one day I'll share my travel tales...

PASSING THOUGHT: Great friend just shared her travel tales+photos of Robe+the Coorong National Park. She desperately needs a break from her stressful teaching role.
But I'm longing for the day when I can share with her MY travel tales+not packing or surprise challenge updates...

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) April 13, 2022

no political grunts and groans for 6 weeks?...

PASSING THOUGHT: I'm going to try very hard to keep all my political grunts+groans to myself over the next 6 weeks...I won't add to the guaranteed, imminent Twitter stockpile...Instead, I'll reminisce on my old world+then share my new world in the Riverina, NSW...
(+ Wordle)😀...

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) April 11, 2022

honorable mention...

HONORABLE MENTION! My alarm has been officially turned off on this auspicious day. Hopefully, it will never be turned on again. Retirement starts tomorrow with another round of packing boxes. But no alarm...

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) April 8, 2022

my teaching doors closed today...

PASSING THOUGHT: My teaching doors closed today. It was Athletics Carnival on final day of Term 1. My job was to hand ribbons to place getters. Many precious moments; many told of favourite lessons.
But the best came at day's end. 7 students asked me to tell them one more story.

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) April 8, 2022

last doc's appointment...

PASSING THOUGHT: Just home from my last appointment with my doctor this morning...Flu injection done...Paperwork for new doctor in hand...6 months of scripts to take to Chemist Warehouse...
Doc was thrilled with my gift...
I was there for half an hour
and he charged nothing🙏...

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) April 5, 2022

My dentist yesterday was chatting before she started and asked how my partner was. I burst into tears. She touched my shoulder and informed me that she's actually a trained counsellor. Plus, she's been through this too. So cool that my dental care came with bonus counselling 😀

— Sandy Horne (@SandyHorne61) April 5, 2022

My GP on the Mornington Peninsula has been my unexpected support through my tragedies over the last few years...I couldn't ask for better...

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) April 5, 2022

I'm not aging gracefully...

PASSING THOUGHT: I'm not aging gracefully. In fact, while my body automatically takes the age highway, my mind panics, constantly seeks youthful byways. I'm creating a 'to do' list...volunteer work (incl reading at my daughter's school), tai chi, photography,
painting+writing...

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) April 2, 2022

update on the packing saga...

PASSING THOUGHT: Update on the packing saga...
Some memories have been literally binned...
Other memories have been packed away and sealed with masking tape...
to be opened someday...
Maybe...

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) April 2, 2022

it's nearly time to move on...

PASSING THOUGHT: Cannot believe I have 3 more teaching days ahead of me+then this teaching gig of mine is all over...Cannot believe just one week after that, I leave Victoria+on my way to the NSW Riverina...
I'll miss my mountain by the sea...
A few bucket loads of tears ahead...

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) April 1, 2022

Centrelink experience...

PASSING THOUGHT: I know #Centrelink rarely gets a good rap. I've just spent 2 hours there sorting retirement. I expected utter agony. Instead, a very helpful assistant guided me through the MyGov minefield...(mainly my interstate move causes the issues)...
Thanks Rosebud🙏...

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) March 28, 2022

retirement - a chuckle in gargles...

A morning chuckle...Just had to retweet this one...as retirement is looming close on my horizon...
Now...I just need the husband... https://t.co/jAiEnLRO3z

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) March 27, 2022

a few deep breaths...

PASSING THOUGHT: Gathering a few deep breaths this morning before facing the last rounds of packing. Can't believe that in just 2 more weeks my long teaching life closes. (Actually, 6 days of teaching - 3 per week)...
Then, launching into the big unknown...
Exciting and scary...

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) March 25, 2022

my Poetic Mojo struggles to activate...

PASSING THOUGHT: My Poetic Mojo is struggling to activate over the past few weeks...Maybe all this box packing and shifting/adjusting of retirement goalposts are taking an emotional toll...All I know for sure is that money worries increase/hover + I am so very tired constantly...

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) March 16, 2022

risking retirement...

Sandy, if it's any comfort, I'm retiring+moving early April. I'm older than you. I thought that I must work to survive, but realised that it's too hard. I'm taking a leap of faith by not looking for a partner, and hoping for that lottery win. I'm believing the risk is worthwhile.

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) March 7, 2022

facing retirement beyond mere survival...

Welcome news...as I am facing retirement very very soon...
No financial stash/investment and still on the rent merry-go-round.
I've wondered if I can survive in retirement, hence I've kept working...
Now I'm tired...Need to stop...
I need a few miracles 🙏...

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) February 27, 2022

ultimately, the bulge of the bank account does not matter...

At the end of the day, it's not about the bulge of your bank account that matters, but the legacy of inspiration you leave behind...
As I approach retirement, I know that my bank bulge is non-existent, but I dare to hope I have contributed positives to my past students' lives... https://t.co/azJXFfJTOE

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) February 5, 2022

retirement may be exciting...

PASSING THOUGHT: Finally, I've found some excitement re retirement life ahead...
The fears+worries are fading a little...
The packing's not finished, but significantly reduced+the money worry is quite happily settling into the 'what-the-heck' department...
Improvement 🙏🙏

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) January 28, 2022

welcome retirement...

I thought come retirement, I'd be sad to leave teaching. I'm not. 2022's the year I'm running to retirement. The data/assessment mania has killed the spark+spontaneity for me, because there's no room for them to happen anymore.
I can't teach effectively to 'textbook formulas'.

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) January 21, 2022

divine timing?...

So hope this means my intention to retire+move to the country in April 2022 is the 'right time' after all the stalls and challenges throughout 2021+gradual culling and packing in late 2021...
I should have moved by Christmas 2021...but...
I'm relying heavily on divine timing🙏... https://t.co/pNMgOWFOz2

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) December 23, 2021

rising Christmas traffic...

PASSING THOUGHT: Since early hours, the relentless whirr of Mornington Peninsula freeway traffic has been rising...I presume this is Christmas holiday traffic...
I'm going nowhere...I'm vaccinated, but not taking chances...
Suddenly, packing removal boxes is most appealing... pic.twitter.com/2rZnWfZLCs

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) December 17, 2021

AAAHHH...The weather gods must take centre stage to spice up the Christmas season...
Not only is there a rising whirr of freeway traffic, but now we have the sounds of looming thunder accompanied by bursts of rain...
For an added bonus, we even have cycling sounds of sirens... pic.twitter.com/kkWVi7OE1q

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) December 17, 2021

a new train and a new ride...

Wow do I know this feeling...
Finally acknowledged it was time to retire...
I'm only really being a martyr working as I have past my retirement date, especially in a toxic workplace...Not what it used to be...
I am boarding a new 'train' right now...
Enjoy the new ride...😀🙏😀 https://t.co/moYhVq3coJ

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) December 11, 2021