BY JUANITA KNIGHT

Ten years ago I unplugged my electric , battery back-up alarm clock and discovered what it was like to get a good night ’ s sleep Sunday night . I revelled in the luxury that every day could feel like a long weekend .

There were a few surprises : the Lazy Boy was not as comfortable as I had imagined it would be ; but even more , I missed the daily interaction with people — both students and my work family , the staff . Neither was I then , nor am I now ready to be called a senior even if the word is connected to ‘ discount .’

Even though I had done most of the calculations , reality intervened and I soon realized that my ATRF pension did not have a bridging clause until CPP topped up the remaining portion . I would also have to pay the entire amount of my health care premiums , not just the small portion that my Board did not pay .

In the meantime , I discovered what it was like to look into the face of King Tut ’ s solid gold mask , zipline through the tree tops in Costa Rica , marvel at the beauty of David and his weakening ankles , and look out over the beautiful Adriatic from atop the walls of Dubrovnik .

Although I promised myself that I would be more careful about responding positively to any

request to get involved in an organization or a cause just because I was retired now , so many opportunities to make a difference , to advocate for the community of retirees and to contribute to wellness presented themselves .

That brings me to one of ARTA ’ s three pillars : advocacy . Our members are vibrant , engaged and informed . They effectively advocate on behalf of the membership and other seniors on issues that are meaningful to them . It is rewarding to continue to use our teacher skills to attempt to make our communities — and the world — a better place for all . My MLA and several Ministers of Health have been the fortunate recipients of my own not-so-humble opinion . Our understanding of the issues and our well-lived experiences make us valuable resources . The best part is that , as responsible , wise citizens , we always vote .

For a while I enjoyed the fact that every day could feel like a weekend , but fairly soon I responded to those requests to get involved . Engagement is very rewarding and it is one of the ways I can give back to my community — even if I have had to plug in my alarm clock again .

Now , what ’ s next on my list of things to do ?

news & views SUMMER 2015 | 3