
with retirement, those empty days can become a
blessing. With no preset schedule, a person can choose
for themselves how to use the time given to them by
retirement. This can open a whole host of possibilities.
People who wish to remain active in retirement
may choose to move on to another job opportunity.
This choice entails a change in mindset to fi t the
requirements of the new job. My father was one such
retiree. He successfully made a change and went
on to enjoy a rewarding second career and even a
second retirement!
Other people choose to remain active by learning
something new and keeping that all-important grey
matter functioning in peak condition. Pursuing a
hobby, learning a new language, playing a musical
instrument, or playing a sport are ways a person can
fi ll some of their time.
For others, myself included, those ‘empty days’
provided a much needed opportunity to rest and
rejuvenate. In the early months of my retirement,
I caught up on my reading, enjoyed long rambles
with my dog, and taught myself to bake a pie with an
actual homemade crust. The fi rst few times I went
shopping in the middle of the day, or met a friend
for lunch, I caught myself feeling guilty like I was
‘getting away with something.’ Vacations with my
husband no longer needed to be planned around
spring break or summer holidays.
In retirement, it is important to maintain
social ties. Retirement does bring about
a change to a person’s social network.
Connections with former colleagues
will change and some will be lost
altogether. Happily, I was able
to maintain ties with quite a few
former colleagues by becoming a
member of Parkland Area Retired
Teachers’ Association (PARTA).
Social ties not related to a person’s
former occupation often become more
important, and new friendships may form.
Some of these new friendships may result from
shared interests. Those rambles with my dog aff orded
the opportunity to meet many other dog-walking
neighbours, people who are now an important part of
my new social network.
Many retirees choose to spend a portion of their
time in retirement volunteering. Unlike people
who carefully plan their volunteering, my volunteer
opportunities ‘found’ me. When I became a
member of PARTA soon after retirement, I off ered
to become the webmaster for our branch. Another
opportunity presented itself when I was asked to
let my name stand for the ARTA Communications
Committee. Through my involvement in ARTA, I
have come to know many ARTA staff members and
other retired teachers — yet more people to add to
my social network!
Often, a year or two into retirement, people
discover that they are busier than ever, showing
that those who embrace change do indeed fi nd
ways to fi ll those ‘empty’ hours. When people
ask me about retirement I often comment, “I can
highly recommend the lifestyle, but the paycheque
isn’t great!” ●
news&views SPRING 2020 | 11