This blog started on Anzac Day 2008. It documented our journey towards living more simply: setting up our wicking beds, building a new garden in the front yard, putting up a shed. In those days I was working full time but dreaming of another life -a simpler life. We started working hard at finishing the payments on the mortgage so that, if I wanted to find a part time job, we could afford to live on less. We learned to budget, menu plan and buy in bulk.
Together DH and I have learned to grow food and make things at home. He has become an expert jam maker and preserver of pears and plums. We set up passive cooling structures like our grapevine pergola and shade sails. We installed a water tank and solar array. Our bathrooms were renovated so that they would support us when we are older.
Over time DH and I were able to take part time work. We had by this stage paid off our mortgage and had no debts. We had learned to cook from scratch and found that we enjoyed the process very much. He now has a workshop full of tools so he can enjoy making things for us to use. We finally installed some roller garage doors front and back on his workshop this month, so his 'shop' is now dry and tidy.
I am going to be able to enjoy more of this simple life we have been working our way towards for nearly a decade.
My life will include some volunteering, because I want to give back to the community. I know I am lucky to be able to retire! I have some volunteer work already locked in, and some opportunities to explore.
I will be baking bread, making quilts, singing in a choir and pushing myself to learn new skills.
I will be able to enjoy visits to and from my grand children, without worrying about work schedules.
DH and I are really looking forward to being together more. We are a good team, and we have plans for more improvements around here- including a new kitchen and a revamp of the dining room. As we get older these things may take more time, and require a bit of outside help, but we will enjoy the process very much.
Roll on 21st July! Freedom is coming!
9 comments:
Congratulations on your upcoming retirement! You've worked hard to achieve this goal and you are an inspiration. I've followed you for quite a few years and thoroughly enjoy your shared stories. Simple Living principles and practices have shortened my career as well and I have just 4 years of planned FT work in front of me rather than 11 :-)
I am so very excited for you!
Congratulations on your upcoming retirement. It's so wonderful that your simple life allowed you to retire early.
Congratulations and a huge well done to you both. Such wonderful and exciting times ahead for you being with those close to you and doing the things you love.
Kyli xx
Thanks @Elle -it is exciting!
Congratulations on your decision - living with less is very rewarding! It challenges you to think of new solutions that do not involve a trip to a store, but which can be resolved with some innovative thinking. Best wishes for your future life. But be warned! It will not be relaxing! haha!
Congratulations on you decision! Living simply is all about creativity - and you have that! Solutions coming not from a trip to the shops but from inside you. You will have ball, but forget any ideas about it being relaxing! Haha
How thoroughly thrilling, very soon you will wonder how you had time to go out to work!
Congratulations xxx
Wohoo! Today is the first day of retirement! Congratulations on achieving this chapter in your life.
Thanks everyone, yes I am excited.
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