Retirement

[Sara]

I can be utterly engaged in something as simple as a rock in the woods

I'm the same... seeing the universal in the particular. Today it was a few colourful rocks, and the way the water glistened on them, which kept me fascinated for an hour or so.

[AcrossThePondAsh]

I'm the same... seeing the universal in the particular. Today it was a few colourful rocks, and the way the water glistened on them, which kept me fascinated for an hour or so.

Couldn't have said it better myself, Sara. Glad you were able to see some of the "universal in the particular" on your trip

For whatever reason, stone, rock, boulders, etc. have always been special to me. It's a love my wife and I share and is one of the reasons we moved to the Appalachian mountains. In fact, my MFA thesis was actually titled, Speaking in Stones. Moss, bubbling brooks, and trees are close seconds.

[Sara]

Couldn't have said it better myself, Sara. Glad you were able to see some of the "universal in the particular" on your trip

For whatever reason, stone, rock, boulders, etc. have always been special to me. It's a love my wife and I share and is one of the reasons we moved to the Appalachian mountains. In fact, my MFA thesis was actually titled, Speaking in Stones. Moss, bubbling brooks, and trees are close seconds.

I have another collection of beach stones to take home. Trees, water, stones, the wind in the grass... all have something to tell us.

[Sean_Nile]

[Jammy 07]

The simple fact is that over the last 60 years the earth’s population has increased to roughly 8 billion in 2023 and is forecast to keep increasing by roughly a billion every 12 years or so.

Without wishing to get political, or into a climate change debate surely this is all going to end in tears at some point given how as humans we’ve currently consuming and destroying so much of our planet’s resources and beauty.

Anyway enough doom and gloom, I’m going to look at the mud patch in the garden that sometimes masquerades as a lawn and find its inner beauty.

[CUSSIE01]

Great response from everyone to this thread. I’ve learned more about the posters on here in a week than I have since I joined. Lots of good advice on how to manage the transition from working to retiring and staying sane and healthy so time to take the plunge. Also good to see people connecting over different interests and hope this continues on here.

[Lufcheidi]

Great response from everyone to this thread. I’ve learned more about the posters on here in a week than I have since I joined. Lots of good advice on how to manage the transition from working to retiring and staying sane and healthy so time to take the plunge. Also good to see people connecting over different interests and hope this continues on here.

Good luck and definitely make the most of things as you never know what is around the corner.

[Kennyb41]

The human race - Masters of our own downfall.

[Aussieleeds]

59. 15 years in the RAAF then another 10 in the defence industry. Since then been part owner of a small tender writing consultancy company with a couple of guys I joined the RAAF with. Planning to finish up in 18 months when our photo copier lease is up - can’t be arsed renewing it.
Looking forward to doing a loop of Australia, a few overseas trips (a match at Elland Road) then motorcycling, fishing and collecting old stuff. Like seeing old bands too (btw just saw ‘From the Jam’ last week - Bruce Foxton from The Jam still going).

[whiteswan]

...and to this day, still no idea what caused it, Swannie? Wow Talk about scary!

Definitely agree with this last bit. Good advice

Not really Ash. Its thought a physical trauma might have caused it. He did wrench his arm which caused him to almost pass out with the pain a few days before.....but really they have no idea. He's been diagnosed with 'Functional Neurological Disorder' which I think is an umbrella for something they can't get to the bottom of.

[whiteswan]

Jesus H Christ Swannie that must have been scary for both of you.
I had no idea.
Glad to hear he made a recovery of sorts although not complete.

Very scary Chilli. But when it happened we just thought trapped nerve. We didn't think we'd still be living with the symptoms 2 years on.
Lee was discharged from hospital without a follow up or physio appt as well. Eventually we managed to get a physio appt but it was the wrong type of physiotherapist. We needed a neurological one so we had a home physio privately. We had to do some hard work to get a follow up consultant appt as well which we eventually did, when the FND 'diagnosis' was given to us.

[AcrossThePondAsh]

Not really Ash. Its thought a physical trauma might have caused it. He did wrench his arm which caused him to almost pass out with the pain a few days before.....but really they have no idea. He's been diagnosed with 'Functional Neurological Disorder' which I think is an umbrella for something they can't get to the bottom of.

As if the physical aspect wasn't enough to deal with, Swannie, I can only imagine how much the "not knowing" must have weighed, and continues to weigh, on you both.

That does sound like a kind of "catch-all" classification. Not sure how it is there, but my own veterinarian and doctor both use the term "idiosyncratic" when they don't have a clear answer. Hate the word as it becomes more about symptom management than getting at the root cause. Sure hope he continues to do well and improve.

[whiteswan]

As if the physical aspect wasn't enough to deal with, Swannie, I can only imagine how much the "not knowing" must have weighed, and continues to weigh, on you both.

That does sound like a kind of "catch-all" classification. Not sure how it is there, but my own veterinarian and doctor both use the term "idiosyncratic" when they don't have a clear answer. Hate the word as it becomes more about symptom management than getting at the root cause. Sure hope he continues to do well and improve.

Thanks Ash

[Orange Box]

You're welcome, OB. I appreciate you taking the time to look them over. I've always been overly fascinated by the "thingness of things"--in fact, it's probably the trait my wife finds both most-endearing and terrifying at the same time. I can be utterly engaged in something as simple as a rock in the woods but I unfortunately am also a a little too easily distracted when driving through the mountains on the parkway

I've written the odd short story or two, but poetry is definitely more my thing. However, fiction is my preference when reading. I'm glad you've got more time for your writing now, especially since you seem to get so much joy from it. There are some great places doing things with self-publishing now if you ever want to take the leap. Also, if ever care to share any of your work, I'm always more than happy to take a look.

Sorry for the delay in responding, Ash. I’ve been busy at home and totally ignored the forum for a good number of days. Your poetry, to me, (as a “bloke”, who doesn’t like poetry), paints a scene I can sit in, and ponder, and look around. Normally I rush reading poems, like it’s a chore, as if I’m being forced to read it, as I was at school.
I especially enjoyed the rural ones; the barbed wire particularly. I live in a farming area so this resonates with me. Thank you for sharing. Maybe one day, when I feel more in love with my own work, I’ll reciprocate.

Enough brown nosing.

[AcrossThePondAsh]

Sorry for the delay in responding, Ash. I’ve been busy at home and totally ignored the forum for a good number of days. Your poetry, to me, (as a “bloke”, who doesn’t like poetry), paints a scene I can sit in, and ponder, and look around. Normally I rush reading poems, like it’s a chore, as if I’m being forced to read it, as I was at school.
I especially enjoyed the rural ones; the barbed wire particularly. I live in a farming area so this resonates with me. Thank you for sharing. Maybe one day, when I feel more in love with my own work, I’ll reciprocate.

Enough brown nosing.

No need to apologize, OB--sometimes it's good to take a break

I appreciate you taking a look and letting me know what you think. I'm glad you enjoyed them. Anytime you'd like, I'm more than happy to return the favor.

Also, are you sure there's not a poet lurking inside of you? I couldn't have said this better myself: "...paints a scene I can sit it, and ponder, and look around." This is the kind of poetry I like to read and it's the same feel I go for in my own writing, which often comes from moments, real or imagined, that I've "sat" in myself.

[CUSSIE01]

Sorry for the delay in responding, Ash. I’ve been busy at home and totally ignored the forum for a good number of days. Your poetry, to me, (as a “bloke”, who doesn’t like poetry), paints a scene I can sit in, and ponder, and look around. Normally I rush reading poems, like it’s a chore, as if I’m being forced to read it, as I was at school.
I especially enjoyed the rural ones; the barbed wire particularly. I live in a farming area so this resonates with me. Thank you for sharing. Maybe one day, when I feel more in love with my own work, I’ll reciprocate.

Enough brown nosing.

You’ve sold it OB, gonna have a read. I know absolutely nothing about poetry but always liked Yeats, something about The Stolen Child strikes a chord somewhere. The Waterboys did a version on The Fisherman’s Blues album with the speaking part done by Tomas Mac Eoin. One of my favourite Waterboys tracks and worth a listen.

[AcrossThePondAsh]

You’ve sold it OB, gonna have a read. I know absolutely nothing about poetry but always liked Yeats, something about The Stolen Child strikes a chord somewhere. The Waterboys did a version on The Fisherman’s Blues album with the speaking part done by Tomas Mac Eoin. One of my favourite Waterboys tracks and worth a listen.

Well then, that's me having to give OB a cut as my PR man--I'm afraid he'll be sorely disappointed with his share

[CUSSIE01]

Well then, that's me having to give OB a cut as my PR man--I'm afraid he'll be sorely disappointed with his share

Do I become a shareholder by proxy ?

[AcrossThePondAsh]

Do I become a shareholder by proxy ?

Of course! Let me see, if we calculate at say 7.5% multiply by...oh that's right, absolutely nothing--that should set you up for life

Poetry is definitely not where the big money is.