After wandering in the wilderness of the rat race I’m Free!
My Change has come! Hallelujah and Thank you Jesus!
Giving All the Honor, Glory and Praise to My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Praise God for bringing me through a long and difficult journey!
Below is the cake my coworkers got me for my retirement last Sunday.
As of today Friday, August 17th I am officially retired from the museum!
Hooray!
No more setting plans or goals. In fact I will probably be going Off Grid for a long time. It’s time to disconnect and withdraw. Walking away is a good thing.
A return to self. A return to the days of the 1960s and 1970s when I was at my happiest and most joyful.
Yesterday was my Last day at the job. Only half the shift. I felt an exhilaration and excitement that I have not felt since 1977 when I graduated from high school and went into the Army. What a great feeling of celebration and a reason to dance!
“Gotta leave that 9-5 up on the Shelf and just enjoy yourself.”
Spring 2018 I will put the 9-9 (my work hours) up on the Shelf permanently. No more answering to merciless bosses and endless hours of overtime trying to make ends meet.
Looking forward to a future with limitless time for myself, my brother Stephen and my true passions in life! More Free time to write, improve my photography skills by taking classes, and Travel!! Sleep anytime and as much as I want! Free to meet up with friends, socialize, join a gym and pursue a fitness program. Free to be Me!!
If your day to day responsibilities were taken care of and you could throw yourself completely behind a cause, what would it be?
I am already an Autism Advocate for my brother Stephen. See link for New York Times article http://nyti.ms/1BktTeP
However if I was financially free, independently wealthy with no other pressing responsibilities like my 9-5 I would devote myself completely and totally to Autism Activism.
In 2013 my brother and I went up to Albany to protest harmful budget cuts for New York State developmentally disabled adults. See the following links:
I would also develop a photography arts program for intellectually challenged adults. My brother Stephen enjoys taking photos and I’m sure other adults with Autism also have a talent and gift for taking photos. All they need is an opportunity and a sponsor.
As I get closer to retirement expanding my support of people with developmental disabilities is high on my list of goals. Giving a voice to those who have no voice gives my life purpose and meaning.
My 54th Birthday this past Feb. 27th turned out to be much better than I had ever wished. I have to admit four years ago when I entered the fifth decade of my life that after the initial thrill of turning the Big 5-0 that if struck me that I had made it to the half century point in my life. Questions posed themselves in my mind as to what that meant to be a woman in her 50s. Then came a time of troubles—health challenges. Commands that my body easily obeyed at 25 seemed to take a hellava lot longer now. Suddenly I had a new “boyfriend” named Arthur Itis. He woke me up in the morning. Followed me around all day long and keep me company at night. In fact he was more attentive than guy I’d ever known. Creaking joints Snapped, Crackled and Popped more than a bowl of Rice Krispies. I qualified for the titled of middle-aged Transformer. However by communicating with Transformers I’ve found ways to lessen the effects of that ill-mannered fellow Arthur and one day I hope to banish him completely from my life in favor a lover who inflicts less physical pain.
A few days after my Birthday I learned that my former company The Reader’s Digest is undergoing a Chapter 11 Reorganization. I received a letter in the mail to this effect which indicated phone numbers to call for more information. I learned will be able to collect my Reader’s Digest pension next year when I turn 55. Also I will be able get my annuity from United Way of New York City. Suddenly getting older is looking better and better each day. Now I’m counting down to February 27, 2014!!
Let’s face it money is a tool that gives us access to more options. Retirement. Once something way off in the distant future is a short five or six years away for me now. Pensions, annuities, retirement, together all mean freedom to pursue my passions, goals, and my deepest heartfelt desires with the means and time to do so. Doing my Happy Dance! Perhaps depending on the amount of money I receive I will be able to stop working full-time and just take a part-time job. More time to engage with my writing, my art, and my photography. More choices. Life rapidly expands to 55 flavors, way more than Baskin-Robbins without the stomach upset!! LOL!! A new confidence has arisen within my soul. Hell yeah!! It’s time for another Tattoo maybe an additional piercing to celebrate this great Victory!!
Fifty-Five is the magic number for pensions, annuities and senior housing. I’m not sure if you knew this but you can apply for Senior Housing in New York City at age 55. I plan on doing this next year. Now all my dreams are doable. I see light at the end of the tunnel. Next year I could actually travel on my vacation instead of staying home. Hallelujah!!
Another blessing in disguise is kind of silly but I’ll share it anyway. I’ve finally gone one entire year without having a menstrual cycle which means I’m now officially in Menopause. No more periods. No babies. No need to use birth control, of course I stopped using birth control years ago, but if I do meet a nice gentleman I no longer have to worry about becoming pregnant! Yeah!! Hip! Hip!! Hooray!! Naturally until I meet the right man I’ll continue to be celibate. Another good thing about being a woman in her 50s is that I’m no longer controlled by my libido or my hormones. I’ve become more selective and celibacy is an option that I will continue to embrace while still finding joy with my physical body and my enhanced sexuality as an older woman.
Financially Free, sexually free with time to engage in meaningful activities and relationships. Being in my 50s does not mean less than but more than ever. An elevation to a higher level of living. A greater share in life’s blessings.
Espiritu en Fuego/A Fiery Spirit 