Maybe Yes Maybe No

Today I will (hopefully) be starting an eight-day vacation before I dive into the fifth and final project for my day job, which is due on December 31st. I missed my last vacation due to being sick with the flu, so I'm really looking forward to this one. I am beseeching the universe to give me a pass on the usual holiday horrors so I can complete this project and wrap ip 2025 on a positive note (workwise, anyway.)

The other thing I have to decide is whether or not to retire next year. I'm inclined to keep working for as long as I can, and my publisher agrees with me on that. I have a fabulous editor and work with an amazing publisher, so I love my job. It provides an extra income for us which is helpful in these expensive times. As long as I work we only have to pull the minimal required dispersement out of our retirement accounts.

On the other hand, my guy will be 76 in December, and he's having some health and cognitive issues that indicate he will likely need me as his caregiver in the near future. Our disabled nephew will also be moving in soon, and while he pretty much takes care of himself there will inevitably be more cooking and housework with him here. I may decide to cut my schedule back so I can focus more time on taking care of the guys and my home.

It's weird to think of retiring from my dream job. I know if I do I can still write for my own pleasure, but I've been a professional writer since 1998. Kind of hard to imagine not doing something one has done for the last 28 years. On the other hand, I just saw a proof of my very first published novel (which are not supposed to be sold because the publisher handed them out to reviewers for free) listed on eBay for rather a huge sum of money, which always disgusts me, so maybe it's time.

Image Credit: Image by Jürgen from Pixabay

Comments

Maria Zannini said…

For what it's worth, as long as you're financially stable, you'll never regret spending time with your loved ones. You might regret working longer if they pass suddenly. You can never get that time back with them.
Maybe just an occasional book once a year?

October 20, 2025 at 5:57 AM

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