The Host(ess) With the Mostest!

For somewhat the same reason that it may not be possible for “work” friends to remain “friends”, you may find that “friend friends” may not translate into retirement playmates either. 

Simply because they are still working full-time and you are not.

Which may mean, the onus for maintaining and making new social contacts falls to you.

Part of your retirement job description now includes the title “social convener”. 

You may have to take the initiative and organize lunch dates with friends and former colleagues during the work week (keeping in mind that they can only be away from the office for an hour).  You may have to be the one to arrange playdates with friends and family on the weekends (keeping in mind that they are trying to squeeze errands and laundry into their weekend schedules.) 

And you may have to bear the responsibility for organizing play dates with friends and acquaintances for some time to come.  Especially if you are not really totally comfortable with going to or participating in events “alone”.  Do keep in mind however, if you sign up for an activity you already have an interest in, the only “strangers” you are going to meet are a group of people with the same interests as you!  (Don’t make me tell my bird watching story!)

But as much as you might enjoy it, retirement cannot be an endless round of social engagements. There were other activities on your “list”, weren’t there? 

Notice how we keep circling back to the “list”?

You’ve had your first successful foray into a post-retirement activity.  And you’ve lunched with former colleagues.  A lunch date which has actually afforded you a bit of closure.

Now it’s time to seriously start concentrating your time and energy on crossing items off your “list”! 

It’s time to start constructing that retirement career you told everyone you wanted.

…. and for those of us who worked at Ryerson, especially in an academic department, you may already have a bit of retirement foundation in place.  With a little bit of pre- and post- retirement planning, Ryerson may be able to provide you with play dates and daily structure after you retire.  If you worked in an academic department, there are awards nights, lectures, tour and discussion day presentations, etc. happening on a regular basis.  Heck, you probably spend a lot of your time at Ryerson organizing some, if not all, of these events, all the while desperately wishing for some volunteer assistance.  Well, you just got your wish.  Only you’re the volunteer assistance now.  Have a chat with your department before you retire to see if there are any volunteer opportunities available.

How about volunteering at Convocation?   

A Ryerson alum?  How about organizing a class reunion? 

Don’t actually want to “work” on campus …..

…. Farmer’s Market every Wednesday from now until Thanksgiving

… Mattamy Athletics Centre - Rams hockey, basketball, volleyball tickets available at reduced rates to Ryerson employees and alum

…. and what about the Ryerson Image Centre?  Admission is free to all – you don’t have to be a Ryerson employee or an alum!

Perhaps hanging around your former place of employment is not the most conventional way to begin your retirement career – but one of the keys to making a success of any undertaking is to play to your strengths and take advantage of any opportunities that come your way.  And for some, keeping in touch with Ryerson and/or the campus may be just that opportunity.

But if you’d rather not …. you still have your list!!!!