2025 had its up's and down's to be sure. I travelled around Asia which was awesome and exhausting. I spent time in the Philippines trying to get my home built there which was rewarding....but staying with my relatives there was somewhat restrictive. My home in Rosswood is getting close to completion and spending a few weeks there was great but while it is close to ready it is not quite there.
Then I was finally getting into my retirement groove and my wife decided to get homestay students for four months. Those kids are great but the routine looking after them has been exhausting. Indeed before they came my weight was going down little by little week by week and I felt myself getting stronger going to the gym 3 days a week.
After the kids? I've gained 10kg in 4 months and my routine has been destroyed. However, things change soon. I have 4 shifts left at work and I have 7 days, 20 hours until the homestay students return home. My youngest son turns 20 the very next day and two days later...I'm off the Philippines and Indonesia for two months. Then Unity, Saskatchewan for two weeks. Rosswood for a month or two.
and a brand new lifestyle
All going according to plan
I'll be talking to my employer in the next week and one of two things will happen. My employer will pay my license fee and I'll work two days a month which is pretty much retired. Or my employer will decline to pay my license fee and I'll give up being a pharmacist and fully retire.
I may not retire rich but I'll retire with enough and that is good enough for me.
Many people are just tired of their job and they retire.... then they have no idea what to do with themself. They hang around the house going.... now what?
I really really don't want that to be me. I'm really looking forward to going to the gym. I'm looking forward to working on my land and growing trees, planting vegetables, and making trails. I'm looking forward to reading my bible daily and praying regularly. I'm looking forward to travelling, hiking, swimming and even takin evening classes. I'm looking forward to volunteering with the church. I'm looking forward to taking Escrima lessons and Tai-Chi lessons (providing I can find a good and not too expensive teacher). I look forward to working on the Great Little Dragons community on Hive.
I'm excited about the future and as I realistically only have 20 years of life left if I'm lucky I want to make the most of it!
But there is one thing that is vitally important if it is going to be interesting.
There is one thing about working hard at a career, husband, and father...
.... it leaves little time to meet friends.
There is always something that needs to be done or some commitment that is stealing away my time.
It is sad because now that I'm older making friends will be very challenging. Indeed loneliness is a huge issue for many Canadian seniors. Sure I have my wife. Yes I will enjoy visiting my kids... but a friend network is certainly an important factor in how enjoyable retirement is.
In that respect I hope that when I'm out doing things I can make new friends and meet new people.
Will I be successful? No idea. Probably not as my personality is very introverted and making friends is extremely challenging. However, that doesn't mean I'm not going to try.
Will there be new friends in 2026?
I hope so
... I'll pray to find some.
....... I'll go out and try to meet some
But at the end of the day?
Only time will tell.
But its a new year, a new time in my life, and hopefully an exciting final chapter for the book tha that is my life. Just 7 days, 19 hours 45 minutes left until I follow a new path. Hopefully an awesome one.
