Retirement planning
I have just finished responding to an email from a friend who recently left her monastery after being a nun for 20 years. In her email, she lamented the hardships she is facing in the real world, and urged me to never abandon my life as a brother.
Her concern that I might one day walk away from this life is not entirely without foundation. Once, years ago, I confided to her that I felt as though I had never really unpacked my suitcases—that I might leave the next day if the right opportunity came along. I knew, of course, that this was a very unsatisfactory way to live so I decided to deal with it through a method I have used successfully to make other difficult decisions in my life, i.e. I ignored it til it went away.
I have reached a stage of my life, however, when I no longer have a desire to chuck it all in. After all, why give up free food at my age? As a nod, however, to that unredeemed part of myself, I have decided that in my waning years I shall be a grumpy old brother whose only joy will be to rob the younger brothers of theirs. Yes, if I see one enjoying the company of a female friend, I will accuse him of cavorting with loose women and causing scandal to others. If one has a drink, I'll accuse him of being an alcoholic. God forbid that anyone should go to the movies!
And with all the practice I'm getting by keeping this blog, I feel I shall be very good at my future occupation.
Her concern that I might one day walk away from this life is not entirely without foundation. Once, years ago, I confided to her that I felt as though I had never really unpacked my suitcases—that I might leave the next day if the right opportunity came along. I knew, of course, that this was a very unsatisfactory way to live so I decided to deal with it through a method I have used successfully to make other difficult decisions in my life, i.e. I ignored it til it went away.
I have reached a stage of my life, however, when I no longer have a desire to chuck it all in. After all, why give up free food at my age? As a nod, however, to that unredeemed part of myself, I have decided that in my waning years I shall be a grumpy old brother whose only joy will be to rob the younger brothers of theirs. Yes, if I see one enjoying the company of a female friend, I will accuse him of cavorting with loose women and causing scandal to others. If one has a drink, I'll accuse him of being an alcoholic. God forbid that anyone should go to the movies!
And with all the practice I'm getting by keeping this blog, I feel I shall be very good at my future occupation.
posted by BroLo | 4/30/2007 01:15:00 AM
7 Comments:
Your future self sounds quite a lot like an elderly brother you described some time ago.
It's good that you are apprenticing yourself to experts in your chosen field.
I guess my lack of originality will be one of the things I'll be bitter about.
Life unfolds one day at a time. I admire your commitment, yet it's still only a day at a time. Having met some of the grumpy brothers, it's hard for me to imagine you will join their ranks. But it's good to have goals.
Hey - anyone can tell you don't enjoy female company, BroLo.
Ahem.
You are correct, Pog. I tolerate it for professional reasons.
I suspected as much ....
Mwah.
Personally, I am not getting any more irrascible as I get older - I was always a grumpy sod. However, I notice that the yojng uns around me are more tolerant of that sort of behaviour as they begin to make allowances. I sense an opportunity that will increasingly be available for me to exploit.
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