Anybody else struggling to identify themselves post retirement?

Since I was forced into early retirement due to heart disease, I often ponder how to define myself to others that I meet. I even wonder what best to put in my epitaph when the time comes.

Stating my former professional titles seems somehow inappropriate. Saying I'm a retired Executive seems equivalent to saying I'm not an executive, that’s no longer who I am, and just doesn’t adequately define me.

This morning that question was answered for me in the newspapers.

While scanning the obituaries, I noticed a name that seemed somewhat familiar, and read the scant details of that unfortunate individuals life. As I skimmed his stats, it became obvious my question of how to redefine myself was so obvious. His profession was listed as “Medical Patient”. I’m fairly certain that was an error, but how accurate a definition for what I do.

 

 

You forgot Court Jester.

 

For me it will be:

I arrived 5-15-29 and
departed ??-??-????
Bye y'all.


I don't figure anyone will give a rats hind end about knowing what I spent my years doing. And my wife says I absolutely cannot put on there what Harry Truman said "I always wanted to be a piano player in a whorehouse."

 

I still work, and can't wait for the day that I retire. My fear is that by the time I reach retirement age they'll have bumped the age requirement up another 10 or so years. Here I am working like mad waiting for 62. On my 62nd birthday the government declares "90" as the new retirement age requirement. LOL, that's just my luck.

Seriously though, I still work but I struggle with who I am. My heart condition has even led me to my current job working in cardiology. I figure if I live it and breathe it, I might as well work it, but it doesn't define who I am. Those are just the cards I was dealt, and I'm trying to win back those chips I lost along the way.

My last name is well known in the city that I live in, but I struggle with that as well and simply identify myself using my first name. My name most certainly doesn't define me either, and I refuse to accept it any other way.

I am a singer/ songwriter and musician/ performer whose dreams have been tainted by health problems and medical bills. But most of all I would have to say that I'm a giggle box. My whole life, I've managed to smile, giggle, and laugh. My happiness has been shaded by many clouds, but sooner or later here comes the sun and even the sky can't contain my joy.

 

I would like to see my profession listed as ... BEING HERSELF, which was perfect for her and all who love me :-)

and yours dear Patch... just as a suggestion is: Friend to Susie and to many others as well.

 

Every time I get it figured out who am I change. I'm up to version 25.3. Still have a bunch of bugs to work out and crash ever so often.

I've given up on life insurance. It doesn't work. I've had several friends who had it and they died.

Life is actually a heck of a lot of fun. I figure I'll keep going until some morning I won't know I'm dead.

cheery thought,

frank

 

who am i now? retired since 2001 and enjoying every minute of it. i like the freedom of it. i have many friends at this site who i have gotten to know quite well. it is great to come on this site and enjoy talking to people here. no matter what i am defined now by this site and being a part of this site. i guess i want to say that i am who i am now because of where i was then. born 2 years into world war 11 and actually remember the men coming home with their ribbons and badges in 45 and the part on the streets. my two uncles were there and they had served. my dad had too many kids to serve bless his soul. he saw that we all received the necesseties of life and the one thing we needed education. of course i studied nursing becauseto be a teacher would require money and we didn't have any. nursing took 200.00 for books and uniforms and room and board. from there i married shortly thereafter . then i became a mother. i returned to nsg. several years later and was a part time nurse for many years. when our youngest child left for university i began to work full time. i was maybe 44 at the time. i enjoyed what i did for the most part and with experience and years it didn't take a big effort to do my job well. i didn't have as much fun with my children as i do with my grandchildren but that i can't change but would if i could. we have been married now for 45 years. i hope to be remembered for my patience as i needed a lot of it for most of my life. i have learned that you don't need a heap of money to be happy. just a little more than you need is good. good thing i feel that way with the financial crisis as it is. i am glad i can be myself and i see myself as a person who more or less had it all. boy i better stop writing or pete will accuse me of being a writer again.i will just say that now i am a medical patient sometimes and my husband is most of the time and that just thank god i found you people. love,jessie

 

Hi Cbg, I always remember my mum used to tell people that she was a retired local government officer, and I never understood why when I was young.

I've always had a respected job and had a good career, but about 3 years ago I took a few months out.

When I met new people socially I answered the obligatory question 'what do you do'? with the answer, 'I'm a house wife', and suddenly I noticed that people would move onto the next person rather than staying to chat to me, as if I was some sort of alien species. Once I got back to work and met people in similar situations, it really hit me how interested people were in my job, and I sort of now understand why my mum used to say it.

Unfortunately Society today seems to categorise people according to their career status, and I can understand how people who are elderly feel when they are ignored by the young up and comings of today, because can be made to feel worthles, not particularly on purpose but just because people have little in common to discuss if they arent talking about work.

I take much more time now when I meet new people finding out who they are, not just what they do.

I'm not retired yet, but have almost made the decision that when I do I may keep on just a teeny bit of my work so I can answer the party questions and not be shoved into a cupboard with a bottle of sweet sherry! lol.

Take care, you seem nice retired or not!!

HH

 

what other people think of me. it isn't important to me now. i never let anyone make me feel worthless because i am not. i am not shoved in a cupboard with a bottle of sherry. i am fine retired and not in my career. jessie i have lots of close friends here and i don't look at what they do or have

 

Keep on enjoying yourself

HH x