Opportunities knock in retirement

The following letter was in response to an editorial by TV Guide editor Julie Eley about finishing regular employment and asking readers for their retirement experiences. Jean, of Christchurch, will win a six-month subscription to the TV Guide.

I retired in December 2001, when I was aged 61, living in Bracknell, Berkshire, England, but I didn’t plan anything particular for my retirement, and the only thing that was the highlight of my week was choir rehearsals with the Bracknell Choral Society. However, since leaving Bracknell and moving to Christchurch in October 2006, New Zealand has opened doors for me and now I really love my retirement because, since I have been in Christchurch, I have attended our local Anglican church regularly for nearly 11 years, where the parishioners are now like a “little family” to me. I also joined a walking group several years ago and we have a bunch of really nice people. I also belong to three choirs, one of which is an a cappella singing group, and as well as our concerts, the choirs perform at various events, so we get to go around the city, where I would normally have not gone before; and I have also been a voluntary transcriber for nearly 11 years, which I do in my spare time, transcribing British Births, Marriages and Deaths for transition to the internet, and I love it. Apart from the choral society in England, I never did any of the other things until I came to New Zealand to live, so now I am really content in my retirement. Thank you, New Zealand.