Rob's Blog

Retirement: Take 2

It's been about a year since I've been retired, and a lot of people have asked me, many with their own impending retirement on the horizon, what it's like. For the most part, very good. It's actually been less of an adjustment than I, and others (like my spouse!), thought it would be. I've always been a fairly active and busy person and it's definitely a slowing down process. However, I have enough hobbies and interests to keep me busy and keep me from getting bored. I've been playing guitar at open mics and hearing more live music. My two favorite new artists, who I've really enjoyed and seen multiple times, are Lera Lynn and James Maddock. I've been back on the tennis court, and so far I'm alive to write about it. I have binged on serials (and sometimes cereals) like True Detective, House of Cards, Annika Bengzton and now Foyle's War, a British detective series taking place during WWII. Also seeing a lot more movies, particulary after the Director's Guild sent me all the Oscar-nominated films on DVD. Sweet! This is even before NCAA Basketball and the baseball season starts. How am I going to ever fit everything in?!

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine about my age, (not ABOUT my age per se, but who happens to be approximately my age), curious about how I structure my days. I was trying to explain how time seems to expand after you're retired. Incidental chores and activities, like doctor's appointments, dropping off laundry, trying to unsuccessfully pair your socks, picking up groceries at the supermarket, going to the gym, meeting people for lunch or dinner, now become the focus of your day. Whereas before, you'd squeeze these things in before or after your 10 or more hour workday, you now have the "luxury" of having those activities as your new daily goals and planning around them. "Hmmm... should I go shopping first and then walk the dogs?. But wait, I want to get new sneakers and to get the car washed. Oh and I almost forgot, I'm supposed to meet someone for lunch. What a day! It's exhausting just to think about, I think I need a nap!" Actually afternoon naps are a guilty, but wonderful pleasure, particularly with the dogs at your feet keeping you company. And speaking of dogs, I think ours are actually model retirees. They play, sleep, eat, go for walks, have a meaningful job guarding the house and keeping The Watchtower people away, and sleep some more, always finding the most comfortable spot available. Of course the postman doesn't seem to especially care for them, but I gather the feeling is mutual.

I guess the main thing I miss about work is the people. I miss the personal interaction and the satisfaction of working collectively on a project. I also thought I'd be doing a little more consulting. I'm doing some volunteer work, which I enjoy, but think I'm ready to do some "work, work." NOT that I'm soliciting, BUT if you, or someone you know needs a YouTube expert, Video Producer/Director and generally nice guy to work on a project (or alternatively, to have lunch with), please do let me know! :-) So that's about all I have to say for now. I've been SO busy, I haven't blogged in a while, maybe I'll wait until year 2 of retirement for my next post. But I am very active on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, not to mention Scoop.it, Spotify and other black holes of time. And all that email! At least I've given up Candy Crush, thank God! Anyway, I have start thinking about what I want for dinner and what time to start watching Foyle's War. Hmmmm.. maybe I should go out to eat. Oh, but that would screw up my TV schedule. Or should I should wait until tomorrow to watch Foyle's War? But then what time would I go to the gym? I don't know WHAT to do...Oh, the humanity!

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There is life after work

In my retirement I'm finding myself busier than I'd expected. It was definitely an adjustment not having a place to go every day. In the beginning I was still getting up at my regular time of 6:45am. I got into the habit of going downstairs making breakfast, reading the NY Times on my iPad and then wondering what I would do at 9am! Initially I had a lot of things to organize in terms of changing emails, banking, continuation of benefits, etc. But after that high energy lift I found myself a bit out of sorts. I realized one of the things I missed about going to work everyday was interacting with the people. Without the work environment, that element was missing. I had one freelance job back in May for a healthcare management company, AVOCA, but otherwise didn't have much to do. So, I started making lunch dates and getting back to my TV roots by volunteering as a Director at Channel 34, the local Montclair Cable station. One of the shows we're doing is a music show called No Cover, featuring my friend Gail Prusslin interviewing both local and nationally known musicians talking about and playing their music. I also put together a video for a non-profit, Succeed2gether. I'm working out and even playing tennis again after about a 10-year layoff, visiting some former colleagues, one of whom is in California, and have a speaking engagement at exl Pharma in December. Also tweeting more, posting on Facebook, and I suppose I should be blogging more! I'm just worried about getting TOO busy. Life is never simple.

I'm Retired!!

After 19 years at Johnson & Johnson, I just finished my last day! It hasn't really sunk in yet, though I feel a wave of relief as its been a difficult year. There have been a lot of changes at work, and though I've accomplished a lot, our department was moving in a different direction. Not that my work wasn't appreciated - they threw me a really nice party last night and I received a lot of praise, hugs and presents. I'm going to just kick back for a while, but I already have some potential consulting/video projects in the works. I really do want to relax for a while, but while most people retire from work to do what they've always wanted to do - I've already been doing that! I'm very fortunate to have loved working in video, which I have done throughout my career, at CBS and J&J. So, while I look forward to not working, and certainly not commuting, I'm interested in seeing where this stage leads me.

Sunday is the new Monday

I was thinking, as I was working on my work computer one weekend - When did Sunday become the new Monday?! I wasn't the only one working. I was having active conversations with several of my colleagues, who were also busily typing away. Now all of these people also have Blackberries (aka Crackberries), and we all are constantly utilizing them in all sorts of inappropriate venues, including meetings, "quiet time" with your spouse, at meals, in movie theaters, and even though I'm embarrassed to admit it, while driving! When did it become so crucial to be connected all of the time? Part of it is that when you are disconnected the incessant flow of email messages doesn't stop, and then you're faced with dealing with dozens at a time when you get to them. And whenever you leave the office for a few days, whether it's for a conference, or God forbid, a vacation, you're still inundated with literally hundreds of those nasty bolded emails, badgering you to respond.

OK. So to adding insult to injury, not only am I overwhelmed with "connectivitis", but my brain had the audacity to DREAM about a work problem. This was not some symbolic, metaphorical, kaleidoscopic image of my psyche, but actually a very mundane issue. Namely, whether to use a dark grey palette for some graphics: HEX #555555 - not that I knew that in the dream - or the lighter HEX #AEAEAE. You can't make these things up. BTW(!), we're going with the darker grey.