Learning and Living Through an Ice Storm and Retirement
When the infamous Montreal ice storm of '98 hit, I was 36, had a permanent job, was newly married, and still in the honeymoon phase, even six years in.
My husband and I were trying to squirrel away as much money as possible, so we chose to stay in a one-bedroom apartment with a galley-style kitchen where you only had to twirl around to access the stove, fridge, or sink.
It was wall-to-wall cream-coloured shag carpeting, the décor remnant from an Austin Powers movie, but what it lacked in finesse, it made up for in coziness and warmth.
Unbeknownst to us, that warmth would come in handy as our building did not lose electricity, and our humble home became a hub for others suddenly plunged into the dark and cold.
My husband and I weathered that storm unscathed; instead, we opened our place to my parents, 77 and 82 and my older sister and her family.
It was a rotation of bodies, but I could not be happier.
Being the youngest in the family, I constantly experienced a need to prove my capabilities. I finally proved to my parents that I could take charge and offer them my help for a nice change. I was excited to show my parents that I could whip out a meal quickly and display calm under these strange and confusing days. My main concern was to keep my parents well and safe.
What was so nice back then, if there could be a silver lining, was that we did not have today's superfluous gadgets. We did not have cell phones, so when we gathered in my living room, we looked upward into each other's eyes and could read genuine expressions instead of emojis.
Though we were fortunate enough to have electricity, we did not have the distraction of all that additional outside noise and chatter that is the mainstay of our world today, i.e., Glancing every second at text messages, Facebook, or Hotmail and receiving BREAKING NEWS ALERTS.
I felt insulated from all the chaos happening outside, but in my home, with my husband and family, I felt safe, and truth be told- I wanted life to stay like this indefinitely.
Fast forward to today, and here I am, age 61, retired, in that acquired house in the burbs, living through another Ice Storm, this time not so lucky and with no power.
Thankfully, with my beloved by my side, we have endured much worse than this over our 30 years of marriage. Nothing compares to our most significant losses, our cherished parents over the previous years.
If I could grab and shake the shoulders of my younger self in '98 and warn her about a few things, it would be the following; -
Spend more precious time with Mom and Dad. Ask many questions about their life, engage with them, listen to their stories and opinions, even if you disagree, and tell them daily that you love them fiercely!
Think hard about that decision not to have children.
A messy home is acceptable, but neglecting your extended family relationships and friendships is not. Cultivate these wholeheartedly.
Take care of your mental and physical health.
Work hard, but play harder.
Have a concrete plan for retirement because retirement will be bliss or a nightmare!
Much has changed since '98, but I am still the same person, just trying to find my footing at this new stage in my life. Here is what I have gleaned so far in my retirement years.
You may find transitioning from a structured work routine to a more lackadaisical lifestyle challenging;
Give yourself both permission and time to adjust.
Aside from staying physically fit, stay passionate and active through interests, hobbies or learning new skills.
Ensure you remain open to new opportunities for social interaction and connection, and consider volunteering, which can help you maintain a sense of purpose and meaning.
Make choices that align with your personal preferences and values.
Retirement should be about your ability to focus on your happiness rather than meeting external expectations or conforming to societal norms. If you want to keep extremely busy, go for it! But it is equally ok to slip on your favourite Hawaiian shirt and swoon along to Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. Creating a balanced schedule for yourself and prioritizing your well-being in the process is what retirement is all about.
Retirement is about exploration, whether in the travel sense or philosophically;
There is no "right" way to retire; you only need to be authentic in your decisions and how you choose to make the most of your time.
If I learned anything following our recent Ice Storm of 2023, aside from investing in a quality generator, retirement involves grit, humour, and a flexible mindset.
Just like Mother Nature, retirement can be beautiful, satisfying, disappointing, unpredictable, and often full of surprises!
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About the Author:
Wendy Reichental, B.A.,Dip. in Human Relations and Family Life Education, McGill University. Certified in Foot Reflexology, RCRT® Registered Canadian Reflexology Therapist.
Wendy enjoys capturing life’s passages in short essays and opinion pieces. Her writings have appeared in The Montreal Gazette, Ottawa’s Globe and Mail, and various online magazines. Wendy's unique take on those first days of the Pandemic lockdown is now part of the just-out anthology Chronicling the Days by Marianne Ackerman (Editor) and Linda M. Morra (Editor). Guernica Editions, Spring 2021
