On 01/22/2017 04:18 AM, Venkatesh Hariharan wrote:
I am going through a transition into a slower pace of life. Knowing the
eclectic nature of this list, I wanted to hear from others who have "been
there, done that." ...
I am now thinking of cutting down my consulting assignments and decisively
slowing down my life, to stop hopping from one task to the other like a
maniac, and to relish reading books and watching plays, and the company of
friends. To those who are ahead of me in this ambitious path, my question
is, "What do you.love the most about living a slower life?"
Well, it's complicated.
I tried going cold-turkey on full-time work, and lasted ten months,
picking up a part-time job just for fun. I wasn't ready for that much
downtime all at once, and fortunately I found something useful to do,
rather than taking up golf or an affair.
Over fifteen years, the part-time job ramped down from four shifts/week
to one shift/month, providing a nice glide down from full-time to
nothing. I've now been at "nothing" for two years, and retirement seems
to be sticking this time.
As for what I love about slowing down (gradually), I'd have to say it's
a sense of time to do new things. In my case that was cooking and
getting back into model railroading, but those are specific to me. It's
not that I didn't have time for these before -- for one can always make
time -- but now I have utterly no excuse for not living the life I
imagine (save SWMBO's ideas for my time).
SWMBO has filled some of my time with travel. Living in Florida, quick
cruises to the Caribbean are a commonplace, but in the next year we'll
be sailing to Australia/New Zealand/lotsa islands; the Northwest Passage
(Vancouver to New York the hard way); and a loop around South American
and back through the canal (not sure if new, old, or Chinese).
But to your question, "What do I love most?" I think my answer has to be
that it is an opportunity (more honestly, an excuse) to give myself
permission to live more of the life that I imagine I desire. I may find
that my imagination is false, and that this life does not satisfy, but
that is already expected, and I look forward to what I will learn of
myself as a result.
I hope you also find the search of value.
Cheers,
/ Bruce /
