I worried about retiring. Would I have enough money, to not only meet normal expenses but enough to allow me to do things I had put off? I am easily bored so — would I have enough to keep me busy? How would I connect to new people after I left my only social network (sad isn’t it)? It boggled my mind. If I stopped trading my time for money, would I have enough money to do or buy the things I still wanted?

All these questions are still unanswered and so I decided to not fully retire yet but to work instead, part-time. I reasoned that rather than going out cold turkey, a little more time and money would ease me into the next phase.

In the meantime, I have more time to do things like a long overdue bedroom revamp—new paint, baseboards and furniture. And–I know I have too much stuff—especially socks. The green ones just had to go.

by Alice Deeny