This retiree went to culinary school and worked in a retirement residence during the pandemic
Heather Walker, 70, Waterloo, Ont.
I retired in 2016 at the age of 61 after a career in technology and administration. My last job was working in health and safety training at a remote mine site in northern Ontario. I was working on a rotation: I flew into the site, worked for two weeks and then went home for two weeks. At first, I loved it, but after six years, I started finding it very stressful and difficult to leave home.
The mine was winding down, so when the company announced another set of layoffs was coming, I volunteered to be let go with a bit of severance pay. I was ready to move on. My timing was perfect since my first grandson arrived the day after I officially retired. He came a month early.
I wasn't set on retiring fully. I assumed I could find something closer to home with my software skills, but the technology I worked with at my last company turned out to be outdated. That set me back.
After about a year of retirement, I started to get bored, so I took a culinary course at the local college. With my newly upgraded skills, I hoped to land a part-time job at a bakery or restaurant. It was quite an experience being the only senior in a class of 18- to 24-year-olds. It was a lot harder than I thought. You've heard of Hell's Kitchen? I was going in for pleasure, but they teach the kids the pressures of the pastry and baking world.
I ended up quitting before the course finished. I got a part-time job front-of-house at a little bakery, but COVID-19 hit, and they didn't need me anymore.
During the pandemic, I moved on to a server position at a retirement residence, wearing the full personal protective equipment and getting daily health checks. I thought it would be good for me to be around people and that the work would be fulfilling. I expected to work there for two or three months, but stayed for two years. Working for a group of residents ranging from 60 to 101 years old during the pandemic was an experience I will always remember.
Next, I went to work at a country bakery, but couldn't keep up with the work. That's when I realized something was going on with my health. After getting it checked out, the doctors found several blockages, and I needed heart bypass surgery immediately. It was a bit of a shock to me because I'm a relatively healthy person.
The heart issues forced me to change my retirement plans and adjust my bucket list. I planned to travel overseas a lot more, get involved in pickleball, and keep active with my two grandkids in their sports, but I can't do that now.
I stay active, doing what I can. I have a community garden in Guelph and joined a mature singles group for nature walks, dining, theatre and many other events of interest. I also participate in some studies at the University of Waterloo in areas such as the aging brain, bone loss and nutrition.
At first, I did worry about money in retirement, which I think is common. There are so many unknowns. It takes time to adjust to no longer receiving a paycheque and what your income looks like when you start collecting your Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security benefits. I started to relax once I saw the true retirement picture after taxes. For most people, retirement is very doable if you save, invest and live within your means.
The most challenging part of retirement was finding a lifestyle that would provide a healthy balance. It took me about five years to settle in, but now I love it. The one thing I would have done differently is not to wait for retirement to see more of the world. My advice for others? Don't put off today what you may not be able to do tomorrow. And plan for changes. There are lots of them.
- As told to Brenda Bouw
This interview has been edited and condensed.
Are you a Canadian retiree interested in discussing what life is like now that you've stopped working? The Globe is looking for people to participate in its Tales from the Golden Age feature, which examines the personal and financial realities of retirement. If you're interested in being interviewed for this feature and agree to use your full name and have a photo taken, please e-mail us at: goldenageglobe@gmail.com. Please include a few details about how you saved and invested for retirement and what your life is like now.
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