Old as in Aging Artists

 I'm hearing the word "retirement" around alot lately...in the outdoor cafe when we were celebrating a friends birthday...on billboards with the smiling suit....radio programs about memory and diseases...driving around looking for a new house that is "affordable" and ending up checking out an incredible manufactured home in ...yes...a "retirement" community.  Really, it was a bunch of fancy big ol doublewide traiers where many OLD people live.  Do you believe I am searching around my beautiful small town for a fancy trailer???  Do I believe it?

Well I believe it.  What choice is there but to put on those new, hip and cool tri-focals I just bought and check out...no really check out..my aging face in the mirror.  Wrinkles.  Brown spots.  Shiny platinum hair.Grown children who are moving towards total  self support.  A big house that seems to get more expensive as my desire to chase money diminishes...I didn't realize it but I am in retirement.

Age wise, apperance wise, family wise..I'm a member of the baby boomer cultural wave that apparantly wants to downsize (ie. "retire)  I do want to downsize, meaning I want  to get rid of stuff.  I want to do less yardwork, pay less money for PGE, and eat ligher..doesn't that sound like a retired person?

Im wondering ..so what does "retire " actually mean? 

 1 to withdraw from action or danger, to retreat      Sometimes I do

  2 to withdraw especially for privacy                        Often I do

3  to move back, to recede                                      If I have to                              

4 to go to bed                                                        Every Night

 

5 to withdraw from one's position or occupation or

conclude one's working or professional care            As an Artist, I don't think so

I spoke with  a talented man on New Years Day who is a painter who told me he retired.  I thought it meant that he was going to travel more, or put in a garden .  "No" he said "I stopped painting.  I've painted enough and now I'm done."  I can't see it.  If you paint, can you retire?

Comments

[Erica Charlesworth]

Cindy, You are an engaging writer. I can't wait to spend some more time reading...And taking a class with you this summer. :) Erica