the journey continues

And I'm off!  Another chapter in the next book of the "Life of Jan Jamison".  So far, after one day, retirement has been great.  I really didn't, and still don't, know what to expect.  Yesterday was a full day and a great day.  I started out Tuesday night by realizing I had a hair appointment scheduled for 10AM the following morning.  I spent the afternoon with Aaron.  We went to lunch and then he helped me pick out another phone.  My phone has been clicking off regularly and I've been missing a lot of messages but I thought I could wait it out.  Now it clicks off almost after every call.  Time to make yet another change, but another good one.  Now I have "apps"!  Look out world!  We had some necessary work on the car and then I call my hubby and invited him to an early movie.  It was a good day and I'm looking forward to many more.

Front (left to right, Tom, Laura, Peter

; Back (left to right) Greta, me, Kathleen - My HR Family

I believe I have been one of the "fortunate ones".  I worked for the most amazing organization for the last 17 years, the City of Springfield OR.  The people in the organization are also amazing.  For me, it was a family. I was born and raised in CA and that is where my family is but for the majority of our married life we have lived elsewhere based on career paths for my husband so when we landed in Springfield I was thrilled to know I could have a family here, and that is what the organization became...a family.  I have enjoyed laughter in abundance, many tears through the years as we've lost "family members" to other career choices, retirement and sometimes death.  I've experienced the same emotions during those life changing events as I have when joyous or difficult times happened in the life of my CA family. I will miss them just as I miss my CA family.

My friend Rita told me several years ago when she was retiring that I would know when it was time for me to retire.  She was right.  All of a sudden there it is right in front of you.  Ray and I made the decision for me to retire just a little over a year ago.  I'm glad that I had the year to think about it and prepare for it. It did take the entire year to get ready.  We had to talk about what we planned on doing. (How were we going to spend our time.)  We had to lay out a budget that we could manage with the income we would have.  My mom has always said, "God takes care of your needs, it's your wants and desires that get you into trouble".  So, as always, we laid out our budget and said to ourselves, "okay, what do we need?"  Then we took a look at what we really wanted to do.  We decided we wanted to work together on my signs so we started looking at what we'd need to do in order to do that.  Was the equipment that we currently have the right equipment for what we wanted to do. After using the large, commercial cutter for two years and refining what I really wanted to do, I decided the large cutter was no necessary so it gave us plenty of time to budget for and buy a smaller cutter that we can actually do more. It allowed me time to document every process I did at work, step by step, so that anyone in the position would have a good handle on what the position was responsible for and how to do the task.  It allowed me to prepare my friends at work time to get use to the idea.  It isn't easy to have someone in your daily life, every day and then all of a sudden they aren't there any more.  It's not that I'm not ever going to see them any more or have lunch with them, but it is different in that you don't have the daily contact, even though brief, to laugh with each other.

People I worked with gave me the freedom and opportunity to be me. And hopefully, I have encouraged them to be themselves.   I have enjoyed enjoyed that.  I have great memories and actually couldn't have imagined working anywhere else.  Thanks to all of you at the City of Springfield for the laughter, joy, trust, friendship!  I love you all.

February 1st was also my 62nd birthday.  Retirement was my birthday gift to myself for my 62nd birthday.  Both my City family and my family gave me one wingding of a retirement party on Thursday of the previous week with many, many surprises.  It was something I had asked them NOT to do, but I am so grateful that they didn't listen to me and did it anyway.  It was an amazing time and I thank everyone who came and shared their well-wishes. My niece and nephew and baby Josie surprised me and  flew in from NY for the event and my brother and sister-in-law from Cincinnati were also there.  It was amazing.  Tuesday evening the "kids", Aaron and Kristin took me to Olive Garden for a birthday dinner.  We had a super time.  It was a great retirement and birthday!  Only God knows what the future holds but I'm okay with that!


We've moved in with the kids so lend a hand. We know at times it's going to be a challenge but it's life and you make the best of it.  We're having some great conversations, enjoying the time together, helping each other and thankful that we have this time together.  Ray and I have the month of February to get the house packed up and cleaned.  We've sold most furniture.  It costs more to move it than it will to replace it when we get there.  I'm one to take the old and refurbish it rather than purchase new so I'm looking forward to that when we get to NY.  A crew from Aaron and Kristin's church, Bob, Matt, Andrew and Zach came over a couple of weeks ago and moved our bedroom furniture and appliances into the garage here.  Kristin's mom and dad, Alan and Ruth, have generously offered half of their garage to store our boxes.  A group of friends at work have offered to move our boxes on Saturday, February 19th, friends have offered to help me clean the house the following week, we'll have the carpets cleaned and then we're done and we can focus on what's really important now...spending time together and with the kids.

We have an overnight trip planned this Sunday.  Our brother and sister-in-law are picking Ray and I up Sunday noon and taking us to the coast.  We'll have dinner, spend the night, have breakfast and come back on Monday so they can visit with the kids.  We are so looking forward to the visit.  We're looking forward to going on a trip to CA to visit my mom and our family there.  Hopefully in March.  I have about 8 sign orders so we need to get the garage organized so I can get started on those.  I LOVE doing signs.  I'm looking forward to really getting started again.  I'll be setting up a website and selling signs on ESTY.COM  Look for that soon.  If you have a sign you'd like made just email me at jan@auntiejan.net  As I said earlier, I'm in the process of changing phones and transferring to a more affordable phone service.  Currently you can reach me at 541-337-9255.  (New phone number as of 2/3/10)

Our very special puppy, Jamison, is having a sleepover with a friend, Ginger and her hubby Paul and their two puppies, Boomer and Hope.  I know he's having a great time and it's good for him to have the socializing.
 

Needless to say, I think the happiest person in this whole series of events is the love of my life, my hubby, Ray.  He's waited a very long time, 11 years, for me to retire.  I think I could easily and honestly say, he was more excited than me!  We are so looking forward to this time in our life.  We've made so many memories together and we're looking forward to this next chapter to make even more. I hope to be able to update my blog more often.  Thanks for listening and sharing my life and excitement with you.  Until later......