Grown Up Gloating

If you spend any time online these days, you likely run across the memes, humorous coffee mugs and various t-shirts complaining about the burden of "adulting". If you are in your twenties and working to build a foundation and a future, adulting most certainly can ruin your day. However, once you reach the age of majority and have sufficient funds, adulting becomes a lot more fun. As my dear friend Wendy often says, "It's good to be a grown up."

I tested Wendy's motto recently with my first visit to Nashville. Months ago, I received an email message from one of my favorite bands announcing their first concert at The Ryman Theater. As The Ryman has long been on my venue bucket list, I purchased three tickets and called my music loving girlfriends to set up a trip. Together, we hatched and executed a plan with the perfect mix of touristy activities, live music and fun. Despite the humidity, we managed to have the time of our lives.

As a semi-retired woman, I believe Wendy's motto needs an update. When I was still employed, I happily embraced the belief that it was healthy to play just as hard as I worked. Sneaking in short side trips when traveling on business was always Plan A. On long weekends, I would escape to Baja California and dream about retirement. Finding fun was always a priority. It kept me balanced mentally even if my body sometimes had a hard time keeping up. But for some reason, when I first retired, I became untethered not just from work but also from my search for fun. I suddenly had an abundance of free time and no urgency to fill it.

Luckily, that sad phase eventually passed and I came to my senses. All of the poolside daydreaming of retirement finally kicked in and my calendar filled with concerts and trips. While most of the trips have been short and domestic, I am building up to more global adventures. My advice to those who may be venturing into retirement is to be careful about what you release. De-prioritize work but hold tight to your need for fun. Once you realize that you have unlimited time for pleasure, you realize that it's not just good to be a grown up...it's fantastic.