My retirement comes annually

As my work winds down for the seasonal lull, I suddenly have a lot more free time. To the point that I don't know what to do with my time. I'm very used to working 6 to 8 hours of class time on weekdays (not inclusive of preparatory/marking time), so suddenly having only 2 hrs of work or even none takes a little getting used to. Again.


Every year end, I'll face the same situation of getting 'retrenched'. Every year end, I'll get my little experience of having retired and/or having reached financial freedom. It's the same feeling, that I've did what I had done and now I can finally have my life again. It's also invariably mixed in with the fear and worry that my money might run out, and that next year perhaps my earnings might not be better than this year or the last.


But not yet. For the next 2 to 4 weeks, I'll be having my honeymoon period. It's the period where the stress and worry haven't hit me yet and that all I can think of is the free extra time that I will have. I had dim sum lunch with my wife at 2pm and that stretched on with some shopping and tea to about 430 pm. After that, I read and took a nap until 7pm before I went out to have dinner together. At least for the next couple of months, I don't have to worry about rushing. In fact, I can stop looking at the time and let it pass while I enjoy these quiet moments. Try it. It's a different feeling when you have an agenda for the day versus one where you just get to do what you like when you feel like it. It's the same difference between a free and easy holiday versus a scheduled travel agency kind of holiday. It's the honeymoon period, of course.


I've worked pretty hard for this year - in fact, the hardest I've ever worked in my life! I've saved up with more than enough buffer for the winter months and I don't have to worry so much. But I still do. I guess even when I've reached financial freedom and truly have the option not to work, chances are that I'll still work a little. I don't have the climbing down mountain mentality yet, so perhaps this will change as I grow older. We'll see.


Next year is going to be a life changing year. Let's see how I'm going to navigate through this.