18 Months to Retirement and Beyond

hollydolly said:
Well, 6 days out of 14, is quite a task with 2 special needs children... going from working outside of the house, and not only staying home 7 days out of 7 but with albeit your grandchildren.. 2 children who probably need a lot of attention.. could be quite difficult.. I'm sure you've thought of that and more CS... I understand your DD needs help.. and if you're the only one who can help, as a mother you will move heaven and earth.. but I think you need to look at what will happen in the long term..
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Yes I agree, @hollydolly Both girls will undoubtedly need Care/supervision for many years to come. I’ve been upfront with my daughter about my physical limitations and to myself I acknowledge the mental and emotional drain as well. I know my propensity to rush right in and try to save everyone 😆. I’m doing my best to avoid that

we will take it one day at a time, looking into all viable options, bathing each decision in prayer and trusting God’s guidance and sustaining power for the difficult stuff, if that’s what’s necessary
 

CinnamonSugar said:
Yes I agree, @hollydolly Both girls will undoubtedly need Care/supervision for many years to come. I’ve been upfront with my daughter about my physical limitations and to myself I acknowledge the mental and emotional drain as well. I know my propensity to rush right in and try to save everyone 😆. I’m doing my best to avoid that

we will take it one day at a time, looking into all viable options, bathing each decision in prayer and trusting God’s guidance and sustaining power for the difficult stuff, if that’s what’s necessary
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@CinnamonSugar I have enjoyed reading your diary and wondered if you made a decision concerning retirement, working part-time and caring for your grandchildren? Thank you.
 
Leann said:
@CinnamonSugar I have enjoyed reading your diary and wondered if you made a decision concerning retirement, working part-time and caring for your grandchildren? Thank you.
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Thanks for asking, @Leann Things are in a holding pattern right now. I don’t have any definitive updates, sorry.

but as soon as I do I’ll let y’all know 😊
 

So almost two months into retirement... I have to say thing I LOVE the most is just doing what needs doing or that I want to do and not feeling like I have to rush through things or that "work" is hanging over my head. Strolling through the library stacks, making soup or homemade bread, knitting, running errands, etc etc etc. It's all so relaxing

So, here's a question... do I need to start a new diary thread now that I *am* retired or should I check into getting the title changed?

No rush, all in good time :giggle:
 
December has been a strange month. Sick 2+ weeks, some unexpected or planned but Very Long babysitting days, minor (irritating) health issues, lost my freaking glasses, laptop charger bit the dust right in the middle of required courses to renew my nursing license, etc, etc, etc.

I struggle in the part-time job search…. Either makes too much, too many hours, hazardous (convenience store cashier? NOT, I like staying bullet free) or I don’t have qualifications. (And I’ll just head off the “you’re a nurse, you can get a job anywhere/anytime”—not quite that easy, believe me). Even tried the postal service today…. What a laugh! The online application process (must pay before you can even read the materials!) is so convoluted and contorted, with them backpedaling all over themselves, I just said, “Fo’gettabout it!” And called the number to get my $$ refunded. Sheesh.

In the vein of applying for jobs, the whole online thing is a PITA. Can I please have a paper application and talk to a HUMAN???

But there have been some bright spots: finally found a furniture repair person today who will do a couple jobs for me, have read some good books, Christmas services were beautiful, looking forward to reading up on photography with IPhone, and several other little “life-sparkles” that made things better.

I’m (really) trying to look at this “season” as just that, a *season* that will come out into something more positive. I’m attempting to have faith and grow in trust, even when—knee jerk reaction is to send out engraved invitations for a gala pity party. Many, many of you are going through Much More Stressful situations and it has helped me to keep things in perspective.

All the best in 2023!
 
More Life Sparkles from Jeanne's retirement:

Met with long-time friend for coffee, talked about lots of things, including deep subjects. Able to offer support and encouragement =)

Made a pot of chicken/vegetable/rice soup, just in time for the temperatures to drop Also have a new Louise Penny mystery with which to snuggle up =)

Had a call back from hospice HR, at which I'd put in an application, not realizing the office was located in Savannah. But the lady said she would let the HR people at the Vidalia office know about my resume, so I hope to hear back from them ::fingers crossed::
 
I'm giving myself a daily "high-five" for doing one of my goals: Doing something of which I'm afraid.

I have a FB page I call Live the Adventure and since retiring, I've tried to keep my eyes/ears/brain open to topics to discuss. I had a good topic and for some reason (fear of rejection? IDK, it's ridiculous), I kept putting off writing it.

Sheesh, what's the worst that can happen? Buck up, write the darn thing and POST it, girl!

So I did. :: patting self on the back ::
 
Well!!

Today has been the day for exercising that assertive side I've been working on!!

I've always been "too nice"... I have trouble with confrontation or even just stating something I want/need if it seems (sometimes with no evidence to back it up) that it's going to discomfort someone.

Case in point-- I've been struggling for several months whether to keep a certain policy that dings my check acct. each month (with very little chance I'll ever have the advantage of the monetary outcome). I kept thinking, "I need to go to the office and cancel that" but when it came to showing up and saying the words, I kept chickening out. But I did it this AM. Not perfectly but it's progress.

Another chance to be assertive which was not difficult at ALL: (Background--while I was in Americus working, I could get a Lidocaine injection to my right SI joint for less than 150.00 at the chiropractor clinic and be in-and-out of the office in 30 min.) Since being back in hometown and a practitioner qualified to do this procedure not available at local clinics, I was referred to a spinal MD. I jumped through the hoops of going to the MD to discuss situation and my needs but then I had to make a separate appt. for at the hospital and it was only available one day a week. Well, ok....

Then the billing department calls and notifies me that the 20% of the bill for which I am responsible was over 1200.00!!!!!!

How fast can I say cancel the appt???? Less than a New York minute, you betcha!

Sheesh!

:: patting myself on the back, fo' sure::
 
CinnamonSugar said:
Another chance to be assertive which was not difficult at ALL: (Background--while I was in Americus working, I could get a Lidocaine injection to my right SI joint for less than 150.00 at the chiropractor clinic and be in-and-out of the office in 30 min.) Since being back in hometown and a practitioner qualified to do this procedure not available at local clinics, I was referred to a spinal MD. I jumped through the hoops of going to the MD to discuss situation and my needs but then I had to make a separate appt. for at the hospital and it was only available one day a week. Well, ok....

Then the billing department calls and notifies me that the 20% of the bill for which I am responsible was over 1200.00!!!!!!
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That's crazy. My husband gets lidocaine injections before some kind of steroid injection (cortisone maybe? I forget.) Both shots - no copay.

Do you have Medicare?
 
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Hey y'all.... so a couple updates/new twists in the life-journey:

I will be working again with my same hospice as previously but on a PRN (as needed) basis-- I'm thinking it will be one weekend and then 3-4 other days a month. I'm happy to be back with a good team, with a computer system with which I'm familiar, and staying in the 'medical loop.'

Still keeping busy with church/choir, volunteering (public library) and looking forward to travel. Possibly Seattle in June (?)

Added to the mix now, though, is stepping up my help for my daughter with the grandgirls. For various reasons, one of which is summer when the girls are out of school and require a baby sitter for a full day, it is a HUGE drain on my daughter's finances, prohibitively so. Also, having seen the continuing stress she's under, I just can't keep the status quo.

Maybe some of this will involve a play group for my younger granddaughter for part of the day. I'm looking into all the options. I will take one week/day at a time.
 

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