This time next month I'll be a lady of leisure.
I'm really not sure how I will fill my days.
I have a few hours paid work each week, but only a few.
I shall not be able to afford to be a lady wot lunches.
I'm not a fan of TV and even if I was the signal is sporadic, sometimes BBC 2 is the only watchable channel.
I've arranged to have Dgd 3 on a Thursday morning for a couple of hours and once a fortnight I shall go to the laundrette to wash the bedding and big towels.
I change the bedding weekly but it will take 2 weeks worth to fill a machine.
I will still wash and dry clothing on the boat.
So what else will I do, I will have to wait and see what turns up.
15 comments:
I cannot believe you havent got things planned. What do you, you, you, want to do?
I just found my time filled before I knew it. Occasionally I'll have a lazy day were i catch up on TV or watch a film. But I'm invariably knitting or peeling veg.cant just do one thing!
Community centres are a great place to start. They usually have lots of free programs for seniors. I didn't find out about that until I stopped babysitting grandson #3. Churches also have socials and other activities.
The beauty of retirement is not what you do, it's the beauty of what you don't have to do----like go to work every day. You do what you want instead of what others want you to do. I love being retired.
I was a teacher for 32 years and find that now that I am retired, I am busier than ever. I am not one to go out for lunch or shopping. I am just puttering around doing one thing or another and my days just speed by. Enjoy your retirement. Once you are accustomed to it, you will love it. But, it does take some time to get used to it. I have been retired for 16 years and I still feel the urge to go buy new notebooks and crayons each August.
Myra, from Winnipeg, Canada
I think I would probably like to have some sort of social life but it's not likely to happen as we are quite some distance from anything.
I have looked at the two nearest villages but there seems to be a complete dearth of any community events.
I've been retired for about a year now and I'm still finding my feet. I was chatting with my SIL today and she was telling me about the financial planning she and my brother have been doing in anticipation of retirement in 1.5 years. I told her that the really tough planning part was - what are you going to do for the next 20 or 30 years. She said that she had been thinking about that and had been encouraging my brother to start planning as well.
So far I have kept myself very busy, found lots of free & low cost things to do in town, I've joined a few clubs, I've done some volunteering and I've read a lot. I am planning on finding some paid work a few days a week eventually - but would not want to return to full-time work. I think you'll be surprised at how quickly you fill your week.
Lady of Leisure my arse...lol Im sure you will wonder how you ever fitted work into your life
You're not one to be idle & always so busy with non-work thing so I'm certain that you will soon find your time filled!
You can still do lots of things, you'll just do them at a more relaxed pace than at the moment!
Retirement is wonderful, I finished just over six years ago, and can honestly say it was the best move I ever made. Okay, we had to economise a little, but life is just SO much better without having to work.
I was so tired of hearing the alarm going at 6-30 every morning, leaping out of bed and hitting the floor running!
I look far younger than I did when I was still at work, my skin's better, my eyes are brighter, I've gained a few pounds I could live without, but that's down to having time to bake, then eating it all!
Within a few weeks you'll be wondering how you ever found time to go to work, I promise!
It is when you wake up and sense the arrival of snow, frost and hard, hard, cold,
That is when retirement is at its best knowing that you do not have to drive/walk ten miles to work and then get home later on. It is going shopping during the week and it is quiet and relaxing and you can park the car. It is getting Christmas shopping and finishing before others have started. It is disliking Saturdays and loving Mondays. It is feeling smug about all the aforementioned and not giving a stuff. Enjoy enjoy enjoy. Love Andie xxx
Are there any volunteering opportunities nearby? Maybe a volunteer visitor for those nursing home residents who don't have anyone (god forbid we end up like that), or a tea trolley pusher at a local home or hospice? How about The Samaritans?
Presuming you will be located in that area until CHS finally gets his freedom how about a couple of hours volunteering in a local primary ( yes I know you're retiring from a school situation } When I worked in education the volunteers who helped the little ones with reading were much valued as a little help for those who needed that extra time made a difference . In a classroom there wasn't time to help those lagging behind much .
A lot depends on whether you want to add to the funds or just engage with others . Not ideal for all but maybe a group involving crafting often people can share their skills and pick up new ones while socialising .
I'm sure all will go well Hester . You've been so busy with the day job and dealing with the irritating situations you will now be able to clear your brain although no doubt the situation will go on for CHS until he too gets to escape .
polly x
Hester,
I retired 3.5 years ago and I have never been so busy! I wonder how I found the time to work...
I do the school run and look after a grandchild for a couple of hours after school twice a week; volunteer for 4 different organisations over two days (shortly to reduce to one day) per week. I walk with the Ramblers and by myself. In my spare time I read, crochet, visit friends, do a rummage round the charity shops plus the usual cooking, cleaning, washing etc.
You'll love being retired!
I'm not retired (not old enough) but ended up taking a break from work a couple of years ago (due to a lot of reasons) and I find myself wondering where the days are going! A lot of old work friends ask me if I'm bored but I can honestly say that there aren't many days when I am. I go out to lunch with friends maybe once a month, but most of the rest of my time I take walks, housework, sorting and lots of hobbies! I don't watch a lot of tv and I don't turn it on until late afternoon just so I won't sit and watch television all day - I don't usually pick up a book until later for the same reason.
I would start by thinking about all the things you've wanted to learn or do but haven't because you haven't had the time.
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