A Part Time Job

Well, school’s been in session for some time, and so far, I haven’t missed it. I’ve been able to fill the time with a variety of activities: games of golf, interviews for news stories, completion of “honey-do’s.” I keep waiting for what people told me would be that empty feeling. Thankfully, it hasn’t shown its ugly face. Still, it looks as if I’ll have to scout out a part time job.

For one thing, I am a social creature. Other people are important. I’ve spent most of my retired days by myself, except for my little buddy Snoop. If there’s one thing I do miss from my teaching career, it’s the communication with fellow teachers and with students. Laughing at jokes and engaging in heated arguments are things that I’ve always enjoyed. Snoop is good company, but the only communication coming from him is an occasional bark and constant growling. I figure he’s had enough of my being home all the time. It cuts into his sleep time. A part time job will allow me to be with people and Snoop to catch up on some much needed rest.

Another reason for finding a job is that the extra income will come in handy. I’m not going to make a fortune, but what money I bring in will level the financial playing field to what it was before calling it quits. The cash can pay a couple of small bills, and some of it might be squirreled away for a weekend trip to some place that Amy might like to go.

Working somewhere also gives a bit more structure to life. Whether or not they admit it, people feel better with a daily routine. It sets the parameters for the things that come in life. Work takes a hunk of time, and we divvy up the rest for other things to which we are obligated or for recreational activities that we enjoy. For some, work dictates bed time. Having to put feet on the floor at 5:00 a.m. causes folks to turn in before Monday Night Football is over.

A part time job prevents some terrible things. One is boredom. I’m not close to being bored, but when cold weather arrives and I’m stuck inside, the days will grow much too long. Being a captive in the house leads to a miserable attitude that frustrates me and tortures Amy. Reporting to work stops folks from taking themselves too seriously. Excessive amounts of time bring on worries over things that aren’t. We imagine the problems and let them grow until they’ve consumed and smothered us in a gray funk.

I know I will need to find a part time job before long. Doing so will keep everyone in my life happy. I don’t want to work more than a couple of days each week, just enough to get me out of the house and to make some extra “jingle.” To put more time than that in a job would defeat the purpose of retirement. Worse than that, too many hours at work will greatly affect my writing time. That’s one of the reasons I felt good about leaving teaching so that I could spend more time at the keyboard.

I’ll see how things go and begin to look for that part time employment. I’d rather not work some in a business where former students and their parents will see me and ask, “What are you doing here?”