What does retirement look like today?

 

0500 I wake up, but I stay in bed. I can stay two or three hours if I want to. No work! I Check my son’s glucose levels , read emails, social media, The news, Check my bank account, Plan meals, Place an order for groceries, Online shopping, Make digital art, Create videos and post them on YouTube Or share them with friends, Write articles and keep a blog.

0700 I get up. I put the kettle on. If it’s school day, I make my son a packed lunch. I load or unload the dishwasher, I load the washing machine, then put anything that needs going on the line out on the line to dry or air. I drink tea, learn a language, Learn music or chess, Chat with my child. I do some more social media and iPad games Well, I keep my son company until he leaves for the bus.

0745 I go out. I walk 2 miles. I take photographs. I identify birds. A process my thoughts. I get fitter with the exercise. Sometimes I encounter people briefly and have a short conversation.

0830 I come home. I put out the rubbish and the recycling. I drink tea. I check my son has arrived at school. I loaded or unload the dishwasher depending on which happened earlier. 

0900 I put the washing out. I do a little gardening. I check the time and give thanks that I am not at work. I Look up my step count from yesterday and add it to my just giving page. I am raising money this month for diabetes UK. Last month it was pancreatic cancer.

0915 I collect in my son‘s prescription. It is insulin and needles and glucose monitors. He is type one diabetic. For those that need to know it is an autoimmune disease that has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle or eating sweets. His Immune system destroyed the cells of his pancreas that make insulin. Now he has to inject himself four times a day with insulin to stay alive.

0925 I decide my goals for the day.

1. Take care of my son‘s needs. Keep him fed, clothed, housed and take care of his medical needs. He is type one diabetic.

2. Ensure my financial situation is stable.

3. Walk 12,000 steps. Raise money for diabetes uk.

4. Sort out items for a boot sale tomorrow.

5. Write an article about yesterday‘s theme for diabetes UK‘s walk.

6. Prioritise my physical and mental health.

7. Learn something new.

8. Make something creative.

9. Relax, appreciate my blessings and be grateful.

10. Spend time with the people I love.

0940 mindfulness with Tea and toast. Monitor my heart rate. Take my meds. I have tachycardia and high cholesterol.I check what day of the week it is (Oh yes 😜). I sit in the breeze watching the washing flutter and listening to the birds. I sit and let my heart rate drop until it is at my desired resting heart rate under the influence of the prescription.

1000 my heart rate. It’s good, but it could be better. So I rest a little longer.  I want to clean my teeth having finished my tea and toast. But until my heart rate is lower, I will be too uncomfortable to climb the stairs to do so. I play cognitive improvement games online to pass the time until my heart rate goes down. I am worried about cognitive decline as for example struggle to remember easy obvious words and I couldn’t remember my pin for my phone earlier. I got it wrong. Outside, I can hear a bird screeching. Yesterday, I thought this was a buzzard, but today the Merlin Bird ID app says it is a peregrine falcon.

1025 my heart rate is down to a suitable level. So I am able to climb the stairs to clean my teeth. I will check on my son‘s bathroom, put away his new deodorantand water his lung suffering plants

1040 short geocache walk. Badly affected by anxiety, so back much sooner than I hoped. Passed Freddie on my way back and was unable to speak to say hello, which is a great shame as I’ve known him since he was four. He is good friends with My son.

1110 home. HR 102. Sit with water to cool down and calm down. This will allow me to climb the stairs when I have recovered. That will allow me to take a shower and to switch on the computer to start the article I have in mind. It’s important for me to write these articles and publish them on LinkedIn so that I keep my profile live and if an opportunity comes up that I can take up, I will then be able to and I’ve kept My skills fresh, My profile fresh, And my presence fresh.

1120 I take a call from a recruitment agency. I Have been successful in securing an interview for a job. I should hear later today or early next week the time and date.

1134 HR 66 . Shower, article writing and posting pics from today and yesterday. Published on LinkedIn and diabetes UK page. Updated my budget to ensure I am financially stable still.

1245 lunch. Lots of salad. But not a shred of lettuce or tomato insight. Artichokes, olives and cucumber with a jacket potato and breaded fish. And my 2nd pint of water of the day

1345 after a fabulous meal Accompanied by a film on telly. I taken in the washing from the line. And rest. When my child wakes up, I’ll try and entice him into a butterfly count for the afternoon.

1645 on a school day my son gets home. I feed him, settle his glucose levels, eat with him or keep him company while he eats, we talk about his day and mine. Then he goes to play with his PlayStation (Do his homework) And if the weather is mild, I go out for a walk.

1800 dinner and a movie

1930 small beer with a friend, TV.

2200 bed