I am Definitely Not The Retiring Type

Okay, I am a Baby Boomer. Not quite at the leading edge of the wave, but close enough to give the country anxiety over the viability of the Social Security system. I am one of those graduates of the class of '65 who did not have a straight career path. The interruption of the Vietnam years and the early Women's movement were enough to set me on a course that looks more like an 's' curve than a straight trajectory. The career that filled the most years was that of a corporate recruiter in the science and R&D arena. I had a wonderful long run and then the Spring of 2008 came and with it the end of the last contract. The ensuing recession plus a move to Tucson AZ for my engineer husband seems to have sealed my career. I don't know if it will ever start up again. As much as I would like continue to work, there are no jobs for recruiters when there are no jobs for the rest of you and in Tucson there are very few jobs and those that are here in human resources are about 25 years behind much of the country in salary ranges and almost in the 1950's when it comes to age discrimination.

So here I am, seen I am sure by many in this town as a "retired" person. If I am retired it is because my career has retired me. Do I have problems with the word 'retired'? Starting with the stereotype of 'retirement' here in southern Arizona as golf playing, early dinner eating, slow driving snowbirds on to the misconceptions about energy level, technological adeptness and memory issues, yes, I do have a problem with the word 'retirement'.

I am not the retiring type, both in the vernacular meaning and as it relates to aging. I have high energy and an even higher level of curiosity to learn and experience more.

So what is this blog about? Certainly about my experience and ideas, but also about you. This is a blog about how to move into the next phase and not retire from life when your career has retired you. This blog will be about how to find and enjoy new experiences and how to accept the inevitable change as a shift in a journey, a shift that can bring excitement, lessons and joy. This blog will be about being present in your life enabling you to live each moment without regret.

Please comment and participate. I know I am not in this boat alone.