Tuesday, August 29, 2006

A day in the life...

...of a retiree. Today was one of those days that, pre-retirement, I had imagined would be typical of a retiree's day, but it's taken 2 months to occur.

First of all, I actually had the house to myself for a few hours. What with hubby often working from home and our sons sometimes home too, this has occurred far too seldom for my liking! I worked on my books, stopped for a cup of tea, sat in a sunny spot looking out at the garden, did some chores, had some lunch, then read a bit.

Later in the afternoon I walked down to the local shops, a pleasant 5 minute walk, and was overwhelmed by the aroma of spring flowers in the neighborhood. On my way back I passed the cafe that always looked so inviting but hadn't stopped in before. I had often envisaged myself, after retirement, sitting there on a sunny day, having a coffee and cake, not a care in the world. Today was the day for that! I ordered an ice coffee and a most delicious orange friand, and sat at a table in the sun, reading the newspaper. I was just me, not anyone's wife or mother, just for part of an hour. It was a nice break. I took advantage of the moment.

Yes, I am very much enjoying my retirement.

11 comments:

Val said...

Yo! Go girl. "I was just me", wonderful eh, when we get our identity back! Mind you, then we dont know who we are, and have some adventures finding out. You are path finding for me of course Val, being a few months ahead in our amazing coincidental life (next May for me)

TJ said...

Sounds like a very good day indeed!!
:-D

Carole Burant said...

Hope you get many more days like this:-) I finally discovered "me" again once both my boys moved away from home...now I'm enjoying every day to the fullest!!

Val said...

I think it's good to look around to see how other people deal with retirement, and glad to contribute my own experiences.

Interesting to see that I'm not the only one who does see some positives in having the kids move out. We ARE allowed to have lives not determined by children.

And Val, I will be counting down to your retirement date with you. How exciting! The lead up time for me was nearly as good as retirement itself. Talk about zen detachment! I took on no new projects but concentrated on finishing things off, tidying up loose ends, or deciding that something hadn't been worth doing/keeping in the first place. LOVED throwing stuff out (ok, call it recycling).

P.S. I again have a few hours to myself today. It helps that hubby is on a business trip, otherwise he'd probably be working from home.

Susie said...

Ours is not a typical retirement (or at least how I thought it would be) but we enjoy our time together very much. Glad you are enjoying the rhythm of your days...
:-)

Alice said...

Sounds like a perfect day, and appreciated all the more because it's so rare. Its rarity makes it so special.

I can relate to your feeling that the anticipation of retirement was nearly as good as the reality. Once I had decided to leave work, I suddenly realised that I felt so much better that I didn't need to leave after all. But I did.

Jeanette said...

Hi Val
enjoy your retirement and take time for you.after retirement thats when I joined the club and started lawn and carpet bowls and we took longer holidays together the last the last 6 years before my problems we would go to Darwin for 4 months each yearim glad we retired early so we had time together... go have fun enjoy your coffee breaks

sonia a. mascaro said...

Sounds you had a lovely and relax day, Val!

I miss so much to live in a city and go around the streets, visit some shops, cafes, bookstore and so on! The country's life is very solitary!

lindsaylobe said...

Interesting post on your retirement. All of our children have left home but we enjoy visiting them and vica versa.

I does sound like the sort of day I will enjoy in 10 months time !
best wishes

Tanya said...

Awwww (complain and whine). Now I want to retire. Well, actually, I've never wanted to work, but I guess you've given me something to look forward to :)

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...

Days like those are what retirement is all about. Doing whatever you feel like doing, and enjoying every minute of it.