In June 2005, just days after my 39th birthday, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time my life was going well. I had a good career with a major information technology (IT) company and life was on autopilot. Then my world was suddenly turned upside down.
I was extremely lucky to work for a company that had very generous sick leave provisions so I was able to focus entirely on my breast cancer treatment over the next few months. Due to the non localised tumours in my left breast my safest treatment option was to have a mastectomy. At the same time, I elected to undergo a breast reconstruction (Latissimus Dorsi flap). As my lymph nodes were clear, radiotherapy wasn't required however chemotherapy was highly recommended.
My cancer journey gave me the opportunity to re-assess my life and what is important to me. My career had never been the most important aspect of my life but I'd become trapped in the usual 9 to 5 grind without giving it much thought.
Following my treatment, I tried to return to my professional career but struggled to resume my previous working role. I no longer found job satisfaction and I didn't feel that I was coping with the daily stresses it involved.
After much deliberation, and thanks to the support of my wonderful partner, in September 2006 we took the huge step of selling our home in Melbourne to relocate to Brisbane. At the time it had appeared likely that alternative, less stressful roles could be found for me in Brisbane. However, these roles didn't eventuate. So after several months, I made the decision to quit my job and settle on the Mid North Coast of NSW.
Before my cancer diagnosis, I'd planned to retire as soon as I could afford to, and my goal had been to achieve that by the time I reached 50. But what if I now didn't live that long? It would have been cruel to spend the last years of my life working toward a retirement that I would never get to enjoy. To retire early has meant needing to live a simpler and more modest lifestyle, but now that I'm living it, I don't miss anything. There is joy to be had in the simpler things that life has to offer.
Relocating to the Mid North Coast has also given me the opportunity to spend more time with my parents as they enter the last years of their lives. They moved to the area when they retired nearly 20 years ago. After they moved, the opportunity to spend time with them had been very limited but now I live only five minutes from them so we can drop in on each other as we please. It's a joy to be able to share birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Christmas etc with each another again.
Although I am currently "retired", I haven't totally dismissed the idea of returning to work. Financial demands may necessitate this; although with careful budgeting things appear to be on track. And if I found a role that offered that elusive combination of job satisfaction and enjoyment without being overly demanding then I might consider a return to work. For the moment though, my days are full and I am enjoying being a retiree.
--Kerry
