Retired husband blues

Ladies, do not curtail your own interests. Sit down with your husbands, explain you need your time to see friends, do hobbies etc. Ask your husbands, partners what they enjoy doing. The other thing you could do is make a list of jobs needing done around the house. There is nothing will get a man out the door quicker than DIY or housework needing done. Sadly, Ive known too many women who give up their friends,hobbies, and indeed their whole lives for men. Then, are left all at sea when husband/ partner dies.

He wants to be with you ( is that so bad?) We go out together a lot and take pleasure in each other’s company.However I do go out with my friends as well, probably twice a week, and have clubs he doesn’t go to.Encourage him to play golf or join a bowls club? Or U3A, which have walking groups and all kinds of sports/games/ pastimes.Will he do gardening on his own? Get him to cook the main meal a couple of times a week, or walk to the library?

I am finding that mine hovers around when I am cooking, makes excuses not to go to activities that he was once enthusiastic about, asks if I intend going to my Knit and Natter meetings and then is downcast when I say that I am going! If I say I'm going to pop to the shops he wants to come too but he does suggest we have lunch out but it's difficult to bdowse if he's tagging along. I have often thought that it's like having a clingy toddler about!

Oh dear. Many sympathies to you. I suggest you take him out for a good walk each day and have a meal out or do something. Also see if you can find somewhere that needs some help where he could volunteer.
Best of luck.