But it's odd, there's still a small part of me that thinks that such shameless self-indulgence is somehow wrong, that I should be doing something more productive, or worthwhile, or useful, or generally for the good of society.
Why do I think that? There are millions of people out there doing productive or worthwhile things, and there's no need for me to join them.
After all, I did paid work for the best part of 53 years, not retiring till I was 71, so surely I've done quite enough to qualify as an upstanding, respectable citizen, and in no way a workshy layabout or couch potato. Haven't I earnt my retirement?
But clearly there's a part of me that still isn't comfortable with pottering about the house following one trivial pursuit after another. Somewhere in my mind there's a residual hankering for an authority figure to help me on my way and organise my life.
Where does this strange impulse come from? Have I been too embedded in the Protestant Work Ethic to dismiss it all of a sudden and go my own way? Do I feel that if other people are doing productive things then it's not fair that I'm swanning around doing exactly what I please?
I'll get back to you on that one - once I've finished this sudoku.
I worked independently....I don't think I could have coped with having a boss....and loved it. I had to give it up to care for my husband and while I know that that is worthwhile, etc., I still think I should be doing something more. I volunteered at the local college for a while, but then 'care' took up that time...so, yes, Protestant work ethic I suppose it is.
ReplyDeleteHelen: Yes, it's that nagging feeling of "not contributing enough". Will it ever go away?
DeleteI do think that there is some guilt in having free time, though I’m not sure where it originates.
ReplyDeleteBijoux: It's weird, isn't it? Just doing my thing seems to leave something lacking.
DeleteI believe we all do what makes us feel happy, Nick. I still work a little, mainly to keep my brain from frying out and with some kind of purpose (and a few extra $$$). I also volunteer in a few capacities, seniors in poverty, addiction, a Covid website, etc. But like you, I putter and love that part of my life, the lovely aimlessness. Celebrate yourself Nick!
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
www: You certainly keep yourself busy! I'd quite like to volunteer, but unless it's something I'm really passionate about, it would just be so much passing the time.
DeleteI guess I have a "been there, done that" mentality. Now it's my time to not do things I no longer want to do. I still volunteer a bit online but I mostly read and play games with occasional housework thrown in.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Linda: I spend a lot of time reading and playing games. Also listening to music and writing book reviews.
DeleteNick, you know already that Saïd my husband and myself are doing many things in opening our home and helping persons who are not as fortunate as we are. and we consider it as a normal way for us , we give back what our families once received and survived. But I really think that nobody should feel guilty . We are all so different and have not to judge others respectable lifes.
ReplyDeleteHannah
Ps. I'm not sure what I wrote is very clear, but I feel a bit tired tonight.
Hannah: Absolutely. Different strokes for different folks, as they say. Your comment is very clear.
DeleteI'm eighty years old and cannot quit working, though it is a much smaller occupation than when I worked for a real living.
ReplyDeleteJoanne: Yes, you still work pretty hard at your chosen occupation!
DeleteProtestant work ethic!
ReplyDeleteI was talking to a friend last week who is interested in a 4 day week but couldn't possibly just watch TV on the 5th.
It boggles my mind
Kylie: There are plenty of other things to do on the 5th, if you have some imagination and curiosity.
DeleteShe has plenty of things to do but hasn't decided what she prefers so goes to work as the default
DeleteKylie: I suspect she'll end up working indefinitely!
DeleteIt's a scam fueled by indoctrination. Nobody naturally thinks of toil as a virtue in and of itself. Children are brought up to feel that way because they live in a culture that feels that way, which is ultimately shaped by the parasitic oligarchy of wealth that benefits from the prevalence of such attitude among their serfs.
ReplyDeleteWork is at best an unpleasant necessity. And yes, it is indeed a necessity -- the stuff people need and want needs to get produced -- but it's not sane to aspire to drudgery when you have no financial need for it.
Every advanced civilization used to have a class of people whose lives were focused entirely on work and being productive for others. These people were called "slaves". No one considered their situation to be enviable or even particularly virtuous.
Infidel: I wouldn't be as sweeping as that about work. Many people enjoy their work and feel their work is beneficial to others (nurses, doctors, bus drivers, writers, singers etc). What's wrong is when people are expected to be working and if you aren't working, that's a bit anti-social.
DeleteYou HAVE earned the right to retire without guilt. What I have learned in retirement is that productivity is overrated.
ReplyDeleteColette: Thank you! As you say, productivity is vastly overrated and mainly a concept to make unproductive workers feel guilty.
DeleteBeatrice says "Nick, my husband and myself have been enjoying retirement for over 20 years and feel that it's the best non-job we have ever had. We do not have any guilt as we both started working at early ages and when the time came to not work any more, we gladly accepted the option."
ReplyDeleteBeatrice: You must be very well off if you've managed to be retired for 20 years!
DeleteI am just like that. I was thinking about it only this morning. The need to be doing useful things, beating myself up for being lazy i.e. relaxing. In my case I was a housewife for most of my life so this idea that I didn't earn my keep so I should keep on is strong.
ReplyDeleteLiz: Being a housewife is very demanding job, and raising children certainly qualifies as productive. No need to beat yourself up!
DeleteAfter doing something for so long it's hard to retire and be doing other things but you earned it.
ReplyDeleteMary: I'm sure I've earned it, but a little part of me disagrees!
DeleteMaybe go for long nice walks (which make you feel like you've been busy), or volunteer in your local court to help people or something like that.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your retirement.
I'm studying for exams! :)
Liam: I go for nice long walks all the time, but not so I can feel busy, just because I enjoy wandering round the neighbourhood.
Delete