Retiree Joanne Byrne shares her thoughts on life after work

When, toward the end of 2010, I learned that Joanne Byrne, senior services coordinator for the Town of Orange, was about to retire, I asked if she would take some notes on her feelings as her retirement progressed and share her thoughts with me ... and by extension to my readers, after some time elapsed.

I was particularly interested in Joanne’s views, because not only had she worked for the senior center for six years, she had been one of the most dynamic leaders I had ever encountered, challenging herself and the Orange community to rethink what a senior center could offer, and what meaningful contributions its participants could make.

I was not sure how Joanne would adjust to a retirement motivated by her husband’s sale of his dental practice and his desire to spend the entire winter at their Florida home.

I caught up with Joanne recently at lunch at one of my favorite sushi restaurants in Orange, and as usual when we see each other, the conversation was upbeat and lively, each of us feeding on the other’s ideas and energy.

Here’s what Joanne had to say.

“Retirement, at first, felt like knocking on a closed door and not knowing what I would discover on the other side. It was both scary and exciting at the same time, but what I have found so far has been good.

“I guess the adjustment from a fulfilling work life can be challenging for many people if they don’t make plans for how they will use all the newfound time they will have on their hands. For me, it was an easy transition because we put our large house in Orange up for sale, and bought a smaller Connecticut residence at Oronoque Village.

“Additionally, we spent time in Florida, painting and decorating our place in a 55-plus, gated community. We also went biking, played tennis, made new friends and explored the area.

“Despite being busy with moving, however, I find I still need to have a real sense of accomplishment, and I make a ‘to do’ list on a daily basis.

“Admittedly, it is shorter and more mundane than when I was working. Now it includes such things as do the laundry, go to the post office, etc. I did sign up for yoga and tai chi classes and am learning to play mah-jongg.” Continued...


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Joanne and I share a love of travel, and she continues to coordinate some longer trips for small groups of people for a travel company with which she became associated. Recently, there was a trip to Sicily and Southern Italy with her husband and 16 other participants.

She also headed a group trip to the Rose Bowl Parade, and a Rhine River boat cruise is in the works for October. Even with a busy travel schedule, Joanne says she always needs a project to be working on.

“It can be making a quilt, painting a room, even reading a book or organizing recipes.

“However,” she adds with a smile, “I always got many rewards and much satisfaction at work when members told me how I had improved the senior center and how much they enjoyed coming there.

“I missed that feedback, and I have told my husband that he needs to compliment me each day on my wonderful meals, or how neatly the laundry is folded, or how good the garden looks without all the weeds.

“We all need to be recognized for what we are contributing to make life better.”

Joanne wisely concluded that the transition to retirement was not always so simple for everyone ... that financial or health issues can interfere with happiness in this new phase of life.

She also recognizes that she is so fortunate to have someone she loves with whom she can share her life.

We ended our lunch with plans to talk again next year. I’m willing to bet a big order of sushi that Joanne will have discovered new, exciting challenges that will make this phase of her life the most rewarding yet.

- Article by Jean Cherni, founder of the retirement advisory service, Senior Living Solutions. Contact her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at Hotchkiss Grove, Branford 06405.

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