I lot of my friends are starting to retire. Or talking about retirement, weighing their options. Charlie is, too. God knows, he’s put in his time in down to the mill. Worked his way up to foreman. Survived all them pink slips as operations got smaller and smaller. Man, it’s been stressful, the not knowing. Not just for Charlie, but for all of Mahoosuc Mills, too. Used to be, the paper mill was the best job in town. Hard work, sure, but good, steady pay and benefits, and secure. Not anymore.
Anyhoo, Charlie will be 65 next month, so, yeah, we’ve been talking ‘bout it. It would be great to see Charlie have more time in his workshop. He loves tinkering, building things. And God knows, there’s no end of stuff around the house that could use a little spiffing up, stuff he has no time for now. He’s a keen sportsman, too, hunting and fishing. Then there’s ESPN and the like. He even said he’s considering helping out down to the Senior Center, driving older folks to appointments like our friend, Bud. Charlie’d be so good at that.
So what about me? Well, I’m two years younger than Charlie. Still a spring chicken, right? As Bud’s wife, Celeste told me, “I’m not retiring the same time as Bud, even though I could. If I do that, Bud’ll just be underfoot. You know, always on me: ‘What are we doing today? What are we having for lunch?’ Don’t get me wrong, I love him to death. But I just couldn’t take twenty-five years of that.”
“I hear you,” I says.
“If I wait, he’ll get into his own routine. It’ll be up to him to figure out how to plan his day. I think he’ll probably sit around doing nothing for a few weeks, ‘til he gets bored. Then maybe he’ll start volunteering down to the Senior Center. Or, do a little snow plowing on the side, get a hobby. You know, start playing golf or something. He’s just gonna be more motivated if I’m not around.”
That’s just how it played out for them, too. Is Celeste smart or what?
But here’s the deal: just the thought of retiring makes me kind of nervous. I can feel it right here, in the pit of my stomach. Who would I be if I didn’t work down to the A&P? It’s just such a big part of who I am. Look, I’ve been working there since I was 17. And, somehow, it doesn’t get old. Sure, I have my days. But I just love being right there in the center of things, chatting with folks, learning the latest goings on in Mahoosuc Mills. It fills me with energy, you know? I once heard someone say that retirement is for people who don’t love their job. That about nails it: I love my job.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure I’d come up with all sorts of things to fill my time. I mean, as it is, my weekends fly by. I love doing crafts and hanging with the Women Who Run With the Moose. I’d probably volunteer somewhere, I’m guessing.
Instead of going cold turkey, though, I’m thinking about doing the semi-retirement thing. You know, work maybe three days a week down to the A&P, keep my hand in. Kind of ease into retirement. Get into a different routine, see what happens. But right now, I’m just not ready to quit the place. Me and register 3 go way back. It’s my home away from home.
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
Hear Ida Tell It: Retirement