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House work vs free time

(93 Posts)
henetha Tue 16-Jun-20 12:42:28

I agree with Quentin Crisp who wrote "Dust doesn't get any worse after four years".
And I write in defence of fridge magnets..... each of mine is a happy memory of holidays in various parts of the world.

sodapop Tue 16-Jun-20 12:38:24

I find it quite satisfying, I have to do a fair bit due to several pets. My husband shares the chores when he is not shopping or doing maintenance on our old house.
I tend to go hell for leather on the days I don't have anything else scheduled then a lick and a promise on the other days.

Sallywally1 Tue 16-Jun-20 12:31:19

I agree I’ve never been much of a house wife type, too busy working. I think my thoughts were how do people fill their time with it. I do the bare minimum still. My late mil seemed to spend all her time at it.

twinnytwin Tue 16-Jun-20 12:17:12

DH and I do it together about once a week - he sweeps and mops and does bathrooms and loos. Also he vacuums upstairs and down. I do the bits he doesn't notice - dusting, windows, mirrors. It's only about 90 minutes tops. I do all the laundry and ironing as needs.
When I left work I went to an art class and really loved it. I still go to a nearby group. I went back to sewing all my clothes, knitting, learning to embroider. Retirement certainly isn't about housework.

Oldwoman70 Tue 16-Jun-20 12:11:58

Do as much or as little as you like. I like the house to look tidy but I don't clean all day - a quick dash around in the morning and the rest of the day is mine. I think I have mentioned a friend whose house is really untidy - to the extent you have to move things to sit down. She once said to me that her children (and now grandchildren) will not remember if her house was spotless but they will remember her getting down on the floor to play games with them.

grandMattie Tue 16-Jun-20 12:07:49

My mitt is that no one died from an overdose of dust, or regretting not having ironed the pyjamas.
I clean every week, bathrooms and kitchen more often, but I certainly don’t go overboard. I prefer to read than dust...

Sunlover Tue 16-Jun-20 12:07:01

I live by the motto ‘ Housework makes you ugly!!’ Only do as much as I need and would always go swimming or out for lunch in preference. The dust will still be there tomorrow.

Gilly1952 Tue 16-Jun-20 12:06:51

What is housework? Does it involve using that thing in a box stored under the stairs that makes a noise when you plug it in?

dragonfly46 Tue 16-Jun-20 12:04:22

I only clean when it is so dirty I can't ignore it any more!

Calendargirl Tue 16-Jun-20 12:02:03

‘Better a house unkept, than a life unlived’

kittylester Tue 16-Jun-20 11:53:40

My fridge - including the magnet lucca mentioned.

kittylester Tue 16-Jun-20 11:49:31

We have a cleaner!

I also have a fridge full of magnets lucca and I have impeccable taste! grin

ginny Tue 16-Jun-20 11:43:04

Loos , basins, and sinks cleaned or wiped every day. Otherwise I just do things as I notice they need doing. Far more interesting things to do,even these days.

J52 Tue 16-Jun-20 11:39:19

I keep housework to a minimum. I used to enjoy getting out and about to gardens with friends in the summer, it usually involved lunch. I love my own garden And spend a lot of time there.
If the weather is poor, then reading. But I have also enjoyed developing some skills in textile art, something that I had not done before. I’ve taken up a sport that I had not done since school days and joined a choir.
Also, of course travelling, somewhat limited now, but hopefully will be possible again.
I know I’m fortunate to have good health and an inquisitive mind!

Ilovecheese Tue 16-Jun-20 11:36:46

I seem to do less now that I just do a bit of freelance work (and even that has dried up during lockdown) than when I was working full time.

Lucca Tue 16-Jun-20 11:35:59

I was once given a fridge magnet (I know awful things) which said “boring women have immaculate homes”
Surely it’s up to you?

shysal Tue 16-Jun-20 11:23:42

I wasn't put on this earth to fill my time with housework! I do the minimum although I am retired and could spend hours a day.
This is my motto:

Sallywally1 Tue 16-Jun-20 11:16:03

I have just become semi retired (working three days a week from full time). I have only ever really done the basics, shopping, all the cooking, some vacuuming and polishing, all fitted in around full time work for years.

Now I have a bit more time and still only do the above. What do other people do? I don’t want to fill my retirement years with house cleaning either and hope to get involved with other interests, swimming for example when they re open!