2011 was a crazy year. On October 20th, 2011, I left a job in management that I'd had for almost 19 years. The job had turned into something that didn't fit me anymore, and it was time to move on. I had not been unemployed since 1987 (high school!), and it was a very wierd feeling to simply wake up and stay home.
I am Blessed to have an amazingly supportive husband who is supporting me through this "breathing" stage. Some say mid-life. Some say "retirement". For me, it's just a change of direction. Something I never would have expected of myself.
I was "a lifer" at work. Someone who was completely invested in the company, and who would continue to climb the corporate ladder right up to retirement. It had been my first job after college, and if I'd retired there, would have put in over 40 years.
While it was sad to leave my friends, and scary to leave a place I'd gone to for 19 years, I'm finding that not knowing is not so bad. I'm still working on a plan for the future. I spent the last two months of 2011 enjoying my family, my home, and the holidays. Now it's time to dig back in.
I don't see myself going back to corporate life. It's just not important to me anymore. I cherish my home, my gardens, being domestic, and taking care of my family. Some would say I'm wasting my talents, degree, and experience. I say I've just wised enough to begin to really enjoy who I am.
I have applied for a sub teaching license, hoping to use that to fill in until I find what I want to do. If that fills my void, becomes enough, then fantastic. If not, I'll keep looking. I'd love to stay part time, rather than go full time. We'll see how that goes.
I am so lucky to be able to do this with my life.
