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.
