You know those insurance ads that feature a retired couple sitting in Muskoka chairs at the end of a dock on a picturesque lake in cottage country sipping a hot beverage and holding hands – yeah, well that’s not my reality in “my golden years”.
The house does not clean itself but my car can drive itself to the grocery store – unfortunately, it doesn’t do the shopping as well. Beds still have to be made, toilets cleaned, windows washed, etc. etc. – you may have retired but the chores have not! The silver lining however is that if you don’t feel like doing any of that on a given day, you can just go back to bed, pull the covers over your head and nap or catch up on that book you have been meaning to read.
I now have the time to be grateful for all that I have, the time to be creative … get out and take photos, paint, and take on projects that I’ve always wanted to complete. People ask how I fill all those hours that I don’t work; aren’t I bored but I honestly don’t know where the time goes – I play on the computer, watch you tube videos, tinker in the garden, see friends, go to concerts, walk in the woods, dance around the house and volunteer. I recently volunteered for an event at a local auditorium which went off rather well despite the few glitches associated with a first time exhibition. I distributed flyers for them the week before and the Monday of so I got to get out and get fresh air, had some exercise and participated in a worthwhile endeavor. I also handed out attendee bags the first day and helped hand out sponsor packages the day before while they set up; everyone so excited and enthusiastic. I figure I’m pretty much on my way to sainthood now!
I watched the organizer who is very talented and efficient and seems to run on those bunny batteries handle all the different crisis that came up in a calm, professional manner and I applaud her zeal and commitment and energy and I realized I don’t want my time structured anymore, I don’t want to be that responsible anymore. I want to enjoy ‘me’ time; I’ve earned it! Not quite ready to sit and watch the sun set up in cottage country but adapting quite nicely thank you very much!
