ROTHENBURGER – Retirement is OK, after work and on weekends
There’s more to retirement than taking the dog for a walk. (Image: CFJC)
RETIREMENT is hard work.
Five years ago I wrote a column on my first day of official retirement. I reflected on what it was like not going to work that day, attending to all the details of putting out a daily newspaper.
Back then, I wasn’t sure what to expect from retirement but I wasn’t worried. I had a lot of other things on the go, things that would more than fill up my day.
That’s not the way you should think about retirement, of course — finding things to fill up your day. It should be about finally being able to do what you want.
The problem is, when your work is also your passion and your hobby, it’s not so easy to focus entirely on your golf game, or the garden, or baking a perfect loaf of bread.
Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops, former school board chair, former editor of The Kamloops Daily News, and a current director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He was awarded the Jack Webster Foundation’s lifetime achievement award in 2011. His editorials are published Monday through Thursdays, and Saturdays on CFJC Today, CFJC Midday and CFJC Evening News. Contact him at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Thanks for this article Mel. It just reinforces I’m going to retire at 101! Jaromír Jágr (45) is still going strong with the Flames. Warren Buffet (87) shown no signs of slowing down, Clint Eastwood (87) is still active. They all have more wealth than they know what to do with. I don’t see see anyone going up to saying “say Mr. Yager, you’ve just come off a $3.5 million contract with Florida , you really don’t need to be playning hockey y’know” They’re all following their passion and know why they get up in the morning!
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Though you must admit you do have a lot of time on your hands to think and write…and personally I often enjoy the results. However there are time when perhaps a little extra-ordinary hobby could be beneficial. Like spending a little more quality time with your ex-RCMP friend and slowly but surely instill a little usefulness into his retirement. This is of course a comment in the tongue&cheeks category so no need to edit it…hopefully!
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Oh, and don’t let me forget…I like the title of the article…retirement is ok after work and on weekends…for me is more like after work and in the winter(-:
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