mental-health – The Yuppie Homesteader

An accidental retirement?

The backspace key on my computer has come off. I guess there really is no turning back and I must retire. 😊 Seriously, though, the computer is only two years old and I have to depreciate it over three years so I absolutely refuse to buy another one when this one isn’t fully depreciated. I’mContinue reading “An accidental retirement?”

When less is more…

Lately, I’ve had a bit of a mini-obsession with retirement. In some ways, it mirrors where I am professionally. I’ve long been aware that I have an expiration date on my career. With the rapid advent of AI and my own aging experience, this may also be happening a bit faster than I anticipated. AtContinue reading “When less is more…”

When my forest returns… .

It’s very nearly mid-May and despite an early start to spring, the recent spate of cold weather slowed the march towards the full glory of my forest. At this point, it’s only about 60% filled in. It needs to get to 80% before the hillside behind the house turns to a complete sea of green.Continue reading “When my forest returns… .”

Days go by…

This month is a little bit of a dry run for retirement. With one contract ending at the end of April and the others starting in June, May was always going to be a light month. Right now? I’m scarily enjoying it and worried that it is being frittered away too easily. You just can’tContinue reading “Days go by…”

My whole life.

I saw an adorable snippet of a child explaining quite seriously that he had loved a particular thing “his whole life.” Considering he was about five or six, it was incredibly charming. Still, the phrase was not lost on me. Afterall, what is a whole life? Lately, I’ve been feeling a little bit like I’veContinue reading “My whole life.”

Fresh starts…

At the end of this month, one of my longest running contracts ends. Today? I’m starting all over again. That’s the life of a management consultant and honestly, it has both good and bad elements. The fear of finding work is always real; the opportunity of doing something new, however, is just as real. IContinue reading “Fresh starts…”

Hello, friend.

Time is not my enemy anymore. It took me three solid months to admit it, but time is finally a friend. Not a good friend, mind you. One of those “acquaintance friends” but we are in the early stages right now. I’m hoping we become besties. As I reflect back on my professional life, it’sContinue reading “Hello, friend.”

Getting prepared?

I have this theory that post-retirement life is going to be one big vacation. Evidently, I’m not alone as a quick internet search proves that is the prevailing theory. Then, there is reality. Again, evidently, there are many “phases” to retirement and some aren’t the glorious “vacation” phase I’m looking forward to. Huh? Yep, asContinue reading “Getting prepared?”

Our “what’s next?”

There is a rhythm and Zen to life. Move against it and life can get very hard. Move with it and you can ride those waves to shore. The problem? Well, the rhythm and Zen aren’t always moving in the direction you want or need to go. Sometimes, you’re at fault. Sometimes, it’s simply fate.Continue reading “Our “what’s next?””

Building a life…

The whole point of this blog is about my journey to simple peace. Nearly a decade ago, in a yoga Nidra class, I had to come up with my intention. Not even truly thinking about it, simple peace came to mind. When it did, I realized that I had been coming to this concept forContinue reading “Building a life…”