Even though I’m retired from my paying job, the work of my new life as a writer continues, even on a road trip holiday! You know (if you follow this blog) that I come from a military family. My book Camp Follower One Army Brat’s Story is all about that kind of family life. So … More Road Trip 2018 : Part 1
What do “holidays” mean when you’re retired? This is my third summer of retirement, and it finally feels like I need a holiday again! The first summer off just felt like ordinary holidays – travel, rest, drink and eat in restaurants, see tourist sites. The second summer was more of the same but included my … More July – Holidays Month, Retired or Not!
Deadlines, appointments, commitments. Project plans, hours at a desk, phone calls. Invoices, emails, follow-ups. I thought I was retired! Two years now, retired from my paying career in IT. But my suspicion that life is life, people are people, at a paying job or not, is playing out. We are who we are – always … More Retired: End Year 2. Year 3 Writer Begins.
Originially published on kobowritinglife.com, May 14, 2018: We define ourselves in various ways, depending on time, mood, inclination. Many of our identities are stable throughout life. I am a woman. I am a forever army brat. I am a reader. I am an athlete. Other roles become part of us over time, growing and evolving … More Kobo Writing Life Featured Blog
As a former Army brat, then Air Force wife, I was often accused in my “real world” working-mom-life of being overly-regimented, organized, scheduled. Always on time. Planned ahead. Herder of cats. True, I did pride myself on always having a plan, goals, methods and procedures. I could look ahead to consequences. Was this the result … More Retirement : Lessons in Progress
More insights that I could not have imagined while working for a paycheque, taking my youth for granted. Money versus Health? Health. Money represents what we want, what will make us happy, what we strive for in youth. With age, we are happy getting out of bed without a new ache in our back. With … More More Retirement Lessons
The Olympics are on! I never think I’ll get so excited, but have already started recording and adjusting my sleep and TV watching time to follow them. And I realized, again, that I have more life lessons to learn, especially about retirement. Here is another perk about this new phase of life that I’m learning… … More Retirement Lesson from the Olympics
In 2018, I will have been retired for 2 years already! Where does time go? Of course, if you read this blog, you know I spent the first year and a half writing and publishing my first book, a memoir, (see stevieszabad.com/books). But lately, before I get rolling on my next writing idea (novel? what … More Retired? Year 2. Surprises
“What DO you do?” “What do you do?” Polite enough question to start a first acquaintance chit-chat. It soon becomes: “What do you do all day?”, once you mention you’re retired. Like everyone else when I was working full-time, I’d smirk at the usual reply of, “Oh, I’m busier than ever! I don’t know how … More Retired? What do you do all day?
Stevie Szabad, Author 