It was quite a random decision to publish the 2014 goal-setting blog as the last one in my retro blog series. I looked at the title and thought hmm, that might be quite interesting to look at 7 and a half years later. So I did publish it and of course, at the same time, I read it and have decided to write this follow-up retirement blog to consider how my goal-setting had turned out.
So here is the original list of my ten goals at that time. They were based on my ‘funeral activity’ (what do you want people to say about you at your funeral?) so I was quite confident that they were well-set, solid goals for my coming retirement. I’ll give you the goal and then follow it with a brief report in italics, of how I think I’ve done with it in the intervening period.
- To put my writing on a more professional basis and try and publicise it more.
I’m not sure what ‘professional meant in this context, if it meant getting published by an actual publisher then I failed at this, at least so far (watch this space). If it meant writing on an organised and predicable basis then I’ve succeeded by writing a blog at least twice a week, sometimes more. As for publicising my writing, forget it, simply not my strength. Although I do feature on page 1 of Google, reaching number one for a while. Does this count?
- To publish an Ebook and ‘lecture’ on self-esteem for retired people.
Over this period of time I have actually self-published three eBooks – a detective story, a book of ghost stories and most recently a book also in paperback of The Vineyard Years.
As for the lecturing I’m afraid this was a complete wash-out. I think my heart was never really in it. Too much like work perhaps.
- To continue to learn new skills – guitar playing for example.
I’ve done quite well with this one, always taking pleasure in learning new things (maybe not skills exactly but close). I’ve read books and studied via on-line courses mostly in history topics. Musically my jazz piano-playing has developed and playing my guitar along to both jazz and Celtic music has come along nicely. I even joined a folk fiddle group before the pandemic closed it down. I have learned the skills of podcasting because I had to but I did it nevertheless.
- To continue to exercise regularly eg. Taking dogs for a walk.
Yes, we’ve persisted with this come rain or shine. It might be that our walks are a little shorter and flatter since I had my injuries but we carry on with this goal, the dogs have seen to that.
- To take regular trips – to the vineyard, to our cottage, longer trips UK trips, maybe abroad.
We did very well with this goal until the pandemic came along and buggered everything up. Even walking in the park if we’d listened to government advice (only one walk a day). But when things eased off a bit we continued with trips to the vineyard / barn and Derbyshire pretty much once a week. Longer UK trips even out into Yorkshire and London and of course the legendary Scottish trip in the caravan. Not that we’ve repeated this since. But what we have repeated on an at least annual basis at least until the pandemic, are our Irish trips. True to the same place in Dunquin , County Kerry, but we’ve done this reliably. Does this count as ‘abroad’? I think so, technically.
- To develop the vineyard, maybe make some wine.
Definitely achieved this. True the wine that I made was indifferent to say the very least but I did it. And in 2018 we got our grapes professionally turned into wine. We have further hopes that this year might see more wine made on our behalf from our grapes. So we’ve certainly developed the vineyard since 2014. Some set-backs true but we’re still pursuing the dream.
- To read on a more organised basis.
Not at all sure what I mean by this at the time. But I would say my reading has settled into a more predictable pattern – non-fiction in the morning, some fiction in the afternoon and always crime-fiction before lights out.
- To listen to Radio 4 more often.
Nope this simply hasn’t happened. Just don’t have time in the day for sitting listening to the wireless.
- To engage in further research and learning as in goals 2 and 3.
Calling it research might be a bit ambitious unless it’s looking on Google for how to fit a security light or CCTV camera, how to put together a podcast or even how to set up your own WordPress blog without paying a professional to run it for you (failed at this), but as I said in 3 and to repeat myself, I have continued my retirement commitment to learning new things call them skills if you wish. So if I were rating this goal I would give it a 7 for achievement. So not too bad.
- To maintain good relationships with those who are important to me.
Well Mrs Summerhouse and I are still married and coming up to our 50th wedding anniversary next year. We still get on well with the children even if, in the case of the boy, this is helped by him being in Australia. Friends, well the ones I care about, are still with us. That’s all I’ll say.
So there we are. Overall I’ll give my achievements, as related to my goals from 2014, as at a 70% average success level. Which has been my go-to rating of what might be called a happy retirement all these years so, no reason to change it now. Could have done better in some areas and other areas could have been worse. Which just about sums up my retirement life.