And the difficulty comes in the fact that I have no idea whether I'm retired or not and what exactly is meant by "being retired."
So I looked up the definition of "retired" and found the following
"Having left one's job and ceased to work."
"Withdrawn from one's position or occupation : having concluded one's working or professional career."
"Someone who has stopped working permanently."
I find none of these definitions suitable to describe my position. I must admit that often when I'm asked the question the easiest answer is to say yes rather than going into a long description of what I do.
Looking at that third description, I would have to say that I have stopped working for payment permanently, but certainly not stopped working.
Certainly in my current position I do have the freedom of choice to decide what I do and when I do it. But that's not necessarily being retired. I no longer have to get up at a set-time (apart from to write my daily blog of course) and I'm no longer burdened by having to attend meetings at specific times or being in an office or having to complete 40 hours of a specific activity each week. But that doesn't mean that I don't still go to meetings. The difference is they are no longer mandatory and nothing happens if I don't turn up. I cannot be hauled over the coals (lovely expression that one) or disciplined.
So we come back to the question "Am I Retired" and I have to say the answer is no. Being retired conjures up a mental picture of pipe and slippers by the fireside, walking with the dog (not that we have got one), reading the newspaper, watching daytime television and having a glass of plonk when the sun goes down over the yardarm (another quaint expression).
I don't feel that I have ever technically retired despite the fact that our wonderful Government ???!!!!! kindly boosts my Bank account every four weeks with money that I still claim I have been double taxed on (i.e taxed when I earnt it and then taxed again when it is paid out. It's not like Santa Claus this "we will give you some money for doing nothing but will then take some of it back" idea).
When I left the employment of Norfolk Constabulary I became what is known as semi-retired and trying to describe what that phrase means is even harder. I joined an emergency media company on a part-time basis and when I left them it might be considered that I was fully retired. But then I undertook some freelance journalism work (which I still do) and now I have a book to write which will bring in some money (all of which I will be donating to a commemoration group). So technically I am retired, but I don't consider that I am.
Then I have a little matter of voluntary work which includes helping to run a few groups in the village, writing a monthly e-magazine, writing my daily blog, attending meetings, editing a family history magazine and more. None of this pays but I am still employed for a full working week each and every week.
So now money comes into it. I may still work for 40 hours a week but I don't earn a penny for doing so. Does that make me retired or not? It's all so confusing.
* * *
I always remember a talk given many years ago by Paddy Ashdown, former leader of the liberal democrats. He was plugging one of his books. He said that he wanted to be remembered as an author and an historian rather than a politician.
I think we all have ideas about how we would like to be remembered and what phrase best describes us. I am of a similar mind to Mr Ashdown.
I would like to be remembered as
1/ A writer
2/ An historian and
3/ A village activist
Those are the things that would make me feel that my existence hasn't been a waste of time. Of course I need to add to that a good husband, a good father and a good grandfather but that's for others to judge.