As a life long Star Trek fan, I do believe that some day we will evolve to the place where people work for purpose and not just for an income. There are some lucky people in the world who have figured out how to do both — but I was never one of them. I chose a career in government and while it was challenging, I struggled in every position I held to incorporate creative ideas into the mix. What this career did give me was a chance to retire early and also the stability to own a home and car for 25 years, protect my child and myself with health care options and help create some systems that will be in place a long time. Those benefits were well worth whatever job satisfaction I sacrificed over the years.
But now I find myself back at a crossroads after three years in retirement. What I am seeking is purpose. Where have all the dots in life led me? During the time we were choosing to retire and move to Bocas to start a new life — I was sure that this was the final destination. It took me a year to adapt to not knowing what day it was and base my week on what needed to get built, cleaned or bought — assuming the weather was good enough to boat off the island. We built five buildings, started a successful weekly market at the bar and developed some lifelong friendships both with ex-pats and local Panamanians. But still, there is something more for me to do.
Friends encouraged me to write a book or volunteer. I tried both half heartedly but living offgrid on a remote island does limit the volunteering opportunities. There are many organizations that I would love to help. The Darklands Foundation is amazing at protecting and advocating for the indigineous population in Panama. Caribbean Coral Restoration is supported by many friends who make concrete sculptures every week for placement of small pieces of coral. I read about a guy in Boquete who dehydrates donated green vegetables into a powder that he distributes to the indigineous peoples to add to their diet. What a great idea!
I moved back to the US to see if that was part of what was calling me and found that I do miss being closer geographically to my sisters and son. I also miss the forests and cold weather! So that is still where I am — trying to navigate what is really going on with me and find the answer. The best unasked for advice I can offer for new retirees is — find something that interests you before you get here and factor that into your decision of where you choose to retire. If you are leaving behind family in the US, work out schedules so that you can see each other several times a year and use social media to keep in touch.I underestimated how much it meant to me to have that connection and look forward to finding a solution that helps create closer bonds.
