Retirement Start

     Today is Thursday, August 3, 2017 and it is my third week of retirement from DNR.  I really consider it my first week because two weeks ago we were preparing for vacation and last week we were on vacation.  This week was the first week when in prior years I would be working instead of writing this post.

     I was counseled by many people about retirement being the best thing ever.  I have no doubt retirement is a good thing but no one warned of an adjustment period.

     The beginning of July, I was working 10 hour days to keep up with my work and to get enough of the work completed so someone would not walk into a mess.  The annual emission inventory project for 2016 was completed for the state and the federal government before July 14th, my last day.  

      On Monday, July 31st, there was no DNR work to do.  I did not have to interact with a DNR computer or fellow DNR employees.  It was as if someone placed a wall in front of me and I could no longer pass through the wall.  My dreams were still about work. My body still woke up anticipating going to work.  But I did not have to go to work.  The wall was there blocking me from doing the work I had done for decades. It was a weird feeling.

     I now have extra time, 40 to 50  hours a week.  I am tired after coming back from work.  I can read a book.  I can bike.  I can do many things in which I never had time to do before.

     It is a weird feeling and as I get more into retirement I hope it this weird feeling will fade.