10 Years

Just watched a video by Thomas Heaton, one of my favourite landscape photographers, about his 10 years on YouTube and what it has meant to his life.

Well, that got me thinking. 10 years ago, I retired from working for a living for a salary. It was actually in June of this year, but I didn’t stop to dwell on it then. Year ends are usually time for reflection, so I think it’s time for mine.

You might think my phrasing is a bit odd – retired from working for a living for a salary. I guess that’s the first point. We associate work with being paid – why else would we do it? I retired from a company that had paid me very well over the years doing a series of jobs that I was good at (IMHO). But it always felt like work. Didn’t enjoy the jobs much, didn’t think they really left any lasting impression, and too much time was spent dealing with internal politics and irrelevant procedures and minutiae. But I earned a very good living and was able to comfortably retire as a result.

I went through all the classic elements of a retirement decision in 2014 – replanning my spending habits, looking at options for where to live and if/when to move, deciding how to fill my day now that I had all this time, and most especially, how not to become socially isolated, having lost my main social network. And I of course wanted to have more fun.

The decision that helped with all of these elements was actually an easy one for me – I went back to school after I retired. I love to learn, had always taken “extra” courses, and finally could focus on something I loved instead of something that would earn me a wage. I went back to school for photography. And I have to say that hanging out with incredibly creative 20-somethings did wonders for my well-being.

I spent two years in the Durham College Photography program, in class for about 20 hours per week, with assignments filling out the rest of my time. But nothing like the 40-50 hour weeks (which actually were more at the end) that made up my working life. It was the perfect transition.

In 2016, I graduated and I was left with some new skills, new ideas and no real plans. That was ok. I started to dabble in projects, learning more about photography. I discovered what I liked and did not like. I joined several photography clubs – 4 at its height. That got me out of the house, connecting with other like-minded folks, making new friends and again, having fun. I volunteered to lead workshops and to plan annual club programs. Again, for no salary. Did I mention I was having fun? But not without some challenges too.

Investment planners often talk about the stages of retirement. One phrase I hear over and over is the distinction between “go-go” years, “slow-go” years and “no-go” years. I didn’t really understand that until health issues began to make more of an appearance starting in 2014 (of course!). In this 10 year period since, I’ve had 7 hospital stays involving procedures or surgeries. I have several other more “managed” issues that require medication. All of this has led me to reposition my priorities – comfort and convenience are now the two most important criteria to any decision I make about an activity or a future plan. And as already stated, it has nothing to do with money. Or rather the reverse – I will happily spend a bit more if it better achieves one of these two requirements. I will also say “no” much more easily to things that don’t meet these requirements.

Then Covid hit and my evolution took a completely different turn. I kept myself busy, among other things establishing a YouTube channel and writing blogs like these. Emerging from the pandemic, I felt isolated, disconnected and unfulfilled. I grew sick and tired of Zoom sessions and had resigned from all of the camera clubs I was previously part of. Not the best way to deal with social isolation. As it happens, along came an opportunity for a part-time job at my local camera store. What better way to reconnect in-person with people while dabbling in something I love? So I went back to work. For really the first time in my life, I had a job I loved, which paid minimum wage plus commissions. Sadly, government taxes took most of it. It lasted for just under 2 years, until a bad back and some other unforeseen events made it the right time to leave. But the friendships made there remain.

Oh, and I made some appearance changes as well: more comfortable clothes, especially shoes, and I also stopped colouring my hair. It was liberating, frankly. I really like this me that I have become.

In 2021, during the pandemic, I was hunting around for something else I could do at home, and discovered that Durham College also offered an online Introduction to Astronomy course, which students could add as one of the electives they needed to round out their education. I signed up, not for the assignments and the marks, but for the weekly dose of knowledge. It resurrected another long-standing interest in deep space. I fondly remember being glued to the TV at home during the moon landings in the 1960’s, even pretending that I was the “CapCom” (communications person on the Earth) for Neil Armstrong as he stepped foot on the Moon. And I stepped into the next phase of my life.

I discovered ways to blend my scientific curiosity about the universe with my photography, and I now call myself an astrophotographer. I’ve spent the last almost 3 years with this as my mainstay intellectual, artistic and creative entertainment, investing in 3 telescopes, each fully kitted out. A whole new community of people has entered my life, providing new experiences and friendships. I can be as geeky or as artistic as I want on any given day, and both are equally embraced by the community. I’m having a blast.

One traditional retirement activity for many people is travel. Covid destroyed that option for several years. But I was never a big traveler to begin with, mostly for those comfort and convenience reasons I mentioned earlier. I hate waiting in lines, dealing with flight delays or the complexities of security (my last name always flags extra attention). That said, I thought my “go-go” years should include more. For me, a great trip is one that includes photography and learning something new. I’ve done several trips around Ontario and the US. I’ve been to our east and west coasts. And there will be more to come in the future. Most people travel to relax or the opposite – to party. I go for what I can see around me – and for photography.

Family obligations have evolved as well. As a “childless cat lady” of many years, I now find myself wonderfully enveloped in the activities of siblings and their families, helping out where I can. I have also relied on them to help me, and for that I am eternally grateful. There are moments where I’ve stopped to think of the paths that got us all to today, and how we exist because of family patriarchs and matriarchs who arrived and started new lives in this country decades ago. Sadly, we were never good record keepers of those moments years ago, and I regret that now. I have to make sure that my stories are saved for the generations that come after me (assuming they want them, lol), so an ongoing priority is documenting and digitizing those memories. Another task that pairs well with my photography skills.

So what about the next 10 years? I’ll definitely be entering the “slow-go” or at least the “slow-er” phase of life and will be more deliberate about those choices. I’m also planning on giving up property ownership, moving closer to family (and out of the Toronto area), into a rental arrangement with someone else worrying about the plumbing, the yard work and the maintenance costs. I’ve also started “decluttering” the possessions in my life, although with limited success so far given the new telescopes. I will keep trying though. I am definitely pleased with what has already been redistributed to family members or donated. If you are looking for a specific item, especially camera gear and accessories, let me know. I may just have it and will make you a good deal!

I guess my main lesson learned from the last decade is that it is possible to uncouple work from salary. It is possible to be fulfilled in the way you spend your time without being concerned about whether it supplements your income. There used to be a financial company who used the slogan “Freedom 55”. It was a perfect label – something we all aspired to. You do indeed have to address both sides of that false equation – that work + salary = happiness – but you definitely don’t need to keep them in lockstep after retirement.

That said, one recent study found that older adults over 75 actually reported higher levels of happiness than those at 55. Lots of reasons for this, including higher levels of debt in the younger cohort, more family support obligations than was previously the case and possibly more health issues, including stress and blood pressure. The study talked about the Triangle of Happiness – health, purpose and financial security. Not an equation, but a relationship of needs. The study was sponsored by Home Equity Bank, the reverse mortgage people, so is perhaps a bit self-serving. I will take that happiness result at face value though and state that I am really looking forward to my next decade.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season full of joy and love and fun. I’ll be back with a new blog on January 15. Be well.