The farther my wife and I travel down the road on our retirement journey, the more comfortable I become in my own skin.

I never felt discomfort in who I am, or what I did for a living. I was a proud practitioner of my craft as a print journalist. I believe I enjoyed some modest success along a 37-year ride through four newspapers in two states.

It ended less than happily nearly eight years ago.

Retirement was thrust upon my wife and me. What I find interesting now that I have traveled down the retirement road is my total comfort in going about my business each day as a retired individual.

There actually was a time not long after I retired that I felt a bit strange telling strangers that I am retired. I say “strange” only because I had been a working guy since I was 16 years of age. So, the word “retired” didn’t flow out of my mouth with quite the comfort it does today, at this moment in my life.

To be clear, I am working part time … on my own terms as a freelance reporter for a weekly newspaper in Collin County. It’s a blast, man. I get to cover a city council and write the occasional feature story to which I get get assigned by my bosses. The gig keeps me fresh and keeps me enjoying a part of the career I cherished pursuing.

Maybe it’s a natural progression for those who move from working life to retired life. Given that I have no prior experience, I only can offer conjecture to what I am experiencing.

To be frank, I rather like the feel of my own skin these days.

Retirement feels more right than ever.