"I want to retire"

someone told me yesterday. He is old enough, more than old enough. The problem is that he and his wife took on three grandchildren and they have been "doing it tough" as the saying goes. The last eleven years have been a repeat of their earlier parenting but they are more than twenty years older now. Their vague plans for doing some travel or spending more time on their own interests ceased long ago. They cannot simply hand the children back at the end of the day.

The Senior Cat took a rather early retirement. While he loved teaching and interacting with children the responsibilities of running a very big and very difficult school were taking a toll on his health. He was also again being pressured to take up a very senior role in the Education Department itself. It would have meant no contact with children, no teaching and even more stress. It was not for him. He had plans.

It might be said the Senior Cat had a second career. He made conjuring apparatus for magicians. He was good enough that more than one world renowned magician asked him to make or repair things for them. I became used to finding these "characters" appear at the door with something in their hands. They would disappear like rabbits into the workshop and reappear through the back door seeking cups of tea and biscuits and someone to talk to while repairs were made. My mother loathed it all but tried to hide it. Apart from her own love of ballet she found any sort of theatre person not to her liking. The Senior Cat loathed ballet. 

After Mum died the visitors increased and stayed longer. I often found myself putting extra vegetables on and hoping there would be enough to feed everyone. It was part of looking after the Senior Cat. He also taught young people conjuring tricks and stage craft. He encouraged them to take an interest in woodwork and gardening. Perhaps it could be said he went on teaching in other ways. He went on teaching to within a couple of days of his death. 

"Your father didn't really retire did he?" The man who was telling me he wanted to retire said this in a puzzled sort of way. I had to agree that perhaps he had not but he was happy having the time to do what he wanted to do. 

"What would you like to do if you did retire?" I asked. 

He thought about it for a bit and then said, "A bit of travel. We need a holiday but then...well really I would like to spend some more time with the kids, doing things with them. It would be more of the same but without the pressure of work."

I wondered how many other people think like that rather than dream of endless travel, sport and things for themselves. It is not the same as "looking after the grandchildren because both parents work" is it?