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I turned 70 in March 2020. I had not planned to retire. I planned to work less. As a psychotherapist I can work sitting down, people talk to me and give me money. My office was a quaint frame house in an artsy community.
One day a client arrived for couples counseling without his wife. He said she was sick. I asked what she had. He shrugged his shoulders. A few sentences later, "her doctor said she should go to the emergency room."
Does she have COVID? I asked.
"Yes." He said.
"You have to leave." I replied.
That was the last client I saw face to face. Along with the rest of my colleagues, I quickly geared up to do counseling online. So many things to learn! I took a course that was way too technical for me but was recommended. I bought a quieter keyboard (something I read indicated it was a necessity) and moved lamps from around the room to the correct angles around my desktop computer. I decided to not see new clients but to
continue with current clients. March, April, May. I moved out of the office and set up an office at home. I learned what time the recycling people come. My garden flourished. I was enjoying myself. My work hours gradually decreased.
COVID 19 triggered the beginning of retirement but I must have been ready.
Hi @suerose1 thank you do much for stopping by to share your story with us. Good for you! Sounds like you figured out the best setup for you!!! Awesome ๐
Technically I retired just before Covid hit, at mid-December 2019. I'd been planning that for nearly a year, and decided that July not to take any new clients from then on.
What did get "retired" for me due to Covid was a lot of first year retirement plans -- taking an art class, traveling, joining an in person book club, spending time with local friends and even family, eating out, shopping for a dining table, etc.. The early big outbreak in the states happened about a half mile from me, and as soon as that hit the news, I pulled back from as much local shopping as I could, figuring staff at that nursing home were likely to patronize the same stores I usually did, and I didn't want to take any chances. So I probably distanced more than needed, but I have stayed healthy throughout.
Lol @DeahWA they still have no idea when it started ๐คฃ๐ Glad you pulled back. I kept working so I could save as much as possible for my retirement but did not want to have have my daughter BAIL me out of JAIL for snapping on someone all up into my face sneezing and coughing ๐ Luv your RETIREMENT LIST!!!!
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