Back in 2001, when I took early retirement from the University, I reckoned that I was taking a brave step. In order to be able to take up art on a full-time basis I abandoned what had been a fairly successful career as an academic, and the respectable salary that entailed. The future was really rather uncertain, and there was no way back having taken that step. Today, however, I became aware that this might seem relatively timid to some people taking a similar step, but working under other circumstances.
We went to visit my step-son and his wife, who have just purchased a house which needs a great deal doing to it, together with an attached parcel of land. Already they run two allotments, and he manufacturers semi-professionally his own cider. He expects to be able to end his current employment in the near future, and to commit himself to growing food and making his cider for sale. Evidently a lot of burning of metaphorical boats will be required over the next year. Looking around the place for the first time it really struck me that a good deal of bravery will be required from this couple.
I do recognise the signs, however, of the felt need to make a commitment to some activity you really want to do, where you would never forgive yourself if you missed the opportunity to do it. That step of commitment is something I have never regretted, and I hope that they will be able to say the same in twenty years’ time.