Today is the first day of the rest of your life! How cliche but how often have I said that phrase in the last fifteen years or so. And now with this website I am starting yet another journey. Although I have been blogging for several years and writing retirement articles for the last five or six, this is the first time that I am delving into the realm of self-publishing.
When I went through my last divorce back in 2000 and something, I had no idea what the future would bring. But one of the outcomes was the inspiration to journal the feelings and experiences I was going through at the time. That venting and self-therapy eventually led to the book I recently launched, Starting Over after Midlife Divorce.
Little did I know how much my life would change after my wife walked out on me all those years ago. Oh, we had many great years of marriage before things began to crumble. Our two sons have gone on to lead successful lives and I definitely have nothing to complain about at this point in my life. But at the time, I had no idea what the future would bring. Fortunately for me, I made several spontaneous choices that have all worked out for the better.
Living in a small town with an ex-wife and new wife is not a good idea. But we didn’t plan on moving to the other side of the world to escape the former. When I was invited to teach at a large international school in China, we didn’t hesitate. Yeah, I gave up paying into social security and my teacher pension for another decade so my retirement income is much less than it could have been but in hindsight it was well worth it.
In return, we spent six years living, working and traveling throughout China and the rest of Asia. We got to spend holidays in Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos and Hong Kong. When my stint in China was over and retirement was knocking at the door, we decided to stay in Asia rather than move back to cold, expensive Canada. So off we went to Chiang Mai, Thailand, for three years of fun in the sun. Moving and staying abroad was one of the best decisions I made at that point in my life.
When International Living approached me to write for them while we were living in Thailand, I jumped at the opportunity. Nobody else they approached in Southeast Asia was interested! Who would say no to the opportunity to be paid regularly for their writing? Apparently a lot of people. That decision led to an ongoing relationship with IL. I continue to write for them and speak at their annual large conferences. Choices, choices, choices…
Our last move to Peru was another choice that has worked out well. We’ve been here for almost three years now and love it. We currently live on the north coast where it never rains, temperatures hover around 70 year round and there are no bugs. Hey, that last one is the most important of all. Anybody who has lived in Canada or other mosquito laden places will understand.
So, yeah, it has been an incredible ride since my divorce. I’ve remarried, done oodles of traveling, gone from math teacher to writer and live on the beach. Just when you think it is all over, there is often a bright new beginning. You never know where life will take you if you let it!
