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This is one of my co-workers last day. She's been here 19 years. And this is it. She's not retiring, just quiting to pursue other avenues. To say I'm jealous would be an understatement. I'm green with envy. I probably look like that dragon.
It got me thinking about doing the same thing. I have a small pension that might last a few years if I'm careful. I could move into public housing with little or no rent and no utilities to pay. But, then I got to thinking about health insurance, car insurance, renters insurance. Damn insurance.
What would I do with all that time? Write, write, write. I could develop my voice. I could self publish. I could take creative writing classes. The possibilities when time is not an issue seem endless.
Instead, I'm bidding farewell to a friend and day dreaming of a time I can follow in her footsteps.
What would you do if you had the time?
Not to be a naysayer, but I disagree. If you had a ton of free time, you probably wouldn't write a lot. Some people do, but I've found that when I had a lot of days off (for snow, or because I was laid off), I just got really lazy. Your sleep schedule gets messed up and all your good intentions go out the window. I've always said if I won a large lottery, I'd quit my job, but I'd have to volunteer somewhere just so I'd get out of bed.
ReplyDeleteOf course, some people DO quit their jobs specifically to write. I'd love that, but I see me cruising the internet all day instead of actually writing. It's a conundrum.
I think I might waste a few weeks at first, but then I think I could figure out a schedule of some sort. Now, after working all day, I'm too pooped to write much in my spare time.
DeleteIt's hard when a coworker leaves like that, but good that it gets you to thinking of options. We have to meet the bills, yes, but when we've worked all our lives, there comes a time to look forward to relaxing a bit. Hope you can soon.
ReplyDeleteMe too! I may just take the leap and trust the universe.
DeleteI have a friend who did leave her job to make time to write. She ended up taking on more and more volunteer responsibilities until she was working as much or more than she did before, just without any pay. Not that YOU would ever let yourself get bogged down by volunteering for things. :)
ReplyDeleteYea, I'm not much of a volunteer. ;-0
DeleteWe're very grateful that you are!
DeleteWrite! Garden. Write! Read. Write. I'm thinking of doing that at the end of May. No more teaching and fussing over lesson plans. I'm part time now anyway. The money and insurance scares me too. I've a few months to make sure then I'll jump in feet first or keep on keepin' on. Good luck to you.
ReplyDeleteSounds great except for the garden part. I have a black thumb.
DeleteI daydream of being able to leave the day job to pursue writing full time, but insurance is always an issue.
ReplyDeleteDon't you just hate insurance. It is a rip-off disguised as a necessity.
DeleteI am so there. I'm tired of watching other people with no ambition and no desire to be anything but a leach sit around all day and do nothing. I have so many things I want to do and no time or energy left at the end of the day.
ReplyDeleteThe insurance demon poked me awake too.
Dixie, I'm so with you. I've been so depressed since she left. I keep trying to work the numbers to see if I could do it.
Delete