Here comes a new life chapter

Well here I am. Something I'd hoped to do 18 months ago has at last arrived: Retirement.

Right now I just feel relief that I have got here. Planning an early retirement has been a pretty big stress as there are no safety nets in the form of pensions etc if the money runs out. Thankfully I only need enough money for the next 9 years, until I can tap into my superannuation, but that's still a long way into the future. Admittedly, I can still work, but that kind of defeats the purpose of planning one's retirement doesn't it?

My final day was a bit of a shambles. I cleaned up my office, loaded books, bookshelves and other personal items into my car, and then attended my farewell lunch. Was a great turnout, and lots of nice words, a lovely Aboriginal painting, some flowers, a gold watch and earrings, and cake! Of course there was cake!

In the afternoon I had patients to see, as well as sort out a few computer issues that hadn't been resolved despite the appropriate people saying they'd been resolved (how are they going to cope without me?), so I was a little frazzled and running behind. And then to top it off I had a weirdo final patient who was very keen to pull his pants down and show me his erect penis! Yes, just occasionally we have to deal with this sort of behaviour from patients. Needless to say he got no reaction from me and of course I couldn't find the "lump" he insisted was in his groin (which I didn't need him to uncover his genitals for me to examine, the creep). So yeah, a memorable final day!

Back home and my mum had sent me a lovely email:
Yipee,
Hoorah ,
Freedom at last,
Enjoy, enjoy
Love MUM

So now it's over. All that hard work has at last paid off and it's time to move forward into another chapter of my life. To pursue other avenues, spend more time on my passion for photography, and get around to editing a bunch of videos. There are five hours of Tanzania videos that a certain friend is very keen to see the edited version of. I shall have to bleep out all the swear words before we let her kids see it though!!

Next week I fly to New Zealand. Meanwhile I'm just doing a few house chores and tidying up for the housesitters. The bags are almost packed, just a few more clothes to pop in ( I've joined Qantas Club so have a 42kg baggage limit, meaning no stress at all with bringing 2 pairs of skis) and I'm done.

I'm definitely excited now.

The world is my oyster....