Just retired

9 years ago

Hi,
I just retired 2 weeks ago. Hubby retired 1 1/2 years ago. So far it is wonderful. I have made several lists about my volunteering, travel, household, family & friends visit, and plain old fun.
So far, I've just eased into it with no particular schedule but 2-3 things to get done in next couple days. I joined 2 book clubs, we went to a convention, walk almost everyday about 2 miles, and lots of catchup honey do type stuff.
My gardens were almost ignored last 3 years.
This is just so great! I am 65 and it's too bad most people cannot retire at 55. I had a lot more energy then. :) But I do see an improvement in just 2 weeks of walking (we are going to get this to at least 3 miles and maybe more). I don't care to be athletic, just better. Hubby is going to buy a bike and go riding with me. No 50 mile races, just fun.
The best part is Sunday night. No more dread of Monday!!!

We have been very lucky and I think we have planned pretty well, so I am really looking forward to see what this new phase of life holds in store.

Comments (14)

akl_vdb
9 years ago
Very excited for you! Glad you have a lot of stuff to keep you busy. Sounds like you're going to be in great shape! Enjoy the time!
jakkom
9 years ago
Congratulation! As my husband likes to say, "Retirement is wonderful - I should have done it years ago!"
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Ok! So now the dirt and the sweat is washed off, and the garden is "where it would have been at the beginning of any other olde year!" Time for a break--and a few slow walks to admire the Fruit of Your Labors! There's not many things I delight in more than walking past the things I've finished---over and over and over---to just look at what I accomplished---and the longer it took and the harder it was to do, the more fun it is! This year I decided I was gonna de-clay my veggie garden! Ok! That's not entirely true, but I decided I was at least gonna try to get the potter's clay out of it! It took me 3-4 weeks, but I went out there day after day (whenever the weather was halfway decent) and dug up one shovel full at a time, down about 8-10", and then sat down and went thru it clump by clump with my hands, breaking it up into tiny pieces, and throwing anything that changed shape rather than "breaking up" into a big pot, and lugging it to the dumpster. Had to space the crummy stuff out in the dumpster every week, 'cause clay is HEAVY, and if the truck can't pick it up, they might get out and look to see what I had in there---and I don't think we're allowed to put "dirt" in the dumpster! So for several weeks I was dumping a bunch in, and testing the weight, and dumping more in, and testing the weight---and saving the left overs in other big pots for the next week. Shovel full by shovel full, and clump by clump, I got half of the garden done! That's an area about 3 1/2 by 14 1/2, so it's really only about 50 sq. ft., but, oh, my, what a job! When I started, I was gonna do the WHOLE veggie garden (minus the tomato/eggplant area), but, uh, that's not gonna happen this year! The cukes and carrots and beets and parsnips and squash are gonna have to bide their time for one more year in the BAD clay! That side's a little bit bigger, more like 65 sq. ft., and my hands and back are simply not gonna consent to doing that this year! BUT--oh boy, is it ever FUN to walk out there now--over and over and over--to look at the good (for MY garden) soil that's on the lettuce/spinach/pea side of the garden now! And all those things are planted now, tho it's been pretty chilly since I put them in about a week ago, so definitely no action yet! But, cold or not, I have something to stare at every day now! :-) It was HARD work--when I was doing it---but it's SO much fun NOW! Next year the other side!!! With all the massive gardens you plant--every year--I have trouble believing that you're "round the bend" at all! Yeah, the bod hurts in a couple new places every year (found out a couple weeks ago I have bursitis in my hip--I already knew it hurt, but now I have a NAME for it! Woohoo! And found out last week I have four seriously deteriorated discs in my cervical spine! Woohoo?), but the joy of going out there and looking at what I've accomplished somehow seems to make the pain go away---for a while at least! And if I didn't have the garden, I wouldn't have anything to "make the pain go away!" Definitely time for a break and a chocolate Easter egg! And that's from somebody who just finished a very large piece of Marie Callender Chocolate Silk pie! (Chocolate helps with "that pain" too! LOL) Tomorrow sounds like it's gonna be a wonderful day for a long walk to look at all you've gotten done, Skybird
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OHHHHHHHHHHHH how true. There are so many projects that I have in mind now that I want and need to do now that I have time for them all. Not only do I have plans for the things that I enjoy doing, but also so many things that really need doing that I have put off. My husband is not retired yet, but he has a lot of time off from work (working shifts of 12 hours allows him to be off 6 months out of the year). We have a lot of fun together and have shared interests but also enjoy doing our own thing too. I don't think that he will have to worry about me getting in his hair. I'm too independent. We do make sure that we make time for the rocking chairs, though. It's wonderful in the late afternoons, just having long talks and watching the butterflies and hummingbirds which we attract with our flowers and homemade nectar. So far, my retirement is better than I ever dreamed and it has only just begun.
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The first step to figuring out the furniture placement would be to either use graph paper or an online floor planner, lay the spaces out to scale and draw little pieces to reperesent your furniture, also drawn to scale. Then you can slide the little pieces around like a jig saw puzzle to see how and where they fit. I like to use the scale of 1 square equaling either 3" or 6". (3" increments is useful when planning kitchen layouts, but 6" is usually fine for whole floorplans.) My guess is that you have room for the table and chairs, but not much else, in the dining room. Will there be a window in the dining room? If not the hutch could go along the outside wall in there. But I'd pick a window for that spot, if possible; I like light. Would a round/oval table work better for the new space? I see that's what's drawn in the original floor plan, and depending on the size of your table, it might be what you need to prevent a hip banger on the corners of the table as you move from kitchen, to dining, to living room. But, not everyone is as clumsy as I am. :-)
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jim_1 (Zone 5B)
9 years ago
I used to work in an office at a nursing home. When I retired, I took a cue from the residents at the nursing home. Take lots of naps! I do and I don't feel a bit of guilt about it.
demifloyd
9 years ago
I hope you and your husband enjoy many years of retirement!
pandora
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks everyone !!!!
Aklvdb, my hubby is dragging me around so many places, sometimes my muscles are sore. Lol what I get for sitting in front of computers for years.

Jkom51, haha, I told my hubby ... Why didn't we just do this instead of working for 47 years?

Jim, I never used to be able to nap due to guilt. I think that has passed and looking forward to some naps. Maybe on the glider on the screened in porch.

Demifloyd, I sure hope so. Like everyone I know people that have 30 years & some not so much.

This post was edited by pandora on Sat, May 31, 14 at 8:13
jim_1 (Zone 5B)
9 years ago
OK, it has been several weeks. What is your update?
garyfla_gw
9 years ago
hi
I ended up retiring completely at 57 the reality has been nothing like my dreams lol. Wanted to sell the house and do a lot of traveling. now hate traveling except by air and even that's become a lot less pleasureable since 9/11
Costs have further squased my dream I developed emphysema so no montain climbing even a flight of stairs is a challenge.. Can't sit upright for more than two hours so no road trips .. Those faraway places with strange sounding names are flipping me the bird lol
I DO enjoy my gardening arguing with the neighbors having no schedule and a host of other things that seem rather pettylol
In 10 I was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer but so far it's just been a LOT of trips to doctors . On the last visit to oncologist I got a balloon that shouted "Survivor"
but they wouldn't gibve any candy!!
I guess I have realised my dream I'm making lots of trips to places not so far away BUT doctors have strange sounding names .
I was advised as a young man to not grow old but if you do don't get sick Why didn't I listen?? lol
Good luck with your retirement try to avoid my mistakes !! gary
pandora
Original Author
9 years ago
Gary,
I am so sorry to hear your situation. I don't think you made any mistake. No one knows how long we will have health. I wish you the best.
pandora
Original Author
9 years ago
Jim,
Thanks for asking. It has been great! I don't miss work one bit. What a silly rat race some companies' have.

My husband bought a bike and I bought a new matching one. Between the frequent rain storms, we walk or bike 5 days a week. Usually split 3&2 or 2&3. We are still at 2.5 miles walking, but quicker about 40 main. We are up to 8 miles round trip{{gwi:807}} on bikes. I love my new bike, it is a comfort, step through type. We plan on mostly paved bike trails, and stay off busy roads.

Visits with friends & family. Veggie garden looks great. Flower beds getting better.

I am so busy and still have afternoons to relax/read, and long lunches on screened porch. We are having a great time. Time is flying{{gwi:807}} by. So far, wow, excellent.

This post was edited by pandora on Sat, Jun 21, 14 at 23:06
jim_1 (Zone 5B)
9 years ago
The rains during the past week have been a bit much. It is raining again as I do this. This will probably put us over the 7" mark for the month!

The flowers and veggies in my yard are going great guns (three g words in a row). However - young Peter Rabbit has been in the back yard. He is so small and so fast that I cannot do anything about it. So many of my green beans have been nibbled! There is too much lettuce to make a difference. It just irks me!
maifleur01
9 years ago
For rabbits put up a barrier that is about a foot tall. Unless chased most will not jump the small barrier.
wrychoice1
9 years ago
I will be retiring at the end of August after 38 years in my profession. So looking forward to my time being my own...lots of ideas about what I want to do!
jim_1 (Zone 5B)
9 years ago
Congratulations on your retirement plans! Lots of ideas are good to have. I wrote mine on paper so that I would stay focused on those and not get too distracted with other things. So far, I am going OK with only a little sliding away.

And, if there is going to be a party, I'll try to make it!

Jim
Lc Jones
6 years ago
I just retired two months ago I am 58 years old and I'm so much happier than I've been in a long time so great to not have to keep A todo list I have no expectations of myself other than to go to the gym three times a week for my health

Just retired

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