Practicing for Retirement
How a Career Trucker Practices Doing Nothing Productive
I did something this week that I’ve never done before in my life.
I took a day off from work even though I was scheduled. I called in yesterday and told them I wasn’t coming in, not because I was sick or had to be somewhere, but because I wanted to be home. I turned one day into three and gave myself a long weekend.
I’ve got less than 40 days left before I retire. The weather was going to be gorgeous, and I realized how many times in the past I’d said, “I should’ve taken the day off,” and never did. So this time, I didn’t talk myself out of it.
Today, tomorrow, and Wednesday are mine. I’ll go back for Thursday and Friday, then take another two days off, and suddenly I’ll be even closer to the end of this chapter.
It feels strange, but in a good way. Like I’m finally learning how to slow down before I don’t have to rush anymore.
The plan for today is modest and highly unproductive by trucking standards. I’ll listen to a ham radio net and maybe even check in, because old habits die hard. Then I’ll load up my camera gear and head out to the lake to see if I can find something worth photographing. Missouri isn’t exactly bursting with color right now, mostly shades of brown, but it’s been almost two months since I’ve done any real shooting, so I’m overdue.
After that, I’m meeting my son for lunch at a local pizzeria. I’ll be ordering the salad, because apparently retirement does not cancel the diet. Later, I may head to the gym for a light workout, followed by what will likely be the most radical act of the day: reading a book.
Nothing flashy. Just radio, photography, lunch with my kid, a little exercise, and some quiet time. This, I’m learning, is how truck drivers retire, by goofing off with discipline, intention, and extreme prejudice.
Take care,
George