What to Do in The Retirement, Starting To Write

This is my first post and I was looking for the best way to introduce myself. I thought that a good way was  to be interviewed by somebody who knows me well.  Since no one volunteered, I decided to interview myself.

Here we go  (WSN are my initials).

Me: Why do you want to start blogging?

WSN: I feel that so far my life was very eventful.  I was born and educated in Poland.  There I became a faculty member in the Department of Surgery of Warsaw Medical School.  I came to this country and started from being an intern in a foreign to me medical system.  After finishing residency and fellowship, we moved to California, where I opened a private practice in cardiovascular surgery.  Our children were born and raised there.  After 30 years I closed the practice, sold the house, retired and moved to Chapel Hill in North Carolina.  I feel I have a story to tell.  The real reason for that however is to recount details to my family, particularly to my children.  They need to know, that there was life before they were born and when they were growing up.  There is a certain heritage of facts and thoughts and they need to be familiar with it.

Me: English is your second language.  Do you think it may present a problem?

WSN: It might, but not from standpoint of the contents of my writing.  Facts will be communicated well, so will the thoughts.  Minor cosmetic phraseology and syntax errors can be corrected or even excused. That is the way I speak and I did survive in this country for almost 40 years in a professional environment.

Me: Why did you retire?

WSN: We were planning our retirement for a long time.  I opened a retirement account as soon as I become the co-owner of the practice.  Together with my wife we contributed to it diligently and with professional help achieved our monetary target.  Our family life was becoming more clear.  My father died a few years ago and my mother recently.  Children were educated and are on their own.  House , which was built for seven people, became to big for  two of us.  Climate in health care has changed to the point that it interfered with my vision of medical practice.  Professionally I achieved as much as I could, and I didn’t see myself as a surgeon for life.   It was time to close this chapter and move to the next.   Retirement seemed to be logical and a natural step.  We did it seamlessly and on our terms.  There were and still are significant issues to be solved, but in general, we are happy.  So many  things have changed, but we have to address each one in a time.

Me: Do you regret not retiring earlier?

WSN: Absolutely not.  It was the right time.  Timing was not decided by a single factor.  Our professional careers, personal family matters and financial picture all pointed in the same direction.  There is a time for everything.  It was time for a next chapter.

Me: Do you miss everyday hospital life?

WSN: Some, but not that much.  What we missed the most was everyday interaction with our patients.  This was extremely satisfying part of our professional lives.  I don’t miss hospital politics, which took a big chunk of my life.  I don’t miss being in position of authority, which came with it.  I am no longer recognizable wherever I go and it is perfectly alright.

Me: How did you make transition to retirement?

WSN: It is still early, just 6 months, but so far looks very promising.  All major things have been accomplished: physical and psychological transition happened, we chose and moved across the country to a new area, house is in construction and we are getting acquainted in a new environment.  No setbacks so far.  Now is time to build on that.

Me: Thanks for an interview and good luck.