Chapter 12 – Merry Christmas!

I’m writing early this week while I have some time during the last few days before Christmas. Composing my thoughts from the car again, as I wait for my wife to finish her early morning appointment. I do love this part of retirement. As a remote worker, I would often accompany my wife to work or personal appointments so she wouldn’t have to find parking, because the roads might not be the best, or because there was travel involved. Mostly, it was so we could have time together on the drive. Time is precious, as we all discover as we age. It was easy for me to work from the car, or a coffee shop. The downside was that I had to be online and available. Meetings sometimes could be difficult, so I would always try to be back in my home office for those, meaning we would often be rushed. I’m happy those days are done.

This morning, after her appointment, we will go to one of our favorite pubs for breakfast and then on to wrap up some last-minute shopping. It is a light workday for her. In a few short months, she will be retiring too, and I am excited for that. When you think back to your youth, what was more exciting than being able to hang out with your best friend, without worrying about any obligations? You were foot loose and fancy free. The only restriction was being home in time for supper. Well, that is what it will be like for us. Our time will be ours. We joke that one of our first activities will be to go to a 24-hour McDonalds in the middle of the night, because we can! We’ve done our time. We’ve raised our kids, given back to our community, made our contribution. There are no more expectations. Our proverbial ship has come in.

It's Christmas week so I’m not going to bore you with more of our retirement preparation journey. I will save that story for the next time. This week is a time for family, friends and the special people in our lives. We have a busy week planned. Tuesday night we will have family in to celebrate the season, with lots of food and drink. Wednesday is Christmas Eve and, because of schedules and logistics this year, we will have Christmas dinner at a relative’s house and open some gifts. On Christmas day, we will host brunch for our immediate family. On Boxing Day, the last of our company will leave to go home and the house will once again be quiet. My personal tradition is to spend the day watching hockey on television. I do look forward to the downtime after the holiday. Things are so rushed leading up to the event that it is nice to take pause and reflect on the year that was and the year ahead.

With that, I will take this opportunity to wish all who happen upon this post a very Merry Christmas and all the best of the season. I truly hope you receive all the blessings I have over the past year. Please take time to appreciate all you have and be generous to those less fortunate. Happy Holidays!