2023 is past. All the good, and fortunately, all the evil, that has been part of the last year is behind us. And for me, it has been a unique first year of retirement.
I have written in the past about the various ways that a retired physician can spend his time. So how did I wind up spending those last 12 months? In ways that I anticipated, and in ways that I couldn’t have imagined.
I am frequently asked, “Do you miss going to work every day?“ My unflinching answer is that while I miss the people and some of the challenges, I have no fond memories of the commute or the daily routine. I know I have performed my job well for over 40 years and I’m glad to be free of the constraints it brought.
I have not dropped out of the professional world completely. A few consulting positions allow me to explore the non-clinical side of pathology. While I have spent less time doing this than I originally anticipated, I am glad I have kept my toes in the water.
Volunteering has been a bit of hit or miss. When I originally enrolled to volunteer at the local high school, I didn’t realize that various security snafus would stretch my application process to close to six months! Finally approved, I was disappointed to discover that the volunteer opportunities have been fairly limited. I did enjoy my one assignment, chaperoning students in the school’s Hebrew language class to an Israeli movie in Chicago.
The Northern Illinois Food Bank in Lake County has been a more fruitful place to volunteer. Whether packaging cereal, energy bars, or russet potatoes for local food pantries, the time spent at the food bank is rewarding and an opportunity to socialize with fellow volunteers, including Kris Ford, the mayor of Riverwoods.
Stealing a line from Monty Python, “For those of you who don’t like sport, there’s sport.” After years of resistance, Pickleball has won me over while tennis seems to be disappearing in my rearview mirror. I’ve found amiable companions for leisurely rounds of golf and mid-length bicycle rides. The bowling bug hasn’t spared me, though I find those spares (and strikes) hard to come by.
Our travel time has been special, both with friends and family in the USA and Mexico, and while discovering family roots and Jewish history while exploring Europe.
Despite my increased “leisure” time, the number of blogs that I wrote this year, compared with years past, has diminished. I suspect this is due to the time I have devoted to writing a pair of plays. I hope at least one of those will see the light of day (or night) at a theater near you.
Unanticipated was my opportunity to serve as “First Gentleman.” Barb’s activism as president of our homeowners’ association led to the successful prevention of the construction of a poorly planned and poorly located logistics center. The work of Barb and other neighborhood leaders has been recognized by the local print and broadcast media. Work on statewide legislation is next on her agenda.
Times with family and friends, times deep inside novels of mystery and suspense, and times binge-watching TV series with Barb have occupied most of the other quiet moments. What little free time remained was used to digest the surprise diagnosis of celiac disease. Goodbye flaky French croissants, hello to a world of gluten-free bread and pasta.
Bit I am not complaining. It has been a wonderful year, in a wonderful life.
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