Changing careers

[emily_in_nc]

OK - so how do you handle the jealousy? I'm riding today with a friend who believes that I sit around all day long & do my nails. I get the "Gee, it must be nice!" comments. Maybe I need to get different friends. Yet, I do volunteer work and keep really busy with the things I always wanted to do when I was doing the 8-5. DH is a cancer survivor and diabetic, so I spend time cooking because I'm a huge believer in food as medicine. I actually have time to work with my dog in obedience & agility. And it goes on. So, my nails are usually fairly ragged & certainly not as nice as when I was working. A computer keyboard is much easier on cuticles!

I get this sometimes too, though the vast majority of friends and family seem to be genuinely happy for us (though I am sure there are a few who talk behind our backs). When I do get "comments", though, I usually say something like "Yes, it is nice. But it's also a little scary not having a regular paycheck, only having catastrophic health insurance, and to be living on our savings rather than continuing to sock money away. There are pluses and minuses to either way."

That usually shuts 'em up. We gained a lot in retiring early (and in our situation, we're both retired, so I am not living off my DH's salary or benefits), but we gave up certain things that most people in our society value as well. So it's a double-edged sword, and once people think about it, many are not yet ready to retire on the kind of terms we were willing to retire on.

[OakLeaf]

I don't think I get any serious jealousy. People make comments, sure, but it doesn't really interfere with my friendships with people who are still working. Come to think of it - any more, most of the people I know are retired or semi-retired, just because I do weekday bike rides and daytime yoga classes.

As far as guilt, it goes the other way for me. I would really prefer to be pulling in a paycheck just because of the relationship dynamics of being supported by DH. I could never come close to his income, but at least I could feel like I was contributing. But in this economy, I don't feel like I have a right to take a job that someone else needs.