Read time 4 minutes

I retired about four years ago after a career that kept me active and engaged throughout my working life.

In the lead-up to my retirement, I spent time reflecting on how I would make use of my newfound freedom. My wife and I had plans to travel, I had several hobbies and we wanted to reconnect with old friends and relatives we hadn’t been in touch with for a while.

I even briefly entertained the thought: Should I take on a part-time job? The answer was a resounding no. During my career, I held management positions or worked in highly autonomous roles where, as long as I delivered results professionally and thoroughly, I was trusted to handle matters independently. I knew I couldn’t work under someone else, especially considering how many incompetent and ineffective managers I had encountered over the years—far more than the good ones.

I also considered doing some volunteer work. I felt that volunteering, on a limited basis, would be satisfying—it would allow me to give back after years of working. However, I wasn’t interested in a paid position because I didn’t want to be in a situation where I had to answer to someone else. I wanted to call the shots and work on a schedule that suited me.

Then COVID-19 hit, and practically all volunteer opportunities were shut down for the next couple of years.

I had already decided that I wasn’t prepared to sit around doing nothing. For some people, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with relaxing after decades of working. But for me, I needed to stay active & I wanted to get into a routine.

I decided to go for a walk every morning. At the time, I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy it. I started listening to my music playlists and discovered podcasts. I became fascinated with topics like ancestry, history, and true crime. But the main reason I loved walking was simply being out in the fresh air and moving through my neighborhood each morning.

Some people join walking groups or meet up with friends to walk, but I prefer to walk alone. I enjoy listening to music or podcasts while walking at my own pace. While I have nothing against walking with others, I find it more relaxing to walk by myself. It clears my head, and I love observing the neighborhood—the birds nesting, dodging plovers and magpies, the wildlife, the bushwalks, and how people organize and maintain their yards & gardens. I even enjoy walking in the rain, as long as it’s not a torrential downpour.

During my walks, I’ve noticed many things about drivers in my area. Most of them are competent, but some are downright reckless. I’ve seen drivers rushing, using their phones, turning to talk to kids in the back seat, or even doing their makeup behind the wheel. I’ve seen it all. Even in quieter neighborhood streets during morning peak hour, reckless driving is surprisingly common.

When I first started walking, I had several close calls with cars. It made me realize how important it is to stay fully aware of my surroundings. Drivers often ignore stop or give-way signs, back out of driveways without looking, speed, or veer onto the wrong side of the road. As a pedestrian, simply staying on the footpath isn’t enough—you have to stay alert. Without exaggeration, I experienced near misses at least once a week when I first began walking. I’ll admit that living in a quiet, leafy, acreage residential area for forty years probably contributed to my naivety compared to living in a city with its heavy traffic, bicycles, scooters & joggers.

A woman once pulled over in front of me on a pedestrian walkway and aggressively asked why I hadn’t seen her signaling for me to cross in front of her car at an intersection. I politely explained that waving her arms behind tinted windows and mouthing words was ineffective when I couldn’t see or hear her. It’s astounding how oblivious some people can be. She then got the shits, put her foot to the floor & sped off into the distance leaving me to contemplate the stupidity of some people.

Ok….. for full disclosure, at that point my exact thoughts that went unmentioned were 😊- Who is this fuckwit & what’s her problem?”😇

But, I digress. I quickly learned never to take anything for granted when walking along footpaths or roadsides. Always stay vigilant. If you see a car approaching, move to a safe area. Be mindful of all types of vehicles—cars, motorbikes, bicycles, and trucks. Even the postie & stray dogs can create dangerous situations.

I’ve seen stray dogs dash into traffic, causing drivers to swerve and almost hit pedestrians, including myself. On one occasion, I had to dodge both the car and the dog! One of the unfortunate consequences of poor driving is the loss of life to some of our animals. I’ve seen dogs and cats get hit and killed. There have also been many instances of kangaroos and wallabies being killed, as well as the occasional koala. Additionally, lots of snakes, lizards, and birds fall victim to motor vehicles.

It’s not always the driver’s fault, though. These experiences have made me appreciate the relative safety of bushwalking tracks.

Our local council has been very proactive in establishing many bushwalking tracks in our area. While the maintenance occasionally leaves something to be desired, on the whole, I think it’s fantastic. We’re fortunate to have plenty of local wildlife that we can observe in its natural Australian habitat. Let’s hope it doesn’t get developed, causing us to lose this precious resource. It’s truly a great asset to our neighborhood.

In comparison, we recently spent a weekend away at Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, and I went for a couple of morning walks along the Noosa River. It’s a beautiful part of the world—completely different from what I’m used to. Being at the beach, surrounded by water, and encountering far more people than I normally would on my morning walks was a refreshing change.

One of the biggest surprises was dodging joggers, cyclists, and scooter riders, who seemed to believe the pedestrian footpath was exclusively theirs. I also came across groups of jogging mothers pushing expensive strollers—sometimes even twin prams—which created wide obstacles that dominated the footpaths. Never mind, when in Rome… I quickly learned that the safest option was to step aside, smile, and give them the right of way.

They rarely seemed inclined to make room for others including elderly people out walking, acknowledge a smile or a “Good Morning,” and many of these jogging mothers came across as rather grumpy individuals.

Back home, my neighborhood is quiet, and I generally see the same people walking each morning—dog walkers, families during school holidays, or retirees like me who enjoy the sights and “smelling the roses.” I look forward to my morning walks every day. Offering a smile, a cheery wave, or a simple hello to others is a small but pleasant way to connect. You don’t have to engage in lengthy conversations—it’s just a nice way to acknowledge each other (trust me… some of them would love to tell you their entire life story 😁).

Walking is relaxing, but it’s always important to stay aware of your surroundings.