Less hurrying to get errands done in a rush on weekends or after work.
One of the sweetest things about retirement is that we can choose our companions and embrace people who make us smile.
I can explore different activities and joined a Women's Bible Study group, which has 10 members. That is a great way to get to know people in a deep way. We always share things we request prayers about.
In April I bought a coloring book for adults called "Enchanted Forest" and that is a nice relaxing activity and change of pace from reading, writing and a bit of tv watching. We only watch an hour and a half of tv a day. I gave the same coloring book to my sister for her birthday and I gave "Color Me Happy" to my stepmother for Christmas.
Another plus for being a retiree is that I go the health club three times a week to walk on the treadmill, and sometimes exercise in the pool.
And reading remains a great joy for dh and I, some things do not change.
This past week I bought three books, "Homer's Where The Heart Is" by Marjorie McGinn, "Is He Popenjoy?" by Anthony Trollope and "Midnight Cabernet" by Elaine Ambrose.
I haven't read the other two books I bought yet, though using my crystal ball as seen through my love of Trollope, I am going to enjoy "Is He Popenjoy?" With a title like that, it promises some humor and Trollope always delivers romances that face difficulty. I heard that a Marquis gets punched in this one. "Midlife Cabernet" promises dark humor about life after 50 and this author is new to me.
Anyone else have comments on being retired?
35 comments:
sounds like a good life, happy for you.
Happy Retirement! It sounds like you and your dear husband are really getting into it and that's GREAT!
FlowerLady
My husband is retired...and he is bored---and he also told me today he can not wait until I start back to school/semester next week. That keeps him busy (helping with homework). ANYWAYS---those books look good---I will have to check them out. Blessings
My husband has been retired since August 2007. He said he works more at home than he ever did for the phone company (41 years with BellSouth, now AT&T). I'm a retired Accountant and do like the easy life but sometimes miss the daily grind. I'm glad y'all are enjoying it. The secret is to remain busy, isn't it.
BTW, Blogger has messed with the 'feeds' again and some blog posts are not showing up until days after the fact. Might wanna start checking all your fav blogs daily to be sure everything is posting correctly.
Hope your day is blessed. ~:)
I love retirement too but find I am not spending as much time reading as I thought I would, love to read and a life long bookie. I guess all the talk about how sitting is the new smoking keeps me on the move. Most of my reading is done in evening the last hour or so before I hit the pillow. I spend half of each day on physical fitness and then the afternoon is already gone & it's time to fix dinner. Where do all the hours go?
The older I get the quicker the days go by! Enjoying your retirement is a good thing! I should start reading books again. I skim my magazines.
warmly,
deb
I work at home weaving and the days sure do slide together. It doesn't matter if it is Monday or Saturday for me. Sounds like you love retirement, and its fun to enjoy and pick what you want to do for the day.
Sound like a good start to the retirement life. Stay healthy!!! And enjoy. Hugs, LJ
Looks like you are fitting into the retirement well.
Retirement sounds like a wonderful idea to me! I still have a few years of working to go!
Hello Terra. Sounds like you have established a good life in retirement. We are "supposed" to be retired but, alas, still work part-time jobs, although the schedules are extremely flexible. It is good to be actively involved in lots of things so I'm not complaining. Wish we could just take it easy though but it doesn't look like that will ever happen. ha! Take care. Susan
Groups, exercise (especially the swimming) and all of the other activities and interests, I'm envious and looking forward to retirement, Terra.!
Love and best wishes!
Jane
You sound as if you are enjoying your retirement.
My husband and I also are retired, it's fun...do what you want to when you want and not having to be looking at the clock to either go to work or come home.
I got two coloring books for Christmas, I find it very relaxing! I used to have Mondays off and I don't miss packing everything into one day to get ready for a long week at work. Enjoy retirement!! :)
It took me a year or two to embrace retirement. I liked my job and the people that I worked with, but I did not like the anxiety I would feel because of deadlines. Now, the days run together and that is OK with me.
It sounds like you and your hubby are on the same page and are enjoying these years to the fullest.
I tried to leave a comment yesterday. I am encouraged by your retirement activities. I know it will be hard to leave but am looking forward to being able to do the Women's Bible Study in the mornings and so many other things. Thanks for the encouragement.
It was hard to embrace retirement at first. After 50 years in ministry, and that routine of weekly preparation, being Pastor's wife, and mom, and Sunday School teacher, in the choir...etc, etc. Then you don't have a flock to shepard. it was hard, but we now have embraced it fully,, and your discription is much like our life now.
I keep busy at the Villa, but my ministry has taken a little different tone with the folks in the complex. They don't realize I'm secretly shephering them..
Your books sound very interesting.
I've been retired since July and my husband 2 years earlier -- what you said is SO TRUE!! The best is Sunday and knowing you don't need to go to work in the morning!!
I LOVE retirement. But I already had two big projects going, outside of my work. (1) My husband was already providing full-time daycare for our grandkids and I was thrilled to become part of that, and (2) we have an enormous volunteer commitment. Five years into retirement, I still don't have enough time for everything I want to do. Next step is to extricate ourselves from our volunteer roles. I was worried I'd lose my identity when leaving my job, but now I know exactly who I am: A Person who colors, knits, writes, gardens, spends lots of time with the grandkids, etc.
I concur about losing track of the days of the week. Hubby now works part-time doing repairs in back room of a local hardware store. He likes it, and I like it :)
Much of my time (and his when not at the store) is spent traveling to and from my parents' place about an hour away. I spend many hours with Mother in the dementia unit of the nursing home & then time with Dad. This is my "calling", my "hobby", my full-time job for now.
My husband 'bought' out his retirement early, and in turn I quit when he did. So, we've been retired for quite a while and have loved every minute of it all. As you said, absolutely NO SCHEDULES...and that is what we wanted.
Enjoy those books and memberships.
I have loved everyday of my retirement and done many things I never thought possible but one of my greatest joys is not having to get up in the dark to go to work in the dark. I now wait for daylight before getting up. Ah such a simple pleasure. Thank you for visiting my blog.
Terra, the Enchanted Forest coloring book for adults sounds delightful. If I saw that today, I'd buy it. How nice that you are retired and enjoying the small pleasures in life. I've always wanted to join a Bible Study group. I do meet with a friend once a week and we talk and pray, and talk some more. :) That's great that you work out at the gym. You are busy doing many wonderful things. I wanted to thank you for your comment on my kindness post. It was truly special and I appreciate what you said. May you and your husband enjoy your years together - it's so nice that you're both retired.
love, ~Sheri
Hi,
I love how you wrote such a wonderful, positive look on life. :-) I smiled the entire time reading your post. I think it is wonderful how you enjoy the simple things.
A great post!
Thank you for the reading ideas.
Carla
I've been thinking about getting an adult coloring book simply because I've been told it's very relaxing. It's good to know of a specific one that people have found enjoyable! Thank you for the suggestion.
Sr. Ann Marie, and everyone, the next coloring book for adults I buy will be one with a Bible theme, I haven't decided which one yet. On Amazon for less than $10 per book I found 3 that look good: Beauty in the Bible, Color the Psalms and Whatever is Lovely.
Ooh! That sounds even better! And I have a gift card for Amazon!
I have the same coloring book! But have only sat down to it once so far. I am "retired" (from homeschooling my children) and I love it. So you'd think I'd have time to color! In fact, I'm not even sure what I do all day, but I keep interested and busy. You're right, the days can run together!
I have been retired for nearly ten years now, but I have worked off and on since then. I haven't worked since a year ago. I love being retired, but honestly, I still feel like a slacker when I read during the day or spend time on doing non-productive tasks. I am not one to do coloring. Those coloring books make me crazy. I would be unsure how to even fill in the spaces. LOL
MY husband has been retired for about 10 years now (we are 65 and 66) I haven't worked since 1991 (injury) We adore it....the days are going by very quickly I do have to agree with that which is kind of scary...We recently met a man who just retired from G.E. and when my husband first met him he was beside himself with having nothing to do all day and feeling like he wasn't productive anymore because he no longer had to work. They have a group of these men that all enjoy old cars and cars in general. They meet once a week for breakfast. Well....he loves been retired now. He called us the other day around 11:00a.m. and he had just gotten up and was making breakfast for him and his wife....I love having nothing to do...I try to lunch with one of my friends atleast once a week....if not twice. In the summer I spend the days by my pool...and I cook. I have a fabulous kitchen I l love to bake and cook...having some sort of an interest or taking up a new hobby is the secret....and sleeping late! Thanks so much again for visiting my blog....You can see by that post that I know how to have fun...you should go back three posts and read my year in review! Sue
I've been retired for a little over 10 years too and I love having some control over how I spend my day. We hiked the morning so I can rest and relax this afternoon. What could be better than that? I have a new mystery from the library to read too. Hugs!
I have been retired for four years....the days do go quickly, but I love no stress about lesson plans, etc. :)
I have been able to read more and actually sleep in. When I first retired, I still got up at the same time I always did for work. I still get up early, but not work early any more.
We are taking care of my mother, and thank goodness I am retired.
ENJOY your retirement.
I love finding new blogs...yours is great.
Have a great Sunday.
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Blog
Lovely post! I do look forward to retirement. Time to read and potter about the house and not getting that horrible Sunday night feeling because you know the working week is ahead of you.
Thanks for drawing our attention to Homer's where the heart is. I spend a loy of time in Greece during the summer so love reading about it. I'll add it to my kindle collection.
Ah, you DO understand about retirement! Yes, I see we have some things in common! Have a blessed day enjoying LIFE!
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