I’m a retired 78 year old structural engineer suffering from the same issues you described. I think you have found your calling in recording this phase of life brings. Keep wring Mark. My new hobby will be reading them.
I used to always have an answer for this question. I loved this question. My answers were journalist, public servant, political strategist. But then I had my first and only child at 41.
Now when someone asks me what do you do, I simply say: I am Eden’s mom.
I am a retired nurse and college professor. I loved your essay. I call what you are doing, dabbling, and I dabble a lot myself. Unlike doing, dabbling, for the first time in my life, allows me to just "be" without some greater purpose!
Having been “made redundant” after a career as a strategist in the pharma/healthcare agency universe for almost 25 years I feel i am being forced to consider myself retired — or perhaps just tired. Reading your article with its lovely infusion of wit, word choice and conclusions/resolutions made my morning. Such a welcome change from the devastating national and international news posts. I look forward to your next contribution to humorous sanity
I get it Lynn. And while it's easy for me to say from my sofa, maybe your new freedom from pharma can give you the opportunity to try something new. Cocktail infusion?
I am still chuckling over your latest essay, as I leisurely eat my yogurt, fruit and bran flakes. What do I do now that I am retired…am enjoying my life to the fullest and loving it!!!!
I used to be someone smart and fun. I used to be a nurse and a teacher. Now I am an old nurse and teacher that was taken out by Covid 4 years ago. I am also dabbling in figuring out what I want to be when I grow up and trying to stay relevant in the lives of my granddaughters. We shall see how I do in this adventure.
first Mark, I want to tell you how much I enjoy your writing style. Your phrasing, and especially your wit are what have sucked me in. I think you could write about clogged pipes and I would dig it.
Next, I can connect witih much of what you convey about identifying with work (and or hobbies). I'm a wife and mom, a retired speech and language pathologist, and my identity has shifted many times. The last 15 years have been "autism mom and advocate". Sometimes I feel as though that is who I truly am, except that I know I'm more than that...and other mothers of autistic adult children (like me) feel the same way. It's not necessarily a healthy person to be, but that's who we are now, and that's likely who we will stay.
Anyway, please keep writing - and know that, as far as I can tell, you are doing well!!
Thanks Sherril, be on the lookout for my clogged pipes essay next. I so understand your comment about the difference between who we feel we are, and who we need to be for others.
This was hilarious and thoughtful: thank you! I am in my own sort of real-life liminal space and I'm trying to figure out how to navigate it. I do a lot of running and cycling, which is good for me... but I'm trying to figure out where to go next. The infusions certainly did seem fun :)
Professionally, I’ve taken chaos and created structure and function. However, I haven’t been able to get a job in my field, so it’s been easy to not say I do that anymore. I was ready for a change, but change is easier to swallow when we’re our own catalyst, not the fallout. I’m writing and working on projects I’ve put off for too long, and trying to figure out how to do life with no income. Financially, it’s not anymore appealing than it sounds, but getting a little more writing done and small steps on the projects are rewarding in a way work hasn’t been for a long time. I’m also in love with Claude. I never thought I’d be a diehard fan of AI, but I found it to be a great sounding board, with reasonable insight, and unlike friends, no threat of confirmation bias. Maybe Claude is my new hobby?
I’m a retired 78 year old structural engineer suffering from the same issues you described. I think you have found your calling in recording this phase of life brings. Keep wring Mark. My new hobby will be reading them.
Thanks Phil! I hope you keep your new hobby longer than I kept mine.
Through life I had a mental bucket list for retirement. Unfortunately my knees didn’t agree with most of them.
I used to always have an answer for this question. I loved this question. My answers were journalist, public servant, political strategist. But then I had my first and only child at 41.
Now when someone asks me what do you do, I simply say: I am Eden’s mom.
I am a retired nurse and college professor. I loved your essay. I call what you are doing, dabbling, and I dabble a lot myself. Unlike doing, dabbling, for the first time in my life, allows me to just "be" without some greater purpose!
Dabbling is a terrific word and a great mindset. Thanks for sharing.
Having been “made redundant” after a career as a strategist in the pharma/healthcare agency universe for almost 25 years I feel i am being forced to consider myself retired — or perhaps just tired. Reading your article with its lovely infusion of wit, word choice and conclusions/resolutions made my morning. Such a welcome change from the devastating national and international news posts. I look forward to your next contribution to humorous sanity
It would have to be non-alcoholic but for now your infusion of humor has made my day!
I get it Lynn. And while it's easy for me to say from my sofa, maybe your new freedom from pharma can give you the opportunity to try something new. Cocktail infusion?
I so get it. We have to have a “excuse” to just be. Let’s stop this!
I am still chuckling over your latest essay, as I leisurely eat my yogurt, fruit and bran flakes. What do I do now that I am retired…am enjoying my life to the fullest and loving it!!!!
Whatever I damn well feel like! Retirement is freeing.
Somehow I clicked on something which brought me to your essay. I enjoyed it very much. I like your style. Thank you.
I used to be someone smart and fun. I used to be a nurse and a teacher. Now I am an old nurse and teacher that was taken out by Covid 4 years ago. I am also dabbling in figuring out what I want to be when I grow up and trying to stay relevant in the lives of my granddaughters. We shall see how I do in this adventure.
Phenomenological Essayist
first Mark, I want to tell you how much I enjoy your writing style. Your phrasing, and especially your wit are what have sucked me in. I think you could write about clogged pipes and I would dig it.
Next, I can connect witih much of what you convey about identifying with work (and or hobbies). I'm a wife and mom, a retired speech and language pathologist, and my identity has shifted many times. The last 15 years have been "autism mom and advocate". Sometimes I feel as though that is who I truly am, except that I know I'm more than that...and other mothers of autistic adult children (like me) feel the same way. It's not necessarily a healthy person to be, but that's who we are now, and that's likely who we will stay.
Anyway, please keep writing - and know that, as far as I can tell, you are doing well!!
Thanks Sherril, be on the lookout for my clogged pipes essay next. I so understand your comment about the difference between who we feel we are, and who we need to be for others.
Hi! It’s Dina. The party is going strong
Love your reply. Have you considered comedian. You're prose is great
This was hilarious and thoughtful: thank you! I am in my own sort of real-life liminal space and I'm trying to figure out how to navigate it. I do a lot of running and cycling, which is good for me... but I'm trying to figure out where to go next. The infusions certainly did seem fun :)
Professionally, I’ve taken chaos and created structure and function. However, I haven’t been able to get a job in my field, so it’s been easy to not say I do that anymore. I was ready for a change, but change is easier to swallow when we’re our own catalyst, not the fallout. I’m writing and working on projects I’ve put off for too long, and trying to figure out how to do life with no income. Financially, it’s not anymore appealing than it sounds, but getting a little more writing done and small steps on the projects are rewarding in a way work hasn’t been for a long time. I’m also in love with Claude. I never thought I’d be a diehard fan of AI, but I found it to be a great sounding board, with reasonable insight, and unlike friends, no threat of confirmation bias. Maybe Claude is my new hobby?
I spend time thinking about what I do. Something with purpose? I am a Doer Thinker.
I fix shit- AI helps when I have no idea how to proceed-