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| OAFS Photo |
That opening photo was taken last Saturday, the 11th of January. It wasn't a lot of snow, but so far this year I've seen more snow than last winter. Which I don't mind, seeing as how I don't need to go out in it if I choose not to.
I'm enjoying this retirement thing, probably way more than I should. But heck, I've always been kind of lazy, I'm a "work smarter, not harder" kind of guy. And if you can afford it, why work at all?
I know, I know, gotta stay busy somehow otherwise the mind rots and the body weakens to the point that staying alive isn't really worth it any more.
I've become rather domesticated as of late. Doing laundry, doing dishes, helping out around the house where I can. I mean, I've got the time, don't I?
Wednesday morning (yup, I'm starting to notice that the days tend to blur together, good thing my watch tells me what day it is) The Missus Herself made us a nice breakfast - pancakes, bacon, and eggs. Which gave me another opportunity to try this ...
I tried a dollop on a small bit of pancake (last time I tried it on a small bit of bacon), let's just say, it got my attention. Perhaps a bit much all by itself, so I put regular maple syrup on my pancakes.
The first bite was good, but it was missing something. So I put the Maple Mayhem on with the regular maple syrup, not a lot, just enough to notice. It was good, damn good.
When we finished eating, there was a mess of dishes, pots, pans, and the like, and me having nothing on my calendar thanked The Missus Herself for breakfast and pitched in to clean up without being prompted, without being asked, nope, I just did it.
I mean why should I get to lay about all day? She's earned the right to kick back as well. Heck, if it wasn't for her I don't know where I'd be now. Probably not as well off as I am, provided I was still alive. (I can be pretty stupid on my own, I need what ya might call "adult supervision" from time to time.)
All that being said, I am working on Part 2 of the prequel/prelude to Almost a Lifetime and I'm weighing my publishing options on the latter. Seems Barnes & Noble has a self-publishing thing as does Amazon. Other options might be in play as well. But you'll know when I do which one I go with.
For now I'm enjoying being retired. Doing what I want, when I want.
It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it.
Took about three years into retirement before I had my first "what day is this?" day....they do have a tendency to blur together. FYI, hit the grocery store during the weekday mornings, fewer working stiffs around.........:)
ReplyDeleteYes, going to the grocery store during normal working hours is kind of cool. I feel like I'm playing hooky!
DeleteFor me the best thing about retirement is by habit waking up at 0530 or so , realizing that i don't have to get up to go to work , turning over and going back to sleep until 0830 or 0900
ReplyDeleteBingo! That rather matches my schedule. My brain thinks it has to get up and go to work (a fifty-year habit is hard to break), then once awake realizes, "Oh, no I don't." Then I go back to sleep.
Delete"I've always been kind of lazy, I'm a "work smarter, not harder" kind of guy. "
ReplyDeleteIn job interviews, when the job giver got to the part of, "What's your outstanding characteristic?" question my answer was always, "I'm lazy." Which drew at least a raised eyebrow and a "do tell" gesture. "I like to do things right the first time.," I would say at the prompt.
On the domestic front not much has changed since I was laid off two years ago at 65 I didn't see much point in going out and trying to finds a job only to face dozens of interviews that ended with. "Well, you're overqualified for this position and will likely quit in 3 months so we went with someone else." Have to be a bit more careful with spending, but we get by. And I, as my back allows (another reason not to try to find another job, my physical past has caught up with me), playing in the kitchen. I've always done most of the cooking and washing up. SWMBO deals with laundry and putting dishes away; We both do housework as needed.
I still usually can't sleep past about 0500, and am usually up by 0430. When working, to kill time, I'd nap from about o600 to 0630, now I'll do a mid-morning nap from maybe 0800 to 0900. That too is a long ingrained habit - grab sleep any chance you get. When working my lunch break was usually dedicated to a nap.
I'm not a big napper. Many military men are, but as I was in the Air Force, we had more regular hours (though sometimes those regular hours tended to be 12 to 14 hours a day). I've tried it, didn't like it.
DeleteThis is fabulous and makes my heart happy, Sarge. Enjoy away.
ReplyDeleteI'll try and set a good example for others to follow. 😁
DeleteWhen you are retired, there are only 2 days in the week. Sunday and not Sunday. Some say Sunday and 6 Saturdays.
ReplyDeleteBingo!
DeleteTwo days - Sunday (gotta get up and go to church) and not-Sunday (don't have to get up and go to church).
I am retiring vicariously through you! Mine's too far off, but I am already looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteWhich is why I plan to post the occasional "Being Retired" post like this. 😎
DeleteA quick learner! Welcome to retired life.
ReplyDeleteHelping the Missus by choice, not request is a good (and very smart) thing to do.
Now, go do something fun. Maybe not at the top of YOUR list, but high on the Missus' "like to do someday" list. A museum visit- lots of art and no tanks? Been to the Newport mansions to see how the rich people lived? Aquarium? Somewhere in Little Rhody there must be a place that does a formal tea- perhaps the Missus and some lady friends would like to try that--and need a driver, who can also partake of crumpets or whatever? You love cuddly, furry critters, but wisely realize they are a burden to your new freedom to travel. I bet there is an animal shelter which would love someone to help out maybe one day a week- cleaning cages, or whatever- do it for the critters not your ego.
But, it's great to have choices where you get to decide, and are free to ignore suggestions from strangers.
John Blackshoe
All good suggestions. We're learning as we go.
DeleteSarge, if your blog (or any of our readers sites) is hosted by GoDaddy, you might want to read Borepatch’s posting today. Muy Malo!
ReplyDeletejuvat
Nope, never trusted GoDaddy.
DeleteStaying busy is the only way to survive retirement. Household chores with The Missus, organizing and cataloguing your library (how's The Annex coming along, got the permission yet?) and such. Writing, reading, gardening and so forth.
ReplyDeletePeople die quickly when they retire and turn into a non-moving blob. 6 months to a year and the body and mind fail.
Regarding doing dishes, I always found it fun to work in the kitchen with Mrs. Andrew. Doing chores together can be fun.
As to publishing houses, have you checked out Raconteur Press (Lawdog, OldNFO) yet?
Haven't looked at Raconteur Press yet. It's on the schedule of things to do.
DeleteJust curious, you're retired, right?
Yep. Medically. After a long and horrid process involving flying monkeys, witches from EEOC and HR, various other things. Once the finances settled down, it was a Godsend as it allows me to take care of Mrs. Andrew all day long.
DeleteThat must have been a burden to go through. Mrs. Andrew is lucky to have you. (And you her, of course.)
DeleteA dark period full of doubt and woe. Which we survived and came out better.
DeletePraise the Lord!
Delete