What strikes me about this report of retirement in Australia is how active and social it is. And also how packed with travel. I know now where my travel ambitions went to, my friend used the whole allocation. Maybe it’s just me that leads a shy and retiring life maybe the rest of Britain is out there being sporty and social, I don’t know.
Then again perhaps my chum is untypical of Australians, although I doubt it, but perhaps they’re all sitting at home reading their library books, but I doubt it. Let’s face it I think Australians, forgive the sweeping generalisation, are simply more active and social than we Brits. A combination of climate and culture perhaps. Does this make for a very different retirement experience I wonder? Whatever nice to have a guest blog. First of many? Take a look and see what you think.
RETIREMENT A FEW THOUGHTS FROM DOWN UNDER
Retirement: The act of retiring or the state of being retired, the removal or withdrawal from an office or active service.
For me the act has been taken and the process of being retired is well and truly in hand.
What is a typical day, is there a typical day? When at home the paper has to be collected, either a 5.5 kl walk or a 35 kl bike ride. The next few hours involves reading said paper, completing the cryptic crossword and checking emails and interesting cites – BBC sport, AFL, West Coast Eagles, Golf Club, Lumosity. …. A late brunch and coffee follows before contemplating the afternoon. A couple of days a week this involves a competition round of golf, otherwise it is tending to chores around the house/garden or heading out to a movie. Reading and strengthening exercise are regularly included.
Come five o’clock it often involves heading next door to enjoy a beer and chew the fat with my neighbours. That often leads to a meal at either their place or mine at least once a week.
Preparing the evening meal is an enjoyable part of the day, usually a shared experience (with my partner when we are at her place or mine – yes we live in a committed relationship though we have separate houses hers in the city and mine in the country, so time together at either abode or apart, works well for us) accompanied by a bottle of red or white or maybe one of each! Taking in the evening news channels keeps us informed.
When at my partners place the walk for the paper is not necessary as it is delivered. That doesn’t stop the morning bike ride, 30 to 40 kls at least once a week plus a group ride on Friday and Sunday mornings. A quick swim at the beach is included from time to time.
These activities are punctuated with catching up with children (taking grand children to school) and friends for meals, dining in or dining out.
So much for the routine! Travel and planning for travel plus processing photo books to record said adventures is a high priority at this stage. For the past 6 years this has included one extended trip each year. Places visited include Eastern Europe to Amsterdam and UK; Canada and Alaska; Morocco, Spain and Portugal; Greece, Italy and the Mediterranean; Galapagos, Peru and Argentina; and last year Northern Italy, the trains of Switzerland, the Loire Valley and a cruise around Iceland. 2020 will see the last of the long trips for some time as we head for Helsinki, St Petersburg, Moscow, Croatia and Turkey.
In between the long trips we manage to take in Bali for an annual birthday bash and the occasional trip to a beach house at Lancelin, North of Perth. Beyond 2020 we will probably explore more of our extensive country, so much to see.
All said, life is to enjoy, stimulate the body and the mind, keep active and healthy, explore opportunities as they present, enjoy the company of others (family and friends), eat well and don’t drink cheap wine!