The work week morning routine

 My Monday through Friday morning routine, prior to work, consisted of:

Wakeup, let the dogs out, feed the dogs, fill their water bowls, make Jenni tea, make coffee, brush teeth, shave, shower, get dressed, pack breakfast/lunch, let dogs out again, kiss Jenni good-bye, and listen to a podcast on the 30-minute dress to work, while flossing, whenever the traffic flow allowed me to drive with my knees.

I've been retired for a month now. 

Still don't have a morning routine yet.

Every day has been a little different, and that's been just fine.

We went away for the long holiday weekend last week.

Jenni seemed a little out of sorts when we got home Monday night.

I asked, "is everything okay?"

"Just thinking about work tomorrow. Do you remember how busy things usually are at work whenever you returned from a long holiday weekend?" she replied.

"Of course I do honey, it's only been a few weeks."

I would have been pondering exactly the same driving to work the next morning, while listening to a podcast and intermittently flossing my teeth!

Garbage taker-outer reminders now needed

It happened again this morning.

I heard the garbage truck coming through the neighborhood.

"Shit, I forgot to put the garbage cans out on the curb again!"

I rushed and got them out in a nick of time.

Tuesdays and Fridays have always been "house" garbage pick-up days.

Wednesdays is for recycling and "yard" trash.

Putting the cans on the curb was always just routine on those days, prior to heading off to work. 

It's always been a source of pride to be our households garbage taker-outer as it's apparent that no-one else could ever remember 😏!

I'm a list man for the things I need to get done, especially on a day off.

However, a reminder for the garbage cans to be on the curb had never previously been necessary.

But now that everyday, for the last month, has been a Saturday, I'll add it to the list of things I need to do as a reminder!

Second life

"Illness is often a catalyst for transformation."-Arthur Frank

So true.

I suspect all agree, either just through reflection on the quote, or having had firsthand experience.

I went through a health scare last year, soon after turning 65. 

Everything now is pretty much fine but it was another reason that helped to cement my decision to finally pull the retirement trigger. 

"We all have 2 lives and the 2nd begins when we realize we only have one."-Confucious

This is a wonderful daily reminder to live well, to give thanks, to forgive, etc., and to possibly consider retirement if appropriate for you, your stage of life, and if all your ducks are in a row (especially finances).

It was the right time for me.

It's a personal decision for all. 

40th Medical School Reunion

I recently went to my 40th medical school reunion in Virginia. It was the last weekend of April. 

Approximately 1/2 of my classmates had already retired. Others were in the process of considering retirement. Some were still working full-time, while others were working part-time. 

Many of those still working were radiologists and anesthesiologists. 

While there I joked with them that it was because, for the most part, they didn't have to speak with patients who were "awake."

Basically, most all of those, including me, who had a career in family medicine had either retired or were strongly considering retirement in the near future.

I was honored and humbled by the trust given to me by (most of) my patients and their family/caregivers over the years. Despite the era of high-tech medicine, the doctor-patient relationship remained the cornerstone for my practice over the years.

(I've always landed in the circle geometric shape when personality characteristics were assessed: someone who places a high value on interpersonal relationships)

However, due to my circle tendencies, I think I may have had more prolonged daily drama-filled, intense, intimate, and often bizzare patient/family/caregiver encounters than many colleagues who were a different geometric shape. And, as I transitioned into a leadership role, many interactions with my fellow doctors, advanced practice providers, and staff were much the same.

While I was truly privileged to have become such a well-informed anthroplogist over the years, it was also one of the reasons to finally walk away.

I'll document others, as I continue to get my post-retirement thoughts togther.

When to retire?

(Chapter from my book, A Doc Who Jots, published in 2023)

"After many years of working, this becomes something for all to consider.

Physicians currently have no mandatory retirement age, regardless of specialty. The American Medical Association (AMA) estimates about 30% of the current work force is greater than 65 years old. Whether or not there should be a mandatory retirment age for physicians is an ongoing hotly debated topic.

However, the AMA also predicts a significant shortage of physicians in the next decade or so.

Many feel this anticipated shortage will discourage healthcare organizations from using cognitive and functional evaluation tools to screen elderly physicians, to encourage and allow existing physicians to remain in practice for as long as posible.

I have known many physicians who have continued to see patients well into thier 80s.

I will not be one such physician.

I knew an ophthalmologist, years ago, who was still an effective clinician at age 86 (due to his long-term memory), but whose family finally convinced him to retire when he got lost driving home from work, twice.

My grandfather continued to practice with metastatic prostate cancer until he became too symptomatic and weak to see patients. I can't remember if he ever officially retired. He died months later.

However, many of my medical school classmates and fellow residency graduates have already retired.

My dentist, whom I have seen for 29 years and is my age, recently announced his retirement.

My family doctor, who I have seen for over 25 years and is my age, recently announced his retirement as well.

All these announcements always take me aback.

Aren't they too young to retire?

My wife has stated, "you won't know what to do with yourself if you retire."

I don't have these same concerns.

John Chase MD, in his excellent book, "You What?!" makes some recommendations for physicians regarding this issue and it's applicable to most careers.

He advises you should continue to work if you still enjoy what you are doing, but goes on to recommend retiring when:

1. You are still valued, but not yet pitied and...

2. When you have enough, and you have just about had enough.

I continue to enjoy practicing on most days, but admittedly, after some days, have just about had enough.

I'm sure I'm still valued, but "when you have enough," given the world in which we live, is possibly the hardest question to feel confident in trying to answer.

A colleague recently reminded me of the social security life-expectancy calculator.

I entered my profile.

The result was a little depressing.

So..I'll continue to thoughtfully ponder when to retire from medicine."

Quick update: I retired 27 days ago!