The Days Seem to Have More Hours When You're Retired

I remember how long the summer days were when I was 12 and on summer vacation.  I used to hang out with friends on the shady patio.  We'd sit on the back steps and my mom would warn us that sitting on the cold cement would give us piles.  

But I digress.
The days have been flashing by for years.  Suddenly there is time enough and variety enough to make the day seem longer - like I have the gift of more hours.  And it's true.  I do have them back now.
Yay

A Matter of Taste

I live in a square house with a pointed roof like the kind of house I drew in First Grade.  The houses on both sides of me are the same.

Now the neighbour to the right has added pillars to his entrance!!  Did you know that some of those pillars you see are made of plastic?  He has also added styrofoam ledges for his windows!!

From a distance it looks like the real thing - impressive.  Close up not so good.

Certainly is helping my local social support network.  Everyone on the street has an opinion.  I'll let you know if any are favourable

Apple Blossoms at last

For the first time in 20 years I am home to see the full glory of the blossoms on our crab apple tree.  They fill the whole window in front of me and behind the monitor.  It's a once a year event and this year is a good one.

A wake up and smell the roses moment

Back to my Mom self

With more time available and potentially less money my mind goes to thoughts of grocery flyers, bulk cooking and slow cookers.   Except for the slow cooker that's just what I did when I was home with small kids and on a tight budget.

Of course I did not have RA then either.

I am hoping to develop a lightness of spirit as the days go by.  Already I am having to fight increasing heaviness of body.

The Books Under The Chair

The pile of books under the big chair has been growing by leaps and bounds.  It's a healthy mix of garage sale, gifts, Amazon and pass-ons.  The first 4 I pulled out to read have been engrossing.  No great literature but page turners all.

On Tuesday I plan to go to Wychwood Library for a talk about mystery novels set in Toronto.  The Ellis Portal novels are set partly in the Don Valley near our previous home.

The leisure to read and meet new people is invaluable, not to mention that chairs (arguably) look better with space beneath them

Those Are Your Work Clothes

Not any more they're not.  The tyranny of the clothes has ended.  And I suspect that buying clothes will be lower on my priority list.

On the other hand when I see older people  wearing a Michael Jackson jacket or a polyester track suit I do wonder if they are living with their eyes open and I feel a little sorry for them.

In my sleep I came up with a great phrase - The autonomy of the goldfish.  There must be something I can do with that

Get A Job!

That's the message from an interesting woman I met.  She talks to a lot of retired people and they tell her that the first year is great, after that not so much.

But my calendar is filling fast.  So there.

Sjogren's Conference Tomorrow

This year I can really concentrate on the material and also volunteer for the future.  That is a real benefit to me and the organization.

The novelty of retirement has not worn off.  I wonder if it ever will?

Not so driven by purpose

It is refreshing to take off the blinders imposed by tight schedules and lack of energy.  Following the byways that you run across is a lot more fun than a "just the facts ma'am" kind of life.

Now all of my complications will be from choice - those past problems are all SEPs (Somebody Else's Problems)

Here's Your Gold Watch

That's the first song that ran through my head when I heard that I was retiring. It made a theme for the last few weeks. 

It's easy to lose sight of the fact that there is an end to commuting and getting to work at 9:00am every day.  It's also easy to think that you are indispensible.

So here is my first observation about my retirement perspectives.

1.  You really appreciate people a lot more when you are saying good bye to them