It's not so much retiring as running away

I’ve decided that all my retirement planning is not so much because I want to not work but because…. I’d like to be able to just drop all my responsibilities and run away. In fact, I’ll likely always work at something. Sometimes folks who are retired work harder at volunteering, hobbies or second careers than they did their first job. I can’t imagine not working and it’s a different dynamic to be choosing your hours, projects or even type of career. Work only gets called work when it’s not as much fun as a hobby anymore. I’m pasting this funny sent by my birthday twin - it’s one of those warnings you receive about the latest computer virus etc. and looked legit for a moment:

There is a dangerous virus being passed around electronically, orally and by hand.
This virus is called Worm-Overload-Recreational-Killer (WORK).
If you receive WORK from any of your colleagues, your boss, or anyone else via any means DO NOT TOUCH IT.

This virus will wipe out your private life completely.
If you should come into contact with WORK, put your jacket on and take two good friends to the nearest liquor store.
Purchase the antidote known as Work-Isolating-Neutralizer-Extract (WINE) or Bothersome-Employer-Elimination-Rebooter (BEER). Take the Antidote repeatedly until WORK has been completely eliminated from your system.

You should forward this warning to 5 friends. If you do not have 5 friends, you have already been infected and WORK is controlling your life

Now the running away isn’t even a reasonable thought at this point but disguised in the form of retirement planning, it becomes socially acceptable. In fact more than acceptable, socially responsible if you’re planning on giving something back to the planet and it’s people. So, how to be admired while plotting your release - not a bad gig eh?

The escape planning this week takes the form of a writing workshop on Tuesday at Dalhousie. It’s called Writing as a Profession: How to Get Published and Survive as an Author / Professional Development Workshops for Writers in all Phases of Their Career. So you can clearly see that I was sold by the title, that and the fact that the $45 registration included lunch and I have time in lieu to use up - it was meant to be. Tim has suggested that he’ll tag along (Driving Miss Daisy we’ve called it in the past) for the day to run errands and we’ll go out for supper. So, only have to work one day, then a little me-time and then wrap up the remaining three days and it’s another weekend. Doesn’t get any better than that! Even if I’m still scheming.