Work for Retirement

I have become a friend for the woman who is now the volunteering as the Enrichment Director. She is energetic, committed, and enthusiastic about the program. The home is in the process of hiring someone to fill the position professionally. It seems to me the only one who is enriched by the Enrichment Director is the one who has the job. 

The home has this large complicated calendar with many activities listed, but little participation. I guess it looks good to some board or supervisor, but  it doesn't do much for the residents. I guess I'm feeling very negative about the ability of this facility to improve my satisfaction with life and living. 

I'm not sure where these homes get their information about old people . The physical and dietary needs needs are the easy part. The psychological and spiritual needs are difficult. Nobody told me that when I retired to enjoy the benefits of my labor I should retain something to make me feel useful and productive. People who paint can continue to paint and people who write work on a book or a blog, I guess. There are people here who seem to get along with minimal activity.Maybe they have a hobby I don't know about. About all I do is go to meals.  I am sharing this  insight to all my friends who have not retired to a "home" yet. Don't let yourself arrive at the "home" with no plan for work. 

What Do I Do Now?

The worst thing about retirement is not having a job, a goal, a responsibility. I saw it when my husband retired. He was ready to retire from the job, but he wasn't ready to be jobless. Now I have moved to a retirement home. There are activities but they are meaningless. There are some things I have to do, like wash my clothes and pay bills. But none of these are meaningful. They pass time. The activities like playing cards or dominoes are just passing times. Reading is better-at least it gives me a chance to interact with
thoughts and ideas. I don't really do well with games even though the people are interesting and challenging. When the game ends I don't feel accomplishment or victory. I feel like I have wasted time, and I don't feel good about it. 

I've got to go back to work. I've got to feel productive. Of course, what I want to do is not really something that increases the gross national product, but since I have to wrestle with ideas and produce a logical argument, I can tell myself that it is contributing to the world's knowledge. Maybe my writing is just my opinion, but expressing it gives me a great deal of pleasure. Making the expression coherent and concise is important to what I call my work. Nobody has to know that I do it. I don't make any money. I don't impress people with with knowledge or skill. But I still consider this my work. I write about opinions, ideas, and events that impress, thrill, or anger me. I argue in favor of righteousness or common sense, or I criticize foolishness or folly when I see it as damaging to people or society. 

Getting  back to work may make my living in the retirement home easier to deal with. I sure hope so--It's a mess like this.  

Evolutionary Change

It was suggested to me today that the next generation would have stronger, more flexible thumbs due to the prevalence of cell phones and games in modern societybe determined.  Preparations are necessary to document this historic evolutionary shift. Doctors will be required to take measurements of thumb length, circumference, and objective strength.  There would also have to be studies to determine visual correlations to thumb dexterity. 

The implications of this study are yet to be determined. Results could prompt studies of big toe expansion due to the wearing of flip-flops and sensitivity to bat guano due to over use of eye liner and mascara.  

It Ain't Over Till It's over"

I moved into the retirement home on Thursday, so I may still be in what I'd call the adjustment phase. I'm learning all the routines and language of the residents and staff. I've met lots of people but I rarely can remember the names. One lady assured me that nobody else could either. We all seem to have similar problems, and I may actually be among the more able contingent. Several people are in their nineties and I know one lady who will be 100 in September. Age is not really the important factor. Maybe there are more important factors when you are old than age. 

The question I ask myself is not "How old am I?" but, "Do I have life in me?" I want to share this exciting adventure of old age with you. One day it will end, but until then there are lessons to learn and events to view and accomplishments to celebrate. It ain't over til it's over.

Learning the RopesI

So I'm learning the rules and routines at Heritage Village now. Meals have always been markers and gauges to measure time, but I was never constrained by them like I am now. Meals are served at 8:00, 12:30 and 5:30. Of course, every apartment has a full kitchen so I could cook at home if I wanted to, but one of the advantages of living here is the freedom from shopping for food, cooking, and cleaning up. Now I feel like I'm on a schedule--I have to go to the dining room on time. It's not like I meeting someone I want to see. It's not a romantic tryst. It noon and it's time for dinner and I have to be there and sit with people who I am just being introduced to. It's life in "the home." 

And I'll get used to it or get over it or cook at home. Human beings adapt and adjust and change. It's not bad and maybe it's a sign of growth. And to think I though there wouldn't be any challenges in living in a retirement home.

Moving In!

I now live in "the home," Heritage Village, a retirement home. It's a nice facility for senior citizens. I moved in less than a week ago, so I'm one of the new kids on the block. I'm still getting adjusted to the routine and the activities. It's been a joke between my kids and me for a long time that one of them would put me in "the home." In the TV show "The Golden Girls" Dorothy was always threatening Sophia with "Shady Pines" I guess this is my "Shady Pines."

Meals are provided. Transportation is provided. Bills are paid except for TV, Internet and phone. There are many activities (most of which I don't care for). I'm still trying to find my niche. Niche theory says there is a place where I'll be useful and maintain my ability to perform ordinary functions. At least it happens in the natural world. Maybe in this artificial civilization there are new rules. Does anyone have any advice?