Day 96 of 365 - Work in the Senior Years

The year I turned 50 was when I chose to stop working in my clinical professional career as an occupational therapist.  I had explored other interests that I wanted to pursue.  Also, I was just very tired from many years of overworking, something I did not fully recognize until I stopped doing it.  Since that time, which is very young to 'retire', I have never done more than casual part-time work, for a LOT less pay than I had earned before, and never again in my clinical profession.

I walked away with a fifty percent pension from my career, which I could start taking at 60, and my federal pension, which I could also start receiving at 60.  I am not destitute by any means, but I have not had significant annual income in a long time.  Fortunately, I am also financially supported by my husband, to provide us a very nice place to live and cover basic monthly expenses.

At different times, I have sought out casual work, both for interest and for mental and social stimulation.  I proctored exams at the university for five years or so and also did clerical work in the business school there. Recently, I went through an enrollment and orientation process for the clinical skills learning program at the university, where I would be a simulated patient.  However, I have not yet been assigned any work.

This morning I went for a screening process at a place that does clinical trial research for what I would call nutraceuticals.  They have several different studies going, to research the benefits of supplements of different kinds on health markers.  I will find out tomorrow if my lab results qualify me to be enrolled in a 4 month study.  If so, and when I complete it, I stand to earn $500 for my participation.

I was there for two and a half hours this morning, and as a thank you received a $5 coffee shop gift card.  Clearly, there is no big money to be made in this kind of work.  It is definitely just supplemental income which is sporadic in nature.

At this point, I'm just dipping my toe back into the working world, after having done no outside jobs in the last several years, since moving to our apartment.  It seemed like more than enough work to get a house ready to sell, purge belongings for years and get re-established in apartment living and a new lifestyle.

Also, though I have not had any significant health issues, since menopause my energy levels have not been what they used to be.  So, the past five or so years have been focused on addressing that with nutritional approaches and exercise.  I feel like I'm just coming out of the woods in that domain, and perhaps ready to do more outside work.

I realize that my experience may not be typical and that many seniors choose to work well past the age of 65, which my husband is currently doing.  But, for those of us who stopped working 'early' it's quite a financial adjustment.  It's rather easy to take for granted that regular paycheck until you don't have it any more.

Though simplifying my life and reducing my spending has not been onerous, I can certainly see how many seniors could end up living in borderline poverty if they are no longer able to supplement their pension incomes.  So, it's probably a good idea for me to pursue while I am able and, especially once my husband chooses to retire and our pot of money diminishes more.

I don't know how many more years I have, potentially 15 or 20, maybe more.  Hopefully I can still make some contributions to the world via different kinds of casual work that are interesting, and also earn a little extra money for living expenses too.  Feeling financially secure is definitely a contributor to health and vitality.  We do what we can, and hope to live in comfort and security.


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