We are asking our retired clients to share their experiences as inspiration for those of you approaching retirement. Here is Joanne’s experience of finding new activities in retirement.
“When I was looking at setting a date for retirement, I needed to sort out a transition plan. I was moving from working full time to not working. I needed to make sure things were in order so that I could successfully do this.
I knew that my finances were in order because of the input from Kelley and Stephen and I knew my legal papers had all been completed so those items were done, but I needed to look at the activities that I could do.
“I needed to look at the activities that I could do”
I had lots of things that I could do in terms of crafts at home that would keep me busy forever. I could travel and I could golf, but those are time limited. So I needed to look at other things that would keep me busy and would get me out to meet new people.
“What I decided to do is to start running.”
What I decided to do is to start running. I took a learn to run class in the summer prior to my retirement. I persevered through that, meeting some new people, had a lot of support from my family and my coworkers at the time to keep on running. I completed that course, did the race, and another one at the end of the year.
One of the participants from the learn to run class got a hold of me the following winter and asked if I would join her in a 5k clinic. I did that and I’ve since taken the 5k, the 10k, and done a number of races.
“I’ve since taken the 5k, the 10k, and done a number of races.”
I’ve met a lot of people running and have actually developed a small group of people who run like I do, who are slower paced, who are out there just to keep active.
It’s not easy, it’s not something I’ll do by myself. I take my dog with me when we do run. And we set our own pace and our own distances now just to keep going. It’s interesting, it’s nice to have met a very different group of people.
I’m very glad that I did it and I hope to carry on doing my running. It’s one of those many things that keep me active. It’s got me back into swimming and back on the bike, and keeps me very active and happy in my retirement.”
“…and keeps me very active and happy in my retirement.”
– Joanne, Retired Registered Nurse