Day 1 - and so it begins

Today is the first day of the rest of my life. Well, I suppose this applies to every day (and is something of an overused cliche) but this really is something of a fresh beginning because yesterday was my last day at work after agreeing to take voluntary redundancy (VR).

It's all happened very quickly and I've created this blog to help process my thoughts as I work out what happens next, and also to chronicle that journey. I had wanted the blog address to match the title, 'The R Word' (as in 'Retirement'), but that was taken already, which suggests this is not the most original of subjects!

The blog is therefore for my own benefit but if it helps someone in a similar situation to formulate their own ideas about the next stage in their life, that will be a bonus. It will also be interesting to look back when I have a better idea about where I'm heading.

I mention Retirement (with a capital R!!) because I really don't know if this applies to me in my current circumstances. Technically, my employment finishes on 31st July and I'll be on leave in the meantime but either way, yesterday was my last day 'at work'.

I will receive a redundancy payment but I'm 10 years away from the state retirement pension, which suggests I'll have to carry out some kind of paid employment even if it's of a casual nature. The World economy is going to be very shaky in the next few years as a result of the Covid-19 epidemic and therefore employment is likely to be in short supply.

In fact, Covid-19 is directly responsible for the opportunity to take VR. The University I worked for is anticipating a significant drop in income during 2020/21 (almost 30% if the worst case scenario proves to be the reality) and therefore a programme of redundancy was offered very quickly with an added incentive for those agreeing to leave before 31st July.

The opportunity to have some time out and regain my freedom (an emotive phrase but it does feel that way) was just too attractive to resist and here I am 4.5 weeks later and it's all over. Well, annual leave apart and then a further 5 weeks before I formally complete my 3 month notice period. Whichever way you look at it, I'm done.

Done with what though? Working at University of Nottingham and as an employed member of society: yes. But, have I finished with the World of Work? If not, then what kind of work will I do and when? Also, what will I do with myself (other than blather on via a blog) and will I get bored or frustrated? The simple answer is "I don't know" but maybe I'll have a better idea by the time this blog reaches a natural conclusion.

I have so many questions and thoughts at the moment but I'll work through those in the coming weeks and, potentially, months. At the moment, my emotions consist of a mixture of excitement and delight and trepidation and apprehension.

For now, I'm just going to leave it there and gradually ferment my thoughts and feelings so that the blog consists of something coherent and less of a stream of consciousness.

So, Day 1 is almost over and Rach and I have enjoyed a day of pottering - primarily preparing to head off on holiday on Saturday. This has consisted mostly of preparing our caravan for its first trip of the year.

I also washed the car for the first time since, I suspect, last year, which was surprisingly rewarding because I wasn't clock watching the whole time - I simply spent the time it needed. And that's the freedom I mentioned earlier - the freedom of having enough time to do and, most importantly, to be.

To be or not to be..... now that would be extremely crass!!