I am being retyred. My post paid work plans are to head to
What is retirement? We have transitions in life that are formally recognised, even celebrated. I remember my four year old graduating from pre-school and thinking really? We have transitions from primary to high school, graduations from year twelve and university all marked by symbolic events. Completing paid work after forty years for many is marked by a farewell gift, acknowledgement of services rendered and goodbye.
Retirement has its own jargon. We speak about ending paid work as “calling it quits”, “a golden handshake” which often is associated with redundancy, “going out to pasture,” “packing it in,” “being pensioned off” and “throwing in the towel.”
For the last nine years I have worked for Anglican Aid, an agency that connects donors from churches in Australia where we enjoy an abundance and the developing world in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East and Pacific, where money can make a huge difference in poverty alleviation. During nine years I formed hundreds of relationships both in Australia and overseas, many whom I have met personally. I have visited 21 countries and developed relationships with many amazing people, especially where oppressive cultures made life difficult for so many. So in the lead up to finishing at Anglican Aid I sent emails to many people overseas to let them know of my departure and wish them well. I received many acknowledgements and well wishes. The standout came from an 80 year old Zambian, Rosemary who in her email wished me well but added:
“People like you do not retire but Retyre – just put on new tyres.”
Rosemary, who sent me this pearl is 80 years old. She runs a school in northern Zambia. Now an 80 year old woman running a school for 600 kids is unusual enough, but this school was started by her after she retired as a Regional Director of Education!
The background to this is retirement, a husband dying within a year of retirement and all her assets as a middle class woman being confiscated by her husband’s family (its a cultural thing). Finding herself in a slum in Lusaka she saw kids not going to school and commenced teaching two kids with limited resources. The rest is history, the school being tweny years old has been supported by many in her wide network from the United Kingdom and more recently Australia. We met Rosemary through her son in Australia, concerned that his mother had this huge responsibility and he was concerned that she was ageing and needed help. When I met her in 2016, I was surprised at the network around her which included a board comprising the elite of Zambian civil society including judges and others. She didn’t appear to be slowing down or ready to slow down.
And so to the two photos above. Pino coladas and living the good life after a life of work.
The two tyres one which I had replaced last week. One still looks good and still has a lot of tread in the middle but was wearing on the edges so was replaced because technically it was not roadworthy. The one on the right totally worn out out. Driven by a 19 year old who did “burn outs.” They are a bit like us. Perhaps the totally burned out tyre is at the end of its useful life and so eating, drinking and waiting for death may not be unreasonable. However completing paid work does not mean we are at the end of a productive life.
Most people completing work today are generally in good health, can expect to live maybe twenty years and have lots of time. No longer working full time provides lots of options. Maybe a bit worn out but still plenty of life left. I will discuss some of these next time. Others, maybe due to the type of work, health issues or other circumstances sigh with relief when they can complete work and look forward to a retirement that may allow restoration of physical health and strength and allow time for activities that have been subjugated due to work commitments.
So in Rosemary’s words,I am being retyred. My post paid work plans are to head to Tanzania where I will be assisting Bishop George from the Anglican Church of Tanzania in Mara Diocese, near Lake Victoria. My initial visit will see me overseas for six months from early April till October. A holiday in Europe will break that time for about six weeks and then back to Africa.
Next time I will discuss more about the concept of why retirement should see relatively young and fit retirees being retyred.
