I sat down beside a colleague in reception the other day. He was waiting for someone and I stopped to chat to him before nipping out to get a sandwich.
Him: I’ve only just heard your news.
Me: About my year out of the workforce?
Him: Yes, good for you but why now?
Me [I have to get some kind of pat answer for this]: Well, no one reason in particular, lots of different reasons. [I start to list them]. And finally, I was going to retire at 60 [depressing that I should now have reached the stage of mentioning retirement but so it is] and I thought I could take this year now or later and I thought, I’d rather put in the year at 61 than now.
Him [getting the wrong end of the stick]: Are you really 60?
I have no words lads.
That genuinely made me laugh out loud
Ok I’m just going to say. That conversation sounded like you were telling him you were 60, or about to be. He expressed surprise!
I would also not be happy though.
You should invent an answer for this kind of situation : you are going on a spiritual retreat in Nepal, volunteering in Afghanistan, or biking round the world…
So… are you really not 60?
(Runs away …)
Heather, I did not laugh. Nic, that is no excuse. Viviane, that is excellent advice although possibly too late. Conor, run faster.
Ooof!
Just say you needed a change and didn’t want to go the whole Great Resignation route.
You’ve made me think though, do it while you can enjoy it, who knows what 61 will bring.
Seize the day before you seize up?
Exactly!
Hope you won’t be taking a Gap/Rest _Reinvent_Renew Year off from us too! Your dependent readers!! Although we would want to understand if you did. Also..could it be a compliment? ie no way you look 60?
I plan to keep blogging – always surprised and rather pleased that people keep reading!