Officially Unemployed

Retirement is leaving one’s job and ceasing to work. This is an inaccurate definition. It is about leaving one’s job but not necessarily about stopping working.

April 30, 2025 was my last day of employment. I shared a photo my wife took of me enjoying a nice dinner to celebrate the event. My post was all in good fun and my way of celebrating the end of working a 9-5 since 1983. As my mom, who was a native of St. Thomas USVI, would say, “I fired da work man!”

I wrote an essay earlier this year announcing my upcoming departure from working. I was off by one month but the event occurred anyway. In my essay I stated:

“Retirement is the act of leaving one’s job and ceasing to work. I would suggest this is an inaccurate definition. Retirement is about leaving one’s job but it does not necessarily mean you stop working. Work can come in a variety of forms. Retiring is more along the lines of no longer having to be somewhere 5-6 day a week for a specific amount of hours. Most retirees never completely cease working.”

As I pondered what I had written, I told my wife that I will no longer tell people I’m retired. Instead, I will tell them I am unemployed. I’m known for not following the norms and trends of society. I went to a new eye doctor yesterday. The paperwork asked for my employment status. My response; unemployed.

Most people have not had an issue with me saying I’m unemployed except for 2 people.

One person, asked me if I was retired or unemployed. I told him “I am unemployed since I could go back to work if I wanted to and I still have side jobs I still work.” He was cool with that.

The other person was not happy with me using the term “unemployed” She said I was making light of my situation by using a term reserved for people who are really unable to get or find work. She then referred to me as a piece of excrement, and (get this) that I was using my privilege when I state I’m unemployed.

I let her know that she doesn’t know me and I asked her if I was using my white or black privilege. I also told her if “he” (the picture of the person looked like a guy) was offended, go get in line and get a pair of testicles. She responded by calling me a retard, and stated I was using my wealth privilege.

I have had many ups and downs in my professional life and my wife and I are doing well, but we are nowhere near being wealthy. I know wealthy people; we are not wealthy.

Finally, she called me a retard.

She complained that, in her opinion, I used the word, unemployed, inappropriately thus offending ever unemployed person in America yet she was comfortable calling me a retard?

Interesting. I told her again, that she doesn’t know anything about me, so making comments like that make her the retard. I added that she needed to stay in her lane. She then made another asinine comment and said my post was effeminate. I told her again she didn’t know me and then I blocked her.

Here is the problem with this person and others who troll the internet. She saw a post from a person she doesn’t know and was offended. Why? Because instead of saying I am retired I said I am unemployed. She implied I was making light of the life of the truly unemployed. She doesn’t know me well enough to make that comment.

Truth of the matter is I have been unemployed, with a family of 4 young children. I took low skilled and low paying work to make ends sorta meet when I was out of work. I understand the struggle and the fear associated with being unemployed, but the unemployed don’t own the word and I have stated why I’m using the word unemployed instead of retired. We live in America; I can do that.

Here’s a few thoughts. Instead of attacking first, why not ask questions, especially when you don’t know the person. If you are offended by a post from someone you don’t know you don’t have to post a comment, but if you feel you have to, start with a question instead of a statement. Speak to people with the intent of gaining understanding. Listen to what they say. People are more likely to respond to a question asked with sincere curiosity than an attacked dog style statement.

The fact is she was just offended and saw an opportunity to attack. She was not interested in getting to know me or discover why I will continue to tell people I am unemployed. She will never understand people who aren’t offended by everything and from time to time think for themselves.

When your time comes and you are asked about your employment status, you do you boo. If you tell people you are retired, I have no issues with that. If you want to use a different term, I’m cool with that as well.

So far, it’s taking some time getting used to being unemployed. I woke up one day and realized I had nowhere to be. My wife asked me what task I needed to complete this weekend. After thinking about it I told her nothing since everyday is a weekend for me.

I will continue to tell folks I’m unemployed. If that term hurts your feeling I’m not sure what can be done to help you.