What "Retirement" Really Means

​Listen, I may be retired but that doesn't mean I sit around watching I Love Lucy reruns and missing the days when I was relevant. When people ask me what I do for a living, I usually reply, "I'm a writer."  That works most of the time. But, if I'm filling out an "official" form, more often than not I have to check the "Retired" box under "Occupation."  Then the person reviewing the form looks at it, looks up at me, and says one of two things.  Either it's "You look young to be retired" or "Good for you. I wish I could stop working."

So, let's get this straight right now.  I'm retired from a 30+ year career in Corporate America.  I did not "stop working!"

I write at least 1,500 words a day, primarily on my new novel.  I recently topped 80,000 words and I'm still going strong. I'm also working with my wife Helene on our amazing podcast, "Legacy - A Novel Writing Experience," putting out a new episode every two weeks.  I also work twice at week for The Knight School, a company that partners with schools to teach chess to kids in a new and exciting way.  I also teach a writing class at a local adult school.  I also visit middle schools throughout the area, conducting writing workshops and giving presentations on an author's life. I also manage a thriving writing career, with a new book called "TORQ" coming out in just a few weeks. I also manage, edit, and publish Allegory (www.allegoryezine.com), a well-respected online magazine that, for the past twenty years, has published quality short fiction by new and established authors from around the world.

Oh, and I occasionally play Candy Crush.  Shut up.

The point is that, and Helene (who is also retired) will back up on this, I'm busier now than I was when I worked a "day job."  The difference is that, for the first time in my life, I'm working exclusively at what I love.

And that, my friends, is the real blessing of retirement. You don't stop working, at least not if you're smart about it. I'd shrivel up and die if I simply sat on the couch and watched television all day.  No, for me at least, retirement means redirecting your energies toward the projects you really care about.  My life has never been busier, more exciting, or more relevant than it is right now.

That said ... yes, I do look too young to be retired!