Five years!!!  Whadda Know!

Remember way back when, when you "launched" your career and accompanying five-year plan?

You may not have actually labelled it a "five-year (career) plan"?  It may not even have been a formally acknowledged plan. 

But you had one. We all had one.

You know, that career plan that had you leaping from corporation to corporation, accumulating more and varied skills, knowledge and management know-how. 

The plan where each leap took you higher and higher up the corporate food chain and into the career ionosphere?

Until you eventually reached big-fish status in your own particular small pond of expertise.

I have vague recollections of learning about the concept of the "five year career plan" from a guidance or career counsellor.

Basically, you graduate, get an "entry" level job in your chosen industry and spend five years or so learning the ropes, hopefully discovering that one skill set/area of expertise you truly want to excel in.  Then in every job placement after that (in about five-year increments), you keep honing that skill set until with one final leap, you achieve "big fish" status in some Fortune 500 corporation.

Well, something of that "five-year" mentality must have burrowed itself into my sub-conscious, because as you all know, I never tire of telling anyone who will listen that I began planning retirement five years before I actually, well, retired.

And if I may say so, up until this point, it has been an exquisite retirement plan!

But this past fall and winter, I found myself in somewhat of a funk.*

I was dealing with some personal and family issues, yes, but that really shouldn't have accounted for the two-litre cartons of ice cream and endless hours of afternoon television.

And co-incidentally, November 1st was my five-year retirement anniversary!

And also, co-incidentally, at some point near the bottom of my umpteenth carton of jamoca almond fudge ice cream, I finally found myself asking myself, "so, self, don't you think we should actually do something tomorrow?"

So, I mentally started to review my retirement "to do" list - things I had planned to do, places I had planned to go, skills I wanted to learn, etc, etc., etc.

Basically, I gave my "retirement to do list" an old-fashioned, five-year career review! 

Just like the olden days!  Whadda know!

And the end result of my five-year, retirement career review? 

Well, I admitted to myself that some of the items on my previously, carefully crafted and honed retirement "to do" list, just didn't interest me anymore. 

I looked at other items and wondered to myself  "what the heck was I thinking!"

I realized that some plans had morphed into something else entirely. 

Like "sketching". 

Over the past year or so, I have discovered that I am not an "artist", per say, I am apparently a "cartoonist".  (Aren't all of you in for a surprise!)

And photography.  Well, that got me into bird watching (which no one wants to hear any more about) and exploring all of the park and conservation areas I didn't know even existed.

And journaling.

Well, that has morphed into something so big it's almost out of control!  (Carmela, I can't thank you enough for the leather-bound journal you gave me a my retirement party!)

So ..... the bottom line here. 


I'm beginning to think that just like your original career, your "retirement" career may need a bit of review/reassessment every five years or so! 

You need to drag out that infamous retirement "to do" list and give it a careful and considered once over.

If there is something on the list you're not all that keen on many more - ditch it, (without a shred of guilt).

If you "rediscover" an activity or skill that seems to have gotten lost in the daily shuffle, move it to the top of the list.

If you've stumbled over a new activity that wasn't on your original list - add it and peruse it with a vengeance. 

Retirement isn't really "retirement", it's a career change! 

And like you "career", it needs to be reviewed and perhaps, revised on a regular basis.

So every once in awhile, sit down with a cup of tea and "review" your current retirement career status. 

What's working and what isn't.  What is boring you to tears and what gets you really excited. 

Do you really want to sign up for cooking lessons or would you rather try jewellery making or rock climbing.

Retirement is too short to be bored or couch-bound.  The time is going to come when the decisions that have to be made are much more serious (and life altering) than whether or not you go to the art gallery or the farmer's market.


(In fact, if you are currently looking to make a major retirement/career change, give me a call!  I'm trying to find someone who wants to go axe throwing with me!)


*Funk - (noun) - a dejected mood