Soni's Spark Shack

How do you want to retire?

How I Picture My Retirement
By Soni’s Spark Shack

I don’t dream of a yacht. Or a golf course. Or wearing beige and complaining about the youth these days.
Nah. My retirement looks more like this:

I wake up slowly. No alarm clock. No rushing. Just the quiet purring of Thunder (probably sprawled dramatically across my chest like a feline diva), and the soft glow of morning light coming through linen curtains. The air smells like lilac and maybe a hint of honeysuckle—depending on which oil I decided to diffuse before bed.

I stretch. Not in a “ugh, I have to do this” kind of way, but in a “my body feels safe and I want to move” way. Maybe I journal. Maybe I sip coffee while doodling ideas for my next children’s book—Thunder will likely star again, of course, probably saving a bunny or stealing a sock. Either way, there will be rhymes.

I check my Etsy shop—Soni’s Spark Shack is still going strong. Orders for digital pet portraits, cozy printables, and books filled with joy and healing roll in. Not because I’m hustling, but because the work is real. It’s me. And people feel that.

Some days, I paint. Others, I write. Some days I do nothing but snuggle with my cats and read a favorite book, guilt-free. The point is: I choose. Everything I do is intentional. Aligned. Gentle. Fun. Mine.

Retirement isn’t about quitting—it’s about returning.
To myself.
To creativity.
To quiet mornings and soulful evenings.
To healing without pressure.
To laughing until I snort, while Cassi tells me I’m ridiculous and still somehow the best storyteller she knows.

Maybe one day, I’ll host little retreats. Journaling weekends or creative circles for women who’ve lived through a lot and want to laugh again. Cry a little. Be seen.

I don’t need big. I need real. And finally—I’ve learned how to build that.