Taking daily naps during ‘period of refreshing’

(ROCKWALL, TX — August 30, 2017) If you’re on the verge of retiring, I’ve got some advice for you.

Most retirement experts give financial advice. Not me. I’m a self-proclaimed retirement expert because I’ve taken that step about three times, but I’m certainly not qualified to talk to anyone about how to be financially secure in retirement.

Twice, I returned to the workforce for finance-related reasons. The first, I needed better and more economical health care benefits. The second, I needed a little more money.

I haven’t been very good at retiring, so I’m not calling my latest separation from the day-to-day workforce as retirement. I’m simply being “refreshed.” When I left the hectic pace of my newspaper job, my goal was to refresh so a rested-up Jim—that would be me—could return to work. I’ve still got to have an income stream, not a deep one, but one that will create some financial flow while I’m winding down for a for-real retirement someday.

So, here I am still writing and calling myself a retirement missionary of sorts. I don’t have a calling to tell you about the intense moments of retirement. No, I’m on a mission to share with you some of the lighter challenges of retirement—like napping.

Forget about retirees and rocking chairs. I’m talking about stretching out on a couch and going to sleep. How refreshing!

I took some on-the-job naps as a newspaper reporter. In fact, I became famous for my naps. I wrote about them. I earned quick naps during some prolonged governmental meetings or while sitting at my newspaper office work station.

I napped a little and never missed anything, thanks to my little digital recorder. And I never hurt anyone. I’m so thankful I never awoke with a jolt and slung my pen across the room.

I earned those naps because sometimes I would arise as early as 2:30 a.m. to begin my newspaper reporting day.

In retirement, though, I’m having some naptime issues. I’m feeling guilt. My dilemma is that I’m inclined to take naps that I haven’t earned. I sleep in—until 5 or 6 a.m. on some days—so I’m not sleep deprived. But during my days of refreshing, sometimes I get a little tired and the only solution is to take a little nap.

“Is it OK?” I have asked wife Becky.

If you know Becky, then you know she has given me the sweetest answers. In fact, her answers have inspired me to take naps. Guilt-free. Seriously.

After a month into my period of refreshing, I’ve become quite comfortable taking a daily nap.

In fact, every weekday, Becky and I have lunch at the Royse City Senior Center, then go home, get Gracie—our beloved chiweenie—and go for a brief drive. And when we return home, I head straight to the couch for an afternoon nap.

Oh, oh. I think I’ve just written myself into full-fledged retirement. I believe I have just gone beyond the refreshing stage.

Well, no matter what it’s called—retirement or refreshing—I like it. And I’m going to keep perfecting a happy life with Becky and Gracie, lunch with our seasoned friends at the senior center, afternoon rides in the car, a flowing income stream—and naps.