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It’s now been 319 days since I realised that I would have to self isolate for the duration of covid19. As it’s now been almost a year, I feel that this is as good a time as any to look back at the highlights of a life in isolation.
I’ve said many times that isolation hasn’t been a problem at all for me. In fact, if the pandemic wasn’t such a dreadful thing to have struck us, I would say that I’ve loved this life in lockdown. Admittedly, I haven’t been cooped up in an apartment, or in a house on a small block in town, like many. I’m surrounded by space and bush land, and cope well with having big chunks of time to myself.
Probably the biggest highlight would have be not working, as that affects every area of my life. I haven’t yet retired and until the virus struck, I loved my job. There was quite a bit of stress at work, in the early stages of the virus, so it really was a relief to walk away and take time out. Since then, I haven’t tired of not working at all. I’ve never been bored. I’ve never pined to get back to work. At 67, I did know that I was nearing the end of my working life, but I’m not sure I’m yet ready for retirement. I’ve looked at the the time off work as an opportunity to practice retirement. All I have to do now is make a decision.
I’ve listed, below a few of the benefits I’ve found from not working. The theme that runs through most of the points below is time. Time has been my enemy for years and years. It’s such a relief to no longer have to be fighting that enemy. For now, anyway.
- Time to do whatever it is that I would like to do on any given day
- Not having to be constantly rushing
- Feeling more organised and in control, for the first time in years
- My love of cooking has returned
- My garden is looking half ok, as most days, I have time to get my hands dirty
- Bushwalking has been a highlight, both in our local area, and a little further afield.
- Reading was always a priority for me, but now I have more time and don’t have to stress
A few days ago, we walked in Whroo National Park, which is a very historic area about an hour from our house.
Books
As I mentioned in the points above, reading is a huge priority in my life. Recently, I’ve seen boxes of new books for sale advertised on social media for $100. You’ve probably seen them too. These books are sorted either into categories, or are mystery boxes. This really appealed to me, but I resisted for a few days. Only a few days. I had a $100 gift card given to me for my birthday, so decided to purchase a mystery box of fiction. Once I was on the website, I couldn’t resist the box of historical non-fiction, along with the mystery box of fiction. How could I possibly resist that?
So, last week, was a very exciting day when two boxes of books arrived. Between the two boxes, there was a total of sixty books waiting for me to read. Unpacking the books really did feel like Christmas. I’ve made myself a goal of reading each of these books before the end of the year.
Genealogy
Being an amateur genealogist, the biggest highlight of life in isolation, has been having much more time for my family history and Tracking Down The Family which is my family history blog. Much of that extra time has been spent attending virtual genealogy conferences and seminars, which have become a ‘thing’ in the genie world, during Covid. I’ve attended sessions on a variety of topics, but have specialised in Scottish genealogy, as Scotland has been the focus of my attention during the past year.
The conference of all conferences, RootsTech 2021, is about to start on Wednesday this week. To say I’m excited would be an understatement. Before the pandemic, Rootstech was a three day, in person, global conference, held in Salt Lake City USA, every year, in February. I was able to attend, in 2016, and just being there, I felt like a child in a lolly shop. It was every genealogists dream to be be there amongst so many like minded people.
Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get there since, even though I promise myself to do so every year This year however, the conference is virtual, so for three days I will be glued to the computer screen, taking in all the latest information and conference action. It’s going to be a busy time for a week or two, as I take in all the notes and re-organise my research around them.
With that in mind I’ve decided to take two weeks away from this blog, so that I can get all the genealogy work done, with no distractions. I’ve realised that this is another benefit of not working. Usually, I would attend a conference, and then file my notes away, with barely a moment to revisit them. Not this year!
See you in two weeks
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Hi Jen – I’m so glad you’re finding isolation quite enjoyable. Loved the 60 books that you scored too – definitely a win! I know that you’re still thinking about retirement (or not) but I’d be asking what you really gain from going back to work – what is it that appeals vs what you have now. Every day I’m away from work is a day I smile – and I always liked the jobs I had (except for the crazy woman in the last one!) But living life on my own terms beats working hands down. Good luck with your decision making, but with the way things are going, you may not have a decision to make! See you after all your fun genealogy stuff. x
Hi Leanne lately I do find myself asking that question. What would I gain by going back to work? For me I think it’s purpose and being needed. Not sure but I’m working on my why
Enjoy your break away. I have to say the idea of “time” is a tempting one. I’d love to spend some more time researching our family history – it’s on my bucket list to write it up – but as a story, if you know what I mean. I also need the time to try and trace Grant’s family – he was adopted in Scotland with his birth mother apparently from Stockton so I’d love to trace that. Time. As for that book box – the British food one on top captured my interest…
Tracing your family history’s is definitely time consuming Jo. I’ve been at mine for over 30 years. Like you, it’s telling the stories that interest me, which is the main purpose of my blog. Unfortunately to tell the stories, thorough time consuming research needs to be done. Your time for time I’m sure will come
Hi Jen, like you I enjoy time on my own but haven’t really been in isolation as such. I still get to see my grandsons and running friends and do not take that for granted. Having space would be so soothing for you and looks like you live in a lovely part of the world. Enjoy your two weeks off and look forward to hearing what you got up to. #lifethisweek
Jennifer, Getting those books is a nice gift to yourself. Good luck with you retirement decision and have fun at the virtual conference! #lifethisweek
Thanks Natalie. I’ll see you back at #weekendcoffeeshare when my exile is over
My husband and I were already retired when COVID hit, so we didn’t have an abrupt end to our working lives. Like you, I love the absence of commitments that come with not working. A wide-open calendar is my idea of bliss! I have had a lot more time to read this year, which I enjoy. I also have had more time for fitness, which I also love. All in all, not too bad!
Bliss is how I would describe it also Laurie. You’re retirement life sounds exactly the way I’d like it to be also
So much to respond to here … I’m not sure where to start 🙂
I failed miserably at retirement the first time. But I view that period as my trial run…much like you have had these past 319 days. The second time I retired, I was completely ready!
I am also into Genealogy (website: familystorymatters.blogspot.com) and attended my first RootsTech conference in-person last year. It was so fabulous I vowed I would never miss another. While I’m sorry not to go to Salt Lake City again (my dearest friend from high school lives there and we have reconnected) … I am SO excited for the virtual conference this week!
I LOVE to read, but I’m not sure I’m aware of these mystery boxes you mention. Do you have a link? I’d love to buy a mystery box (or two). Historical-fiction is my favorite genre at the moment (although I do enjoy memoir, thriller, literary fiction, etc.) 🙂
Hi Molly this is my second attempt at retirement too Molly. Great to have a keen genie visit. Exciting times coming later in the week. Just in case you’re interested in checking out my family history blog here it is https://jonesfamilyhistory.wordpress.com/
Here’s the link to the book boxes Molly https://www.bookgrocer.com/c/stay-at-home-specials__2
Thank you! I will check these out later today 🙂 And perhaps we will pass one another in cyberspace this week at the RootsTech conference. I’m very excited!
I’m sure we will pass each other in the hallways of Rootstech Molly
I also haven’t worked (because there hasn’t been any) since Covid and I don’t miss it one bit. I find the days go by so fast and are so full and I love that I don’t have to rush around and have time to cook, play house, read, blog and explore with my dog, Teddy Roosevelt. I do miss teaching though but if I never had to work another day, I wouldn’t be sorry! The genealogy sounds so interesting! My family come from all over Europe – I think our family tree would be fascinating. Enjoy the conference and see you on the other side!
I’m starting to feel the same as you Sammie. Your family history sounds like it would be interesting to explore
Hi, my husband and I both lost our jobs last March. We also had to move from fast paced, 24 hour life in Moscow, to where we are now – a small Bulgarian village. We are both still unemployed (we’re ‘too young’ to retire) and absolutely love not having the alarm go off in the morning or have to fight the peak hour traffic to get to work, or getting home late and having no time to cook properly. I think we’ll remain like this until we reach retirement, when things won’t change for us at all!
Well done on the books – what a great treasure to receive!
I have the feeling you won’t actually have to “make” the decision to retire, because it is already happening. How much better is life for you since you took the “have to” out of it is all I ask?
I do some volunteer work which suits me. Not the other way around. I have a blog post brewing about that and the so-called thing that being retired means to give back as a volunteer!
Enjoy the what and why you have now. Sounds pretty awesome from my reading of it!!
Thank you for linking up your blog post for #lifethisweek on Monday 22 Feb 2021. Next week, it’s the first optional prompt of Taking Stock where I am using my own prompts for the first time. Hope to see you there, on or off prompt. Take care, Denyse #lifethisweek #linkup #Australia
It is an awesome life pottering at home Denyse. I’m very close to making my decision. I should say making it official as I’m pretty sure the decision has been made. Will look forward to those volunteering posts
Sounds like a good two weeks coming up Jen, enjoy!