I know I said I would not write today, but I was wrong. I write because I am. There is no more to it than that. And having decided that this afternoon looks a better bet for a walk, I have taken myself off for a coffee and to think.
I did not intend to think about age, but I did.
I read an FT article this morning that suggested that ageing does not reduce a person's productivity, although it might reduce their strength, hearing and eyesight. Older people simply have skills to compensate.
A chat with my barrista this morning on the relative virtues of age suggested he thought he was employed for his physical fitness rather than any other skill he had to offer, as if to confirm that.
And conversations I have had over the last week or so have come to mind.
One relates to a decision that I have made to retire. Not, I stress, from writing, or thinking about the issues I address here and in my more academic work. Instead, I have decided that when the last remaining tax investigation case I have running comes to a close (as it must after being in progress for more than five years, so far, due largely to Covid interruptions) it will be time to give up my practicing certificate as a chartered accountant after having it for almost forty years.
That's largely because I have decided it is time to concentrate on what I really want to do - and I've done enough practical tax now.
But this decision also recognises that, as my wife pointed out, I really don't need to keep my hand in as an accountant now just in case funding as a researcher / campaigner runs out: I would probably retire instead if that happened now. The backstop is no longer needed.
And then there is my realisation that whilst I will, of course, maintain my ICAEW membership (not least so that I can continue to look at its accounts) I am now old enough to say that I have done that stage of my career, and to let go of it without any sense of regret.
That said, I am intrigued by my own decision. I remember the effort and stress that becoming a chartered accountant involved. I also remember all too well the experience of going out on my own to set up a firm - which I had always known that I would do when I was training. That licence to practice meant a great deal to me.
For some it can be a licence to make money. And let's not be dishonest about this: like all professional institutes the ICAEW is akin to an old-fashioned guild, existing to supposedly uphold standards, no doubt, but to also create a differential between its members and the rest of society that lets them charge more for their services. It's a privilege that can be, and I think has been, abused.
For me that licence to practice was, however more about freedom. It let me do what I wanted, for whom I wanted, in the way I wanted, with people I wanted to work with. As a definition of a freedom that I enjoyed from the age of 26 onwards I think that takes some beating.
But with age freedom takes different forms. I now value the health I once took for granted. I am now very aware that I have lived for ten years longer than my mother did, and the odd niggle (and long Covid, now thankfully seemingly gone) apart enjoy good health.
Freedom also comes from something else now. I realise that I am finite. Of course I knew that in an actuarial sense when I was young, but in reality I refused to consider that fact. The young must live as if they will go in forever. Now I simply recognise that there are only so many more years in which I can continue to do what I want.
For some that might promote thinking ability that horrible phrase, ‘the bucket list'. I am not convinced by such thinking. There is no long list of regrets for things not done that I now wish to cram in. I instead want to enjoy what I have discovered gives greatest pleasure in life a little more, and maybe get better still at some of them.
I have not yet written the perfect sentence. I probably never will. But I will not give up trying to express my ideas as best as I am able. Meantime, the writing of others gives me more pleasure.
My awareness of nature is growing.
My appreciation of history is increasing.
I am a better modeller now than I have ever been: experience really does help in some hobbies.
And my appreciation of the importance of anger has not diminished.
Anger is much maligned, I think. We are now told to deny it. Anger management courses abound. And I understand why when anger is an excuse for abuse. But real anger is not abusive. It is adaptive. It is a signal that not all is right. It makes a demand on us to change. The day I cease to be angry about the abuse a few impose on the many in our society is the day that I might as well give up, because then there will be nothing left to live for. That's because I think that change is the only thing that is certain during life, and pushing that process of change in the direction that we want is the one real chance we have to change the fortunes of those we care for in life.
Age has also taught me the importance of caring. That, and the fact that you really do never stop worrying about your children.
What has all this to do with this blog? Indirectly, it has quite a lot to do with it. Another conversation in the last week was with a friend who suggested it was time for me to make a change of direction, for which they thought I was ready. They are right in the sense that I am willing to move on from the hassle of things like being a practicing chartered accountant. The admin of that is something I will not miss. But I would miss writing this blog. It keeps me sane. I can contemplate change with age, but not ones that would leave me worse off in the real, non-financial, meaning of that term.
Now, it might be time to think about that walk.
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Lovely, Richard, how very lovely, all your sentiments I totally agree with on this. And, quite selfishly of me I know, but I am pleased you will continue to write. Thank you to you and your (non-troll) contributors. Hope the walk was lovely too.
Seconded a thousand times over. I’m pretty sure I’m going to retire soon myself having just passed 60, and bring an end to my not particularly impressive career as a civil servant.
There are more interesting (and more important) things to do like more studying, getting more politically involved (if my sanity could stand it!), community stuff (no idea what though) , definitely more walking and so on.
All the best Richard. By god you deserve it, though I get the impression you’ll still be working pretty damn hard on all your other stuff, including this blog.
This part of my retirement is from work that in most years represents less than 10% of mt time
But I do see it as the start of a trend
All I will really do is what I want though: I will just be giving up the hassle
Thank you for those thoghts, I have seen a few whom look forward to retiring and regret the decision to not find something to transition on to, which ultimately unretire themselves back to their old job out of boredom, sounds like you have given yourself a choice to try a move on or go back which is good.
“an FT article this morning that suggested that ageing does not reduce a person’s productivity, although it might reduce their strength, hearing and eyesight. Older people simply have skills to compensate.”
This I was thinking of this the other day myself and how text get’s increasingly smaller making things harder for older people considerably
Certainly strength and diet are a factor for aging and physical tasks I’m not so sure Baristas do much physical labour but I do know I can’t seem to do as much as I used to without it taking a bigger toll on my energy as once before. Long hours travel chaos and physical demands worry me that I must transition in around 10 years by late 50’s I won’t be able to go until 65 or whatever that will be the “retirement age”. I will need to do something less physical.
Some might say we like to persuade ourselves that we are immortal but to be “retired” I guess is to be told by yourself and others that you can not do the things you once did and to call it a day in the working world and give somone else a chance, but it does not need to be “retirement age” it could be sooner it could be later.
Hi Richard,
great letter, I concur with all you said. I can see similarities in my own life as I look back and wonder where it’s all gone. As a 77yr old, my life is up the other end of the scale, at this moment my health is still holding up, one of the most valued assest we can have. I’ve never chased money in all my life, I have enough to live, leave some there for others.
Thanks for all your writing, enjoy your retirement, but keep writing !
All the very best to you,
Mel Mignot (from France)
Very small step towards retirement, maybe…
And thanks
The important thing is to keep your mind, body and spirit active but in balance. As my mother used to say “don’t overdo it dear” when I was throwing my self into some frantic activity or other. You mention anger before, which is a vital emotion to put to positive use when the injustices of the status quo are glaringly obvious such as the forthcoming climate disaster (unless there is rapid radical change) criminal inequality, racism, you name it. If no one speaks out, things will only get worse.
Agreed
How I agree with you about anger. There really IS such a thing as righteous anger.
When Jesus overturned the tables of the money-changers in the Temple he demonstrated that anger has a valid role and sphere of action and that you don’t have to be all milksop forgiving in EVERY circumstance. Sometimes anger is the correct response.
For myself, though I have no evidence to back up my theory (maybe Michael Hudson has – see below), I’ve long believed the money-changers were in on a scam, and probably joined by both authorities- the Roman and that of the Temple.
I’ll bet the normal exchange rate in the market between the shekel and the denarius was x shekels = y denarii.
If the money-changers demanded Roman currency for the Temple Shekel, at say 3 denarii per shekel, then perhaps 1 denarius was creamed off by Rome and 1 by the Temple, so that Jesus would have been presenting a direct threat to a cosy scam.
The Temple hierarchy may have been entirely uninvolved in such a scam, so I don’t want to push that side of the argument, but the Romans will CERTAINLY have been in on such a scam, and will have viewed Jesus with extreme suspicion as a result.
Michael Hudson makes the point that the Romans (and the Greeks) perverted the balanced economic systems of the Middle East, by turning debt forgiveness into debt slavery – it’s worth commenting that Brutus “the noblest Roman of them all”, loaned out money at a ruinously usurious rate of 50%pa!!
(On.Michael Hudson, see
https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/05/24/debt-michael-hudson-oligarchies-greece-rome/
Economist Michael Hudson discusses the origin of Western debt-based societies and the research in his book “The Collapse of Antiquity: Greece and Rome as Civilization’s Oligarchic Turning Point)
In consequence, Hudson argues that Jesus was crucified for our debts, within which context, the overturning of the tables of the moneychangers makes perfect sense.
What also makes sense is that righteous anger has its place, as you have long demonstrated and practised, Richard. Thanks for the guidance.
Thanks Andrew
Good points
Thank you for sharing your thoughts many of which resonate for me. I hope you continue to have the appetite for your valuable campaigning and academic work and are able to strike the right balance with your other interests.
Thanks Werner
I plan to find that balance
And the bit I am retiring from is a small part of my work
Getting to the heart of things is a need to recognise a differentiating consciousness is embedded in life, one that allows picking or choosing. Anger has to be part of this consciousness when we’re prevented from choosing for either our self and/or others. Choosing for others is important because as a species we benefit greatly from collective action. This, for example, is why when voting it’s wise not just to vote for your own need.
Let’s be honest and admit retirement brings unforeseen challenges and for those who enjoyed their working life it isn’t always an easy transition. I retired eight years ago and looking back I know I’m now a kinder more balanced person with greater passion about the things that really matter: my wife, my children, and trying to do the right thing for as many people as possible. Richard, I have absolutely no doubt this new adventure will be another of your success stories.
Can I stress that I am only planning retirement from one of my activities?
Most are carrying on, I stress
That is my plan for a phased transition over the next few years
But I admit the change in attitude did mean I did not work (much) yesterday
“I have not yet written the perfect sentence. I probably never will.”
Unless that is the perfect sentence.
🙂
I find the anger you display exactly the sort that should be displayed when witnessing the behaviours of our politicians; righteous anger as displayed by JC. The den of thieves needs holding to account, and you are the right man to do it!
As I might be inclined to joke, you have given up the practicing certificate because you are good enough not to need to practice any more
🙂
Dear Richard
I read your lovely blog with a smile. What wonderful sentiments and I share them all. I retired about 13 years ago and have been busy ever since, learning to play Chopin, Bach, Mozart and a host of others on the piano. Such enjoyment and sense of achievement. I have taken up pastel painting too. But the thing I was most struck with in your blog was your determination never to stop being angry. Oh how I so agree, in fact I think I am getting angrier when I look at the mess being made in my country. Apathy is the enemy of us all and although I have had most of my joints replaced, large chunks of my body removed, I don’t look glamorous anymore, I will never stop being angry either. Thank you so much for your wonderful blog, I look forward to it everyday and please, please don’t give that up. Very warm wishes
Thanks Carolyn
Good luck with all those activities
Interesting topic and useful guidance for adapting one’s life – not enough thought is given the skills of being retired. I have seen a number of people who finishing work as the Head of the Department on the Friday afternoon were unable to cope with being A.N. Other-Pensioner on the Monday morning. Part of the issue was they had unconvincingly convinced themselves that they were indispensable, when the truth is that we all can and will be replaced. Coming to terms with this is a key factor in getting the most out of retirement – develop existing hobbies and interests or discover new ones – anything rather than continually “dropping in” to see how the workplace is getting on without you. Fortunately the rise in GDPR compliance has pretty much kicked this into touch but there will always be some die-hards who begin every sentence with “When I was at . . . “
Stormbound in a Norwegian fjord anchorage and catching up on your prodigious output.
This is a delightful piece.
Thank you.
Batten down the hatches
May I suggest that ‘retiring’ is not an absolute state.
I took early ‘retirement’ from a very demanding job in 2012, as the alternative was serious mental health issues. All that meant was that I no longer did that job, but received an income from that pension.
I received my state pension some 15 months ago, I didn’t retire, I was just better off financially.
I retired from my part time civil service job last July. I received a lump sum (that I put to good use by introducing my husband to southern Spain) and a tiny pension.
I no longer have any paid employment but I continue to run and now to expand the micro business I set up in 2012. I struggle financially at the moment, but I hope that will change as my business develops.
I don’t consider myself to have retired, I have just stopped doing certain things I used to do.
Precisely how I see things changing
I may have more time to think though
But that may be part of my job
I think the word ‘retire’ is often misconstrued. I left academic life behind three years ago (done my time – no regrets) and think ‘refocus’ is more to the point. Priorities shift, I can be more discerning, less bothered by career advancement, bureaucracy, and economic imperatives. Time management is a challenge some days but being able to choose where to use what I have is a real gift.
Enjoy the shift and keep working on that ‘perfect’ sentence. Your blog is much appreciated.
Thanks
And your point is very appropriate