Ailsa Martin-Buss: Retirement should be quality time for me, not endless committees

COMMENT

Retirement seemed like a time to do what I had always wanted - painting all day long, going for walks or to the gym at any time, catching up on reading.

What did I do?

Firstly I went to a portrait class to learn how to paint. When the class ended, a small group of adult students wanted to continue and hired a community hall for the purpose.

I went along, thinking it would soon fizzle out and then I could stay at home and paint. That was over 10 years ago, and I'm the only one of that group remaining, though I've attracted quite a following.

My job description is chairman, secretary, treasurer, committee member, liaison officer, advertising executive and anything else a group needs to keep going.

I have spent oodles of time looking for models so we would have something to paint and draw.

But I couldn't paint without money for painting materials, and I also needed some physical exercise, so I combined the two disciplines by applying for a job delivering pamphlets, not just from one company, but two or three.

I ended up walking practically all day nearly every day and had no time to use the paints I could now afford, till I wised up and gave my notice to one or two delivery firms. Now I just earn enough to buy a bit of canvas and paint when I need it and possibly get a frame or two when I think the work is good enough to show.

Then I went innocently along to a meeting to which I had been invited, not knowing the danger I was about to face. I was to learn all about minutes and motions and seconding motions and all of what a committee does.

I had never been to a properly constructed committee meeting and this was fascinating. The topic was a pre-arranged art exhibition. "I can't do it all myself," moaned one less-than-eager individual. Of all the people there I was the one who lacked the presence of mind to shut up. "I'll help you."

That meant years of finding out what committees do, hours finding out what a computer does, nights of missing Coronation Street, telephones interrupting Emmerdale and my afternoon nap, more answerphones that go unanswered etc.

I could have taken up bowls, tennis, croquet, mah jong or jigsaw puzzles but with my track record I might have ended up on their committees as well.

I bet Rembrandt, Rubens and Renoir never wasted painting time going on committees.

When do I become a really retired person?

* Ailsa Martin-Buss is a Herald reader from Glen Innes.


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