Joining the ranks of the retired

I am now among the ranks of the retired, albeit at the rather young age of 56, but I was left no choice. Sharp budget cuts resulting in downsizing of staff and shortening of hours resulted in my pretty much having to retire before the year is out. Staying would have doubtless had a negative impact on my pension since it is based on final average salary. However, since I worked in the public sector for 30 years, I had the advantage of being able to retire with a full pension and generous health/vision/dental benefits. I was reaching the point where I was considering leaving anyway, so this was as good a time as any to make my exit and start the next chapter of my life, wherever that will lead. As for going back to work, well, I am done with that aspect of my life. Maybe if I become bored enough, I'll consider getting some kind of part time job, but I've been longing to do so many things that I do not want a job to tie me down from being able to do. I've dreamed of writing a book since I was 10 and now I have the chance to do that. So many other things have been waiting for me to have the time to do them that I am glad to be finished with my working years and moving on to write the next chapter of my life. I'm young, in good health and living with unfulfilled dreams, and having buried many friends my age and younger in recent years, it's made me aware that life is slipping away and that I am getting no younger, and if I am to fulfill my dreams while I still can, then I need to start now before too much more time slips away from me. So it's time to stop dreaming and to start doing. Retirement will give me the long overdue chance to write the second chapter of my life. I have an idea for a book that I want to write that retirement will give me a chance to work on. I'm so looking forward to this next part of my life and what it is going to be like. I think that a well deserved rest after 30 years on the job is in order, as is a chance to reinvent myself and be and do the things that I have longed to do.