Good morning! If you’ve popped over here to check out An Encore Voyage, there’s a really good chance that you were directed here by Donna over at Retirement Reflections! You see, Donna does a weekly Sunday Guest Post series, and for reasons that completely befuddle the mind, she asked me to participate! How cool is that!
If this is your first time visiting here, WELCOME! We are on an Encore Voyage because, after long-time careers, we sort of got thrown into the deep end ———– um…we found ourselves both unemployed! Or as hubs likes to describe it,
“We were given the opportunity to reinvent ourselves!”
And so we entered the early retirement group – even though we weren’t planning on it!
Since this voyage began, we’ve learned a great deal!
We’ve learned that sometimes being together 24/7 can be a bit of a challenge. But guess what? It’s really a lot of fun if you follow some simple advice.
Admittedly, we needed to do some simplifying and minimizing to maintain our lifestyle. But in the end, it has brought us a clearer focus about what’s really important.
We started up our Encore Career – We didn’t want to be just “finished,” but we didn’t want to start over from scratch either. So we reinvented ourselves and created a business that we can be passionate about – and we do it from home and on our own schedules!
And we’ve learned that this type of “retirement” is a total blast! It doesn’t look anything like the things we feared retirement might be. And there are lots of things that make this encore gig of ours a delightful experience.
One of those is the time I now have to be creative on this blog, and to engage with others in the blogging community. It’s a little weird that in just a few short months, I have developed on-screen relationships with so many other bloggers. It’s like we’ve gotten to know each other. And as I said earlier, one of my very favorite virtual friends is Donna at Retirement Reflections. Donna is my neighbor to the north – She and her husband are from Vancouver Island, British Columbia…(Lucky ducks!) Donna is adventuresome, organized, just a tiny bit nerdy like me – and a fabulous writer! So if you haven’t gotten the chance, be sure to click on over and check her out! She’s awesome-sauce!
And thanks again, Donna, for inviting me to participate in your Sunday Guest Post series!
An Encore Voyage 
Greetings! So glad you participated as a guest blogger. I, too, retired from teaching and I,too, don’t have to cry everyday. Been 3 years for me and I had NO idea how tied up in that other life I was. Looking forward to reading your posts!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome, Leah. I also never realized how exhausted I was every. single. day! Until I wasn’t anymore! Let me tell you, though, it was a little freaky when I let my teaching certificate lapse!
LikeLike
Nice post, Lynn. I’m still tied up on the maiden voyage, but soon…
LikeLiked by 1 person
…And I’ll be cheering when you arrive! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Lynn – Thank you so much for Guest Hosting on my site today. Your post is already very popular! When you have the time, I look forward to seeing you over there. There are already many comments waiting for you! 🙂
LikeLike
Here’s what I notice about that photo of you and your husband, Lynn. You look so happy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I “retired” at 47 voluntarily. I just decided I could not bear to work any more. Life has never been so rich or busy. I’m never bored, stressed or weary, just more fulfilled and thankful to be able to enjoy life fully. We were fortunate to be financially sound and in good health. My husband still works part time as a consultant because he wants too. I thought I might follow your blog too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome, Catherine! Don’t you love to be able to tell people, “I’m never tired!” This is the best gig ever! But you already know that! ~ Lynn
LikeLike
Your smiling faces say it all 🙂
I wasn’t planning to retire either, but circumstances forced it. Now I think it’s the best thing that could happen to me and I’m glad you feel the same way about your “retirement”. This new chapter in life is a great one 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true, Joanne! Every day we are grateful for this journey!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good for you😄 I like the positive outlook your husband saw it as ‘reinventing yourselves’ best of luck with the new business and opportunity this brings you both!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you’re following us! Yours is a much spookier challenge than ours, but we’re a lot older and set in our ways! It will be fun to keep an eye on you two! By the way, we are so much happier now, in this new journey! ~ Lynn
LikeLike