Category Archives: Retirement

Happy Grandparents Day–Part 2

Posted on September 13, 2015 by bakrawiec

An only child and one of the original “latchkey kids,” I came home from primary school to an empty apartment, save for my sidekick dog and Kate Smith, whom I considered my surrogate grandmother. True, Kate Smith was present to … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Grandparents, Latchkey Kids, Retirement | Leave a comment

Happy Grandparents Day–Part 1

Posted on September 12, 2015 by bakrawiec

Tomorrow is Grandparents Day– for some, a day to gratefully celebrate others (biological elders or not) who have “grandparented” them; for grateful others, to be the ones being celebrated as “grandparents.” Whichever category you are in, it is good to … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Death, Dying, Family, Retirement, Transitions, Writing | Leave a comment

“first day of no school” –one heart revels; another heart breaks

Posted on September 10, 2015 by bakrawiec

“first day of no school” How those words made me smile when I read them yesterday, mid-morning. They were messaged to me, thanks to Twitter, from a new Outer Circle friend, reflecting on her retirement. As was true for me, … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Education, Parents, Retirement, School | 2 Comments

your head in the clouds?

Posted on September 9, 2015 by bakrawiec

Used to be that having your head in the clouds was a sign of adolescent romanticism. Not any longer. One week ago, on my quiet reflective retirement celebration day, I was sitting alone at a Senior hangout (Seniors, as in … Continue reading →

Posted in Retirement, Seniors, Technology | Leave a comment

judge not—‘case I forget to flush

Posted on September 8, 2015 by bakrawiec

Every time I use a certain public bathroom, I am reminded of something I need to share to prepare my family and friends for when I grow older. Hard as I try, I have a difficult time pressing the handles … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Retirement, Seniors | 2 Comments

Un-DINKed

Posted on September 7, 2015 by bakrawiec

Okay. I admit I’m not necessarily up on all the latest PC terminology. Please help me. Last I knew, my husband and I were “Dink-ers” (Double income, no kids). As of September 1, the “nk” still fits, but the “Di,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment, Income, Retirement | 6 Comments

Gratifyingly: no escape

Posted on September 6, 2015 by bakrawiec

It was the first day of my retirement, and there I was in a religious goods shop, drawn to the book section. Because the section was, in part, behind the counter, I asked permission to peruse there. The clerk apologized … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment, LIbrarians, Library, Retirement | Leave a comment

Labor Day Celebration–still in?

Posted on September 5, 2015 by bakrawiec

It’s my first Labor Day weekend since the big Retirement day, just four days ago, and I’m wondering…Am I still entitled to celebrate it?…Is the idea, once a worker, always a worker? Or it this day just for current workforce … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment, Retirement, Work | Leave a comment

former commute start time–early or late?

Posted on September 4, 2015 by bakrawiec

Liberated from the daily commute, I now have time to indulge myself in looking back at my work life vis a vis my retirement life—e.g. time and energy gained – through the lens of what working folks without such time … Continue reading →

Posted in Commute, Retirement, Transitions, Travel Time to Work | Leave a comment

If “a penny saved is a penny earned,” how much is saved time worth?

Posted on September 3, 2015 by bakrawiec

One way I’ve gained time in Retirement is by eliminating (Yes!) my daily commute. How much time? Morning commute: about 30 minutes. Afternoon commute: 40 minutes. That’s 70 minutes per day/round trip; 350 minutes per week. That’s nearly 6 hours—almost … Continue reading →

Posted in Commute, Retirement, Time, Transitions, Travel Time to Work | 2 Comments