Life after Retirement - A life under a new Retrial

21st June 2009

Life After Retirement – A Life under a new Retrial

The New Routine

It is now 14 Months I am retired and leaving a life under new Retrial.

It was on 21st April 2008, I retired from Bangalore. I was full of energy, with so many plans in my mind, but with also a feeling that I have lot of time. Days passed just like that. We were then planning a Europe Tour. The time passed in discussions, meeting various people, trying to find a Tour Operator. As usual, you will always have contradictory requirements. Tour must be full of activities, must see all places, but must have enough time at the sights to enjoy, it should not be hectic, it should not be too long, it should be cheap, and there must not be any hidden charges. Finally, on the basis of ‘no’ hidden charges and assured Maharashtrian atmosphere, good food and good track record of satisfied customers, we selected Kesari Travels. Our tour was from 16th July ’08 to 2nd august ’08. That was beginning of many visits to Kesari office for Visa preparation, UK Visa, Shengen Visa, Switzerland Visa and all that.

And then the news of Shirish getting transferred to Dubai got confirmed. Shirish was to leave in beginning of July 08. That began frequent visits to Mumbai. We made many Mumbai visits in frantic efforts to meet Shirish, Mugdha & have a dialogue with Idhant.

Followed by Europe Tour came Ganapati. Again Dushyant and Shirish were to come to India to join us in Ganapati celebrations. We then got busy in all the preparations for Ganapati festival and for receiving Dushyant, Shirish, Mugdha and Idhant.

In the meanwhile, I took up to teaching. Started teaching “Business policy & Strategic Management” to MBA Students in Moonje Institute of Bhosla Military College and “World Class manufacturing” to students at GDC Bytco, Gokhale Institute on College Road. These became five lectures a week. I also began as Yoga teacher for MBA students of GDC Bytco. These became additional 4 classes a week. Then from 7th may 2008, I started working with Nirman Group as free lance Adviser / Consultant. That was taking about 20 hours a week. Five lectures a week were requiring 30 Hours of reading and preparation and I became very busy. This continued till End November 08 when I finished all my first term college assignments.

We spent last week of Nov. 08 in Goa, we utilised our time share holiday. We celebrated Manjiri’s birthday in Goa on 30th November 08.

December has been a first lean month after my retirement. No college, no assignment. Free enjoying new LCD TV (No Dish bought yet), joined a new Marathi Library for reading and spent time with Manjiri.

January 2009, began with customary Blog for Dushyant, remembering his birthday and celebrating it at home again with Plum Cake and Red Wine.

But January to June 09 was pure student days. I was delivering five lectures a week in College for MBA & ICWA students and in a double role I was attending lectures at IGNOU MBA as a student on Saturdays and Sundays. Entire April ‘09 was spent in preparing assignments for my MBA and entire June ’09 was spent in studies for my 1st Sem exam of MBA. The exam was on 1st to 4th June 09. I have done alright in exams and I am free again.

I have Five More semesters to go before I can complete my MBA.

My career as Teacher for MBA student will start again from end July’ 09.

In these 15 months the world has changed. Change was primarily due to slow down in USA and worldwide recession. Graphite India suffered as it was heavily dependent on export to USA and Europe. The production came down to 40% and Bangalore Plant has been kept almost closed since Jan 09. As a matter of fact from May’09, all activities have been stopped and everybody has been asked to stay at home but is being paid. From Jan’09 Dushyant’s BOSCH, USA is also under trouble. Nobody is sure of Job. In BOSCH, as a saving measure, they have scheduled compulsory Leaves, so that Plant can be kept closed on those days. This will result in Dushyant’s not coming to India to attend marriages of his friends in Nov’09

Indian Sensex, which was fed by US Dollars, came tumbling down from 21,000 to 8000, only to be somewhat recovered to 15000 by June’09.

Biggest dis-appointment was not being able to go to Dubai to meet Shirish, Mugdha and Idhant. Shirish wanted me there in Dec’08; which I could not make it and then I wanted to go in June’09, which could not take place due to intense summer at Dubai.

What is the Balance Sheet of 15 Months of life under a retrial?

Let me see what I thought, when I wrote my last Blog on “Life after Retirement” on 5th March 2008.

These are excerpts from my last blog of 5th March ‘08.

Let me see what have I missed hitherto.Let me see what I can do from hereto.Shall I pursue my study of Yoga? Shall I take up study of Astrology? As a student of Astrology I can perhaps have some meaningful dialogue with Manjiri then. Shall I do a course in ‘Pourohitya’?, the art of doing a scientific Pooja ?

Really speaking I will like to join a college. Take up some course, study, prepare for exam, appear and Pass successfully and then be satisfied for having achieved something. Sometimes I think that I will take up some thesis, read a lot, write a lot and try to get a Doctorate Degree. I have even thought a subject for my Doctorate. How about “Ashtanga Yoga as told in Bhagwadgeeta”? How will it feel to be called as Dr. Ulhas? If I could do all those things mentioned above, have I not charted next ten years of my life?How will I pursue my hobby of Travelling? Where will I go? Which are the places I have missed? When will I see Khajuraho? When will be my Europe Tour? When is my second USA Tour? Will I go to Dubai? When will I go to Goa and consume my Timeshare Holiday?How will I enjoy my Life with my Grand son “Idhant” and other Grand Children who are bound to come as time passes? Will I get opportunities to interact with my grand children and enjoy them growing? Will I become their affectionate Grand Father whom they will love?How many books have I purchased and have not read yet?How many audio cassettes have I purchased and have not listen to?I have already lost my singing voice. Will I get some of it back?I don’t imagine myself as sick and bed ridden in time to come. I may get tired and become slow but I think I will always be more active than friends of my age.
posted by Ulhasmanjiri at 9:25 AM 7 comments

As anyone can see that I have yet to do so many things.

Yes, I have joined for MBA course and have become a student again. This MBA will keep me busy for next two years. But about a course in “Astrology” and “Pourohitya” ?

Yes, I have become a Guest faculty at MBA Institutions at Nashik but What about further training in “Yoga”?

Yes, I have done Europe Tour and a Goa Tour, but what about “Khajuraho”, “Rajasthan” and “Dubai”?

What about singing again? When will I listen to all those “audio’ cassettes?

What about spending quality time with Grand Children?

What about leading an active social life?

Let us see.

Que sera – que sera.

Ulhas D Wadivkar