My husband will have 30 years with his company soon (within a few years) which has had us toying with the idea of his retirement. He really is too young to retire (not even 50 yet), so he’s been bouncing ideas around of things he might do when the time does come.
When I first realized that his imminent retirement was looming on the horizon I must admit I was less than thrilled. The idea of him puttering around while I still had to work didn’t sound very appealing. Don’t get me wrong, I love my DH beyond all reason but I do cherish my quiet, uninterrupted workdays with nothing but my ipod and my kitties to keep me company. With the exception of summertime (when my work ethic goes out the window and I choose to spend my days at the beach), my workday is quality quiet time and I am super-productive in this environment.
One idea DH was kicking around was to become an accountant and work from home. Now, unless he’s planning on turning our older daughter’s bedroom into an office (which I just recently re-decorated as a guest room now that she’s off to college) it means that he’d be sharing my office (and my desk). Hmm…I don’t think so. Even now, the dear man tends to leave piles of notes, bills and other detritus all over my desk whenever he sits there. When I think of having to share this space on a daily basis, it brings to mind the prophecy from Harry Potter, “none shall live while the other survives”.
All that aside, this all reminds me that there are more Dads these days who are choosing to be at home with their kids either as full-time caregivers or as work at home Dads. I came across a great post by a work at home Dad today. He generates enough income from home to allow for his wife to choose not to work. What a great situation!
In my husband’s situation, our kids will be grown by the time he makes the transition but how wonderful that he’ll have that choice. And hey, maybe by then I will decide to retire and he can have the desk all to himself!