I’ve been thinking about milestones this week. Our lives can have many different milestones. When we start kindergarten, graduate from high school, college, leaving home for the first time, starting work, getting married, or having kids, all of these are considered milestones that mark a life event.
Milestones were stones placed beside a road to mark the distance in miles between destinations. Today, we use the term to describe a significant event in our life or an important change in the stage of development of a person. We are all familiar with “childhood” and “adulthood” Maybe instead of calling this next stage, “retirement” a better term could be “elderhood.” Although that makes me feel old!
Just this week, I noticed I reached several milestones:
My husband and I made it through 2020 and thankfully, so far, we haven’t been exposed to the virus.
My daughter in law, a registered nurse for a heart surgeon received her first of two Covid vaccines.
I made all of the calls to the agencies, offices, and places I can think of to get information and all my questions answered.
I’ve analyzed, considered, and made all of the financial decisions that I think I need to make, at least for now.
Since I won’t have the same insurance coverage after I retire, I completed an annual exam, mammogram, bloodwork, bone scan, skin cancer check, dental cleaning, replacement of some old fillings with two crowns, and had my vision checked. (Fortunately, I don’t need bodywork like getting a hip or knee replaced.)
This week I applied to our state retirement system and I submitted my application with a real date. I “pushed” the button and the only thing left to do is to send in a copy of my husband’s birth certificate.
I counted how many “working days” I have left – something I never expected to do. There are 48 by the way.
All of these “milestones” are making things more real and it feels really official. In less than 90 calendar days I’ll join the ranks of those who have reimagined their life. I’ll give up the friends I’ve made, regular contact with my colleagues, a title, benefits, and a wage.
Sometimes I get nervous and ask myself, should I be retiring in the middle of a pandemic? I also wonder what I’ll be doing every day after I’m no longer employed.
How will be both adjust to me being retired? When my husband retired three years ago, he said it took him about a year to get used to his new way of life. Now he is wondering what will need to change for him, in terms of his activities and schedule, when I retire.
I think since a big retirement party is currently out of the question, my next milestone will be to turn in my badge, keys, and computer equipment. There really isn’t much more to do.
Barbara is the new star of the Rock Your Retirement show! For one year, she'll let Kathe Kline tag along as she goes through her retirement journey.
