So in case you’ve been wondering what’s been going on lately, here’s some insight into what my retirement looks like on a daily basis. Obviously, yours will be different. For example, Greg’s retirement is simple: wake, woodwork*, beer, repeat. My friend Kelly will be sailing around the world with her husband, so you can imagine what that’ll be like. Simply put: sail, sunscreen, swab the decks, swim, read, cook, travel, sail some more. I think “Waterworld”, but I could be wrong. (Kelly, please write a blog for us!)
Now that summer’s over kayaking, hiking, swimming, sailing and apparently sunshine are done until next year. Here’s a typical day for me for this fall season: wake, linger over breakfast watching Good Morning America and checking social media updates, split and stack logs with Greg til lunch, write, sew, read, exercise, make and eat dinner, watch TV or read. Other days: walk or exercise, sew or do reupholstery, run errands in town, swim at the community college, coach or play volleyball, help Greg with something involving wood, bake or cook or eat dinner in or out with friends, write correspondence or do travel planning, throw pots in class, spend hours on the phone with the Verizon rep, eat lunch at a brewery somewhere. When the winter comes, there will be x-country skiing, ice skating and snow shoeing. In between the norm there are visits from and trips to visit, family back in Western New York, or friends in Boston or New Hampshire, or the daughter in NYC, or the son in Vermont. Life is good.
We’ve had some extra special days recently like the 60th surprise party weekend Greg threw for me this summer, complete with family visits and a neighborhood BBQ party. The occasion confirmed that I don’t have to control everything (well, that’ll be a hard habit to break) since Greg and my kids planned and organized it all. Everyone pitched in and it was a grand time. Thanks to all who travelled to spend time with us and who helped by cooking, cleaning, or otherwise worked to calm a very stressed out Greg.
So this boring post fills you in on my average day. The thing about retirement is, you can choose to schedule your daycompletely or you can wake up and decide then what you are going to do. I like that my day can be unwrapped with unexpected results. “A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do. -Bob Dylan”
More newsworthy posts are forthcoming as our winter travel plans are scheduled. First up, a week in central Florida for our niece’s wedding and a break from this dreary weather. Later!
*sometimes hiking can be inserted for woodworking for Greg. He recently became a ’46er’, having hiked all NYS mountains over 4,000 feet. His most recent hikes included multiple peaks (3 or 4), hiking 14-18 miles in 10-12 hours. Congrats to him!
My new reality 