I can empathise with Jean Michel. I feel/felt exactly the same, although things are getting better. I don’t for a minute think that my decision to take early retirement wasn’t anything but the right decision, but it guess I wasn’t able to replace my work with a retirement activity which was ‘equivalent’, in that it still required mental challenge, but different. It does get easier.
Bon courage to you both.
Rosemary Kneipp
January 19th, 2015 at 5:08 pm
Thank you Gaynorb. It’s reassuring to know it gets easier. He, too, doesn’t regret retirement – he was just totally unprepared!
Superb post, Rosemary — so interesting and well-explained. Love your Friday French!
Cheers and bonne retraite.
Rosemary Kneipp
January 19th, 2015 at 5:08 pm
Glad you enjoy my Friday French! Language is such fun.
Gara in Sydney
January 16th, 2015 at 9:53 pm
Interesting explanation, thanks Rosemary. Now I wonder why a certain type of accommodation I have used in France is called a ‘pension’, must look up the origin.
Re JM – I have found men have more trouble adjusting to retirement than women, who in the main seem more resourceful. During the years of ‘going to work’ one has a defined role, and when that has gone it’s normal to flounder somewhat. I certainly missed the daily social contact with my colleagues. Also, moving to a different city probably affects the situation – it’s a whole new daily life to adjust to. Good luck!
Rosemary Kneipp
January 19th, 2015 at 5:16 pm
Hi Gara, pension (pensione in Italian) comes from the Latin pensio, pensionis, itself derived from peser meaning to weigh a metal for payment. In 1315 it was used to designate the money (argent or silver) paid annually to a prince, a State or person as wages, which led to the idea of money given for food and board. A pension is therefore a place where you are given food and board as opposed to a hotel where you don’t have to take your meals.
Thank you for your thoughts on retirement and a “defined role”. It’s definitely the problem JM is having. His role is no longer defined by his work so he has to find another role. It’s certainly getting better and he is now realising that his wife is not the problem!
I can empathise with Jean Michel. I feel/felt exactly the same, although things are getting better. I don’t for a minute think that my decision to take early retirement wasn’t anything but the right decision, but it guess I wasn’t able to replace my work with a retirement activity which was ‘equivalent’, in that it still required mental challenge, but different. It does get easier.
Bon courage to you both.
Thank you Gaynorb. It’s reassuring to know it gets easier. He, too, doesn’t regret retirement – he was just totally unprepared!
Superb post, Rosemary — so interesting and well-explained. Love your Friday French!
Cheers and bonne retraite.
Glad you enjoy my Friday French! Language is such fun.
Interesting explanation, thanks Rosemary. Now I wonder why a certain type of accommodation I have used in France is called a ‘pension’, must look up the origin.
Re JM – I have found men have more trouble adjusting to retirement than women, who in the main seem more resourceful. During the years of ‘going to work’ one has a defined role, and when that has gone it’s normal to flounder somewhat. I certainly missed the daily social contact with my colleagues. Also, moving to a different city probably affects the situation – it’s a whole new daily life to adjust to. Good luck!
Hi Gara, pension (pensione in Italian) comes from the Latin pensio, pensionis, itself derived from peser meaning to weigh a metal for payment. In 1315 it was used to designate the money (argent or silver) paid annually to a prince, a State or person as wages, which led to the idea of money given for food and board. A pension is therefore a place where you are given food and board as opposed to a hotel where you don’t have to take your meals.
Thank you for your thoughts on retirement and a “defined role”. It’s definitely the problem JM is having. His role is no longer defined by his work so he has to find another role. It’s certainly getting better and he is now realising that his wife is not the problem!
I imagine it’ll take time to adjust. Some sort of mental exercise, something to keep himself occupied and challenged, can help.