What do you do all day?

luvchocolate

Hello everyone, I am a 63 yr old female and work full time, but next week I am reducing my hours to 3 days in preparation for retiring some time next year.
I am so looking forward to not being tired out all time, but do wish people would stop asking me what I will do with myself!
Sleep for the first week, then catch up on all the jobs that have been neglected, see friends and start to live again!!
so excited!

lisa110rry

Congratulations luvchocolate! I wish I could do that. However, I'm 59 and still on the treadmill. Have to say it's mostly a very interesting and pleasant treadmill though.

Yesterday I only did one of my three jobs. Got the greenhouse all sorted and the raised beds. Then it was so nice in the greenhouse I went and got a glass and a small bottle of last year's sloe gin and listened to some old Poirots on the phone. The last one wasn't finished when it was time for tea so I was in the kitchen while my husband was watching rugby in the living room. A pork chop, mixed steamed veg and mash with gravy and apple sauce. The chops were far too big (husband's eyes are bigger than his tum when he gets these from the butcher) so little dog will get a treat today. Speaking of which, little dog will come to work with me today as I think she's unwell. The vet is very close to the office. Paws crossed all will be well.��

After showing herself up in the consultation room (and not wheezing) the vet pronounced her a healthy dog with a healthy heart, lungs and nothing wrong with her throat. He recommended Piriton of all things. We'll try it.

Katiehound

[QUOTE=lisa110rry;69405498
After showing herself up in the consultation room (and not wheezing) the vet pronounced her a healthy dog with a healthy heart, lungs and nothing wrong with her throat. He recommended Piriton of all things. We'll try it.[/QUOTE]

just to say you can get Boots own exact equivalent of Piriton which is cheaper- just don't say they are for the dog or they will refuse to sell the tabs to you! (Yes, it has happened to me!)

lisa110rry

Thanks Katie, we have a Boots near the office. However, have already asked my husband to get some from the local chemist. He is a very truthful person and may let on. Still, if they won't sell it to him, I'll get some tomorrow by subterfuge and underhandedness. Do you have to give your hound Piriton?

By the way, I apologise for "bleeding" my concerns for my little dog into this thread as I had already started a thread in the "Pets and Pet Care" section. It was worry, but I shouldn't have done it. I shall now pipe down.

moneyistooshorttomention

I'm following the thread with interest.

Fully retired for a while now.

I've pretty much done all the "initial stuff" one way and another. That, in my case, boiled down to selling my starter house and moving lock, stock and barrel across the country. Which then segued into having to gut the house I bought here. I've done the majority of stuff that needed doing to the house - and will have to wait for more income to come in to be able to finish it (so it looks set to be a few years then to accumulate that:().

Done a good general "explore the area" and am now branching out and exploring more in depth. Bit problematic with no car and a poor bus service (once an hour and some are worse) - but doing what I can. Setting out in walking boots with map and checking it all out. The garden is much more "normal" than it was when I bought the house - so growing some stuff. Taken on some voluntary work. Joined a few groups. Made a few friends and expanding to make some more.

Errrr....and got to the "...and now what next?" stage personally.

I'll carry on with those social activities/volunteering/exploring/seeing friends - but I'm not sure what I should be Doing next (as in with capital D). I feel I'm waiting for something and cant identify exactly what that is...and guess its my next "sense of purpose" thing and not just pleasurable/sociable/etc type stuff. I think I'm thinking more along "work" type lines than "study" type lines. I don't fancy doing a course of study of anything.

I've worked out a list of mini-projects now and duly written them in next years big A4 Desk Diary - all duly divided into "Sort my body out", "Food type things" and "Me".

Sorta not a big "work" type project though. Hmm...thinking cap on. I wouldn't want the type of "work" type project (of the unpaid variety) of some I've had earlier in life. Those earlier ones were activist ones - of trying to improve the environment/fight for employees rights (including my own personally)/fight for peace and took a toll on many of us personally (and I am pretty certain my income is still suffering from that).

Tony Bliar ignoring that 1 million strong march against the Iraq War in 2003 and causing all the trouble he did and the consequences we are now suffering from that (Isis, huge number of refugees and all the economic migrants tagging along in their wake, etc) was a huge huge source of making me feel too disillusioned/pessimistic that Things Can Only Get Better (if we work hard enough to change society) and the raison d'etre of many of us vanished in a puff of smoke and may never reappear after that.

Hmmm...does anyone else feel they are "waiting for something" - only they don't know quite what and they don't know whether its just something personal relating only to them or "bigger" than that. I tell myself that maybe many retired people feel like they are waiting for "something" and I am interested to know if that's a common feeling?

lessonlearned

Interesting question Money.

I think there is or at least there can be a fairly pronounced period of "transition" between a working life and full retirement. I think this time can be problematic sometimes and often calls for a bit of soul searching and some reflection.

I have found now that both my husband and my mum are dead and both my father and FIL are now frail and elderly, I have somehow slipped into the role of matriarch and "elder".

How did that happen. :rotfl:

I guess just by default. I am the eldest of my generation, both my sister and SIL are younger. Plus of course, ive always been an opinionated know it all bossy boots.......but in a nice way......lol.

However, In my head im still 16:D and yet......im now expected to be the fount of all wisdom - the all seeing, all knowing Oracle.

I haven't even got any grandchildren yet, so it can only get even worse. They will want to know what life was like "in the olden days"........

Money, I guess it's different for singletons like yourself without children, but I think that for people like me with families and responsibilities, even if we are widowed or divorced, then once our parents die or become frail then we sort of just assume the mantle of "family elder".

I think a lot of people do struggle when they retire to find themselves a "role" or "place" so yes I can understand how you might feel you are just "waiting for something to happen".

Who knows what the future has in store - maybe something wonderful.

Have you looked at any of the websites out there aimed at retirees. Ive discovered one called "sixtyandme". It's written by a woman, and there are some interesting articles.

As for me - I have a bucket list as long as my arm......im going to need a very long retirement to work my way through it. :rotfl:

I don't want to dwell on my husband's illness and death but I do feel that i have sort of "lost" 10 years. I am determined not to waste the time I have left, so no looking back with longing and regret. He's gone and there's an end to it.

I'm off on holiday in two weeks time, the first holiday in over 10 years.

I am a tAd nervous because it is my first holiday on my own in my entire life......:rotfl: I am sure I will be fine.

It will be an adventure.:D

I also think it will mark the transition from "widow" to "singleton" and that it will be a stepping stone to my new life.

Katiehound

[QUOTE=lessonlearned;6940812
I'm off on holiday in two weeks time, the first holiday in over 10 years.

I am a tAd nervous because it is my first holiday on my own in my entire life......:rotfl: I am sure I will be fine.

It will be an adventure.:D
[/QUOTE]

Have a simply wonderful time. Be yourself, talk to everyone and anyone- go without any preconcieved ideas! Above all have fun, and yes look on it as one of the first of many many adventures.(And if you findthis particular holiday doesn't tick the boxes then look for something different next time.)

Katiehound

Hi Lisa
Yes, one of my hounds needs a piriton from time to time. She sometimes gets a red patch on her tummy and I am not prepared to go for an expensive and painful skin scraping- so taking vet's advice and popping a pill when needed. It seems to be regular advice as my friend's setter has a number of allergies, and this is what is given.
Hope it works

lessonlearned

Thanks Katie. I will certainly do my best.......:rotfl:

I'm already thinking about next years trips and adventures.

Have Senior Rail Card, Will Travel is my new motto.

Ive had lots of invites for next year and I intend to accept them all.

lisa110rry

Thank you Katie, just wondering how to get the tablet into her. She's at rest on her bed behind my husband's chair at present and hasn't presented herself in the room since her tea, which is unusual, but she was in the office with me today after the vet. Several people to wander up to who stroked her ears and several treats. I was hoping she would come from her bed, demand a treat from my husband, at which point I could take over and do the tablet thing. Incidentally, my honest husband admitted it was for a dog and got the usual response, but they let him buy them. Must have been a dog person. Think I know who it was (springer and cocker, both working dogs).