Wednesday, October 19, 2016

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.

22 comments :

Sillyinvestor said...

LP,

Why is next year a life Changing? Is there a reason to congratulate u already?? ;)

fuzzyview said...

I'm thinking about that one line too! LP took the effort to write a whole long blog entry and that one single line trumps all. LOL! :D

Createwealth8888 said...

Like one year contract staff in my ex company. Some are renewed for another year while others are terminated.

Anonymous said...

lan pa lan pa ccb. lim beh alrdy financial freedom long ago. you wait long long.

la papillion said...

Hi SI,

Yup, having a baby boy soon :) Haha, there's a mix of anxiety and excitement haha

la papillion said...

hi fuzzyview,

LOL! I think pple just look at first and last line :)

la papillion said...

Hi bro8888,

Oh, didn't know they have 1 yr contract staff in your company too. Those are permanent temp staff I suppose.. I think more and more such contract in the future. Keeps the company lean and ready to react to economic situations, but not good for employees. Hard to plan when you don't even know if your job can last x years!

la papillion said...

Hi anonymous,

Or wow, congrats! Not in a hurry for me :)

fuzzyview said...

Congrats then! Be ready to get your life turned upside down (in a fulfilling way)! Oh, and you might wanna enjoy that mini-retirement this year... the next one maybe 20 years later liao :D

la papillion said...

Hi fuzzyview,

Haha, don't scare me!

Singapore Man of Leisure said...

LP,

Congrats!

You must have been "frisky" in small spaces recently ;)


Enjoy you "staycation" in Singapore!

la papillion said...

Hi SMOL,

LOL!

Sillyinvestor said...

Oh nice! LP,

Congrats. Welcome to 2 years BMT, lifetime Ns man

la papillion said...

Hi temperament,

Haha, thanks but I never heard of that song before!

la papillion said...

Hi SI,

Don't scare me! Should be okay bah :)

Sanye ◎ 三页 said...

Hi LP,

Congratulation! The joy a child brings to the family is priceless.

la papillion said...

Hi sanye,

Thank you :) Another milestone in life :)

la papillion said...

Hi temperament,

Won't forget :)

CreateWealth8888 said...

Good news is that now you have opportunity to upgrade your financial management skills. :-)

la papillion said...

Hi temperament,

I've heard of this song somehow, maybe from SMOL's blog or something. It's very familiar. But thanks for recommending it, it's very good!

Unintelligent Nerd said...

Congrats LP! :D

la papillion said...

HI unintelligent nerd,

Thanks bro :)