Balls in the Air

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Oh my goodness. I'd never considered retirement could be pressurising until recently when, just like those jolly times in a working life, I've found myself juggling. 

There's still no working boiler at home but our return date remains fixed and is ever more imminent. Consequently anxiety levels are rising and there's now decluttering at both ends of our personal property chain too. I'd like to think that letting go after you've gone without for almost 12 months would be easy, but sadly I'm still finding it challenging! Then there's decorating to finish, whilst dodging workmen and dust to complete it.

Not much multi-tasking there you might think, however I failed to factor in my mother undergoing her own little crisis and the time it takes to provide support and solutions. Regrettably, her end of the retirement spectrum is less alluring than mine, although no doubt I'll find plenty of material to blog about if I ever reach my nineties. What I think has taken me more by surprise is how little outside assistance and guidance is now available for the elderly without going searching and paying a premium for it. For instance, I just assumed Meals on Wheels were still a thing, but it turns out not, unless you are lucky enough to live in an area served by a charity providing such.  How many people must now find their retirement days filled by caring for older relatives? As one nurse put it (and I'm trying not to take it personally): the worst people to look after you can be family members; they are not all designed the right way to do it!

Oh and did I mention that Grandotty managed to squeeze in a second birthday (just where have those two years gone)? It of course necessitated a trip to London by the grandparents to join in the celebrations, even if our return date was dictated by carpet fitters back at our own home.

So a combination of family and the dreaded home remediation has created a push me, pull me and pulverise type situation. I'm concentrating on breathing deeply, keeping up the exercise classes and the laughter that stems from coffee with friends afterwards. This is definitely a build up and practise resilience phase of retirement. Fingers crossed the worst will soon be over.

(Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay)

 

Comments

Treaders said…
You're doing better than I am, although my life does seem to be mirroring yours to a certain extent. I just realized that 25 days of having the electrician here means a solid five weeks of having someone in my space. Still haven't gotten a plumber to do my second bathroom and then the electrician confirmed to me that my solar panels are not hooked up to my electric box! That's why I've been offline for a while. I'm exhausted! Balls is the right word for it!
5 March 2025 at 09:14
Caree Risover said…
I’m so sorry to hear that Treaders. I think we can both comfort ourselves with the thought that if it’s all sorted now, we can put our feet up for the next 20 years! Certainly puts me off moving on and having to do it all again, perhaps.
5 March 2025 at 18:11
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