We have had a youngster over for a week. At the ripe old age of 58 and three-quarters, it was time to give GDC some preparation for Retirement day. Just as youngsters get the opportunity to experience and endure the disciplines of the work-place for short periods prior to leaving full-time education its equally important that those nearing the end of their working life get an insight into what is in store for them.
End of visit report on GDC.
Fitness.
The individual is not adequately prepared for the rigours of retirement. He was under the impression that he was going to get a week’s holiday from the basic tasks of earning a crust and taxiing the family. In reality of course the regular and extended hours of physical exercise and the disciplines required were difficult for GDC to come to terms with.
For example, walking for a meal to Schmaranz a mere 40 minutes away prompted cries of ‘why can’t we take a taxi’. Answer: you won’t be able to afford it and it’s only about 5km. ‘But we can take one home can’t we?’ No, you won’t be able to afford a taxi and a dessert!
GDC did well with the skiing but stamina needs to be improved. Obviously too much time is spent sitting at his computer. The requirement for a coffee stop after a mere hour of skiing are plainly delusional. To do so would mean that valuable corduroy skiing time would be lost and it is an unnecessary expense so shortly after breakfast. We would suggest carrying a bottle of water would give adequate refreshment and this could be consumed on the lift thus maximising ski time!
Time-keeping
Time and tide wait for no man – and the buses certainly don’t hang around. GDC has been used to having a car and the flexibility that brings. He will have to adapt to public transport. If the bus timetable states 8:24 he will need to be at the stop at 8:22. Standing in the road to halt the bus between stops is, we feel, taking an unnecessary risk. This risk that could be avoided by adequate preparation and a timely departure from the ski room. Our analysis is that GDC is over dependent on his car. We would suggest leaving the car at home on occasions and perhaps walking or taking the train to work.
Mobile phones and texting
Not a suitable or respectable habit for retirees, staring at a 2 inch screen when all around are beautiful snow capped mountains is in our view a poor use of daylight. Gadgets have absolutely no place in the modern retired world.
Alcohol
Though alcohol is indeed a necessary and mandatory item for a retiree, a modicum of restraint should be observed in the future. A favoured expression of ‘noch einer’ should perhaps be more often replaced by ‘nein danke’.
This is, of course, purely for financial reasons. The benefits of ‘one more’ beer on one’s skiing ability are well proven. The resultant need for an urgent piste side pit-stop is of course embarrassing and unwelcome but should not be derided by the younger generation. Reap and thou shalt sow!
Eating Out
Only for holiday makers –remember skiing is your work, get it done, go home - then eat.
(p.s. those steaks in Schmaranz were sublime)
Snacking
There is clear evidence that GDC is a secret snacker. His bedroom was littered with a Mars and Twix wrappers and, though we appreciate his generosity in donating his surplus supplies of Mars bars to us, his secret is out. It also needs to be pointed out that a retirees teeth cannot cope with a frozen Mars bar nor the resultant heavy dental expense. Chocolate snacks are expensive, unhealthy and, for a retiree, entirely avoidable.
In conclusion
GDC will, in time, become a valuable member of the retirement community but he needs to be more realistic in his expectations. Food and drink on demand, easy and flexible transportation, will have to be replaced by discipline, fresh air and exercise.
So remember it NOT NOT NOT a holiday, its ‘real life’ At the end of the day your muscles are supposed to ache, you will have done dangerous things, you are hungry and thirsty. It’s what humans are designed for...... and no bloomin M4. Look forward to it!
GDC was a pleasure to work with we wish him well for the future. His comments in the Visitors Book were entirely correct however ‘wunderful’ ski guiding by Bob should have been spelt with an O not a U.
(pps when are you coming back, enjoyed the beers!)
Leaving the Gastein Valley at Dorfgastein we took the lift and skied down to Grossarl. From there the local bus took us on a 15 minute trip down the Grossarl valley to Alpendorf, an alpine village above St. Johann in Pongau. A succession of lifts and ski runs took us over the Gernkogel, Sonntagskogel and Grafenberg summits and down into Wagrain. At Wagrain it was a short shuttle bus ride, soon to be a lift, across town to the Flying Mozart lift and onwards up to the Griessenkareck summit above Flachau. Time out for lunch in the Waldgasthof then down the Hermann Maier World Cup run to Flachau valley station. Have to say I liked the look of Flachau. From what I saw it has wide open slopes, plenty of trees and excellent lifts. Methinks TW will get a little day trip soon. 
100km covered and greater appreciation gained of what is on, and over, the horizon from our valley.
100km covered and greater appreciation gained of what is on, and over, the horizon from our valley.
