It's Official! I'm Retiring!

Finally, finally, all the pieces seem to have come together: Several years after the death of my co-tenant-in-common, I reached a deal with his estate and got a loan to buy the rest of the building, got moved downstairs, renovated the upstairs to a fare-thee-well, and have finally leased it. For months, I have been promising myself and warning my co-workers that I'd set my retirement date as soon as I signed a lease on the upstairs flat, and I'm a woman of my word.

I have officially informed my boss that my last day will be December 24 and have applied to have one of my pensions and my retiree health benefits start as of January 1 (1/1/11 - quite an auspicious date).

I've already started to fill in some of the blank places on my social calendar. I've acquired a leading role in a one-act musical comedy that is to be staged next March. I just bought a series of 20 yoga classes for $1 apiece, and signed up for a meditation retreat in two weeks. And, of course, I've got plenty of community organizing work to keep me out of mischief.

Look out, world-outside-of-work, here I come!