Retired?

Being able to plan or better still decide on the spur of the moment to have a day out mid week when it's less crowded.
Having breakfast in my dressing gown and sometimes not getting showered and dressed till after 9.30
Not having to worry about hair n makeup unless I'm going out.
As many have said, just being able to please myself.

Frank, Frank, Frank.....!!! Where to start???? That's what my retirement is like, too - spending fun time with grandchildren, helping a few people, having the time and space to be able to give something voluntarily to those who need it....and all MY CHOICE!!! where did I put my headache tablets??

Listening to my neighbours scraping their cars on a frosty morning and snuggling back under the duvet till whatever time I feel like.. not wearing a watch again. Taking spur of the moment trips or holidays whenever I feel like it. Doing nothing but sit in the shade in the garden reading for a whole day if I want to .
Also being able to ring my daughter and say I'll pick up 'littlest grand' from school and give her her tea today.. and then taking her home again after we've had a nice time.
I missed work and my colleagues for about a month and then thought yippee!! this is just wonderful

I do envy some of you on here. I've been retired for 5 years now, and I enjoy being able to volunteer at the local museum and do some research into different topics BUT I still feel guilty if I sit down to read a book during the day. I still seem to structure my day - this doesn't include housework before you ask, I can happily ignore that! I think the inability to settle with a book comes from the voice of my mother in my head saying 'What are you reading that for, why don't you get outside into the fresh air'. Oh, how careful we have to be as parents!

Being able to get up at whatever time I like, and having the capability of thinking of cleaning the house.................then not doing it!

I Know exactly where you are coming from Galen. My DH retired 15 years ago and hated every minute.Consequently he took every opportunity to go back to work and even though he is in his 70's he currently has 3 jobs:covering maternity leave in a girls'grammar school 4 days a week, being a tour guide at a local stately home and now and again being a course clerk for a local legal company.He would very much endorse your views Badenkate :hobbies are only for the evening etc.I am very different and can happily sit down with a book straight after breakfast.Pootling and faffing are my strenghts !!

It's lovely to get up have breakfast at leisure say you will meet up with sisters for coffee and actually be able to do it [ Smile ]

Mine you I think I should take up computer lesions then maybe I would be able to do smiling faces he he

Baden How can we train you? No, you don't need a structure unless it includes a 'do what I like time', honestly, you don't. Now repeat after me 'I have worked hard for so long and now deserve to enjoy myself' Now keep saying it until you believe it.

Hi Galen

I agree women do multitask sometimes dangerously.
I saw a woman putting her make up on while driving at about 50mph this week.

Frank

Oh yes? And men don't? Many a time, driving into Manchester, I saw men shaving while driving.

I have seen men glancing at newspapers whilst driving! One was holding the paper above the steering wheel. I pipped my horn and saw him throw it across his car. Plonker!

Putting on makeup while driving at 50mph? Don't make me laugh....

I sent my sister a txt with my diary for the week. She sent back to say''What a social whirl!'' She sent another ,having read it again,and said ''But it's all health appointments.'' Too right , Matey. Still I suppose it means they are looking after me.

Having a reliable income (ie the Australian pension) and not having to spend all day working with people I've nothing in common with.

Not having a schedule fixed by someone else.

Having time to potter in the garden.

Being able to have a dog.

Making lots of friends at U3A

Being in a writers' group and a performance group - something I never had time for before.

Not having to go out if I don't want to. eg like today when it's been chucking it down for ages.

I like the fact that, although we have some structure to our days, and are involved in lots of things, it is all from choice; the "rules" we make our ours and we can say "no" whenever we choose.

I too love not getting up at 5.30, not feeling pressured by work morning, noon, and night, but I also like the occasional challenge of organising, or helping to organise, a big even or project, like to current one. Half of that is satisfaction, half is afterwards when the relaxation is wonderful!

Being able to arrived home in the early hours midweek knowing I don't have to get up until I wake.