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My husband is the carver and I paint everything. He has made owls and loons, an eagle and various animals. Lots of bears when we lived in Pa. One with a baby on its back. Its a great hobby.
I love your idea for your garden. I once saw a birdhouse that entailed about 5 houses all placed at tilted angles. It had funky chimneys and colors. Quite Cool.
It's nice to learn that "What we do to make retirement joyful" is adding lots of special interests.
Travel, books, reading, hobbies, volunteering.
We put a lot of our time and presence into our three daughters and 6 little fellows.
It gives us a huge sense of family even when they are not nearby.
Taking them to places that will help them grow and learn.
Going to Washington DC was one of the biggest highlights of learning. You could almost feel their bodies absorbing the history.
My husband is the carver and I paint everything. He has made owls and loons, an eagle and various animals. Lots of bears when we lived in Pa. One with a baby on its back. Its a great hobby.
I love your idea for your garden. I once saw a birdhouse that entailed about 5 houses all placed at tilted angles. It had funky chimneys and colors. Quite Cool.
In downtown Edina there is the cutest shop (very high end) that has bird houses that are mounted on a telephone pole -about 1/2 the usual size around - with all different kinds of bird houses painted in various ways - very classy but yet still whimsical. They sell for $300-$600. With your talents and proper equipment you could charge much less and still make extra $$. If I had the talent & tools I would do this without a doubt.
Most people never valued intellectual activity or participated very much in it, so there can be no talk about the cessation of something that was not there to start with. As LauraC writes, there are different joys and contentments for different people.
Ironically, I am arguing against Happy's condemnation of forms of enjoyment which he doesn't happen to share at the same time that I share some of his values. Lifelong learning and reading, for me, is also more than a hobby; it provides deep, deep enjoyment and contentment. It is not something I could give up and replace with another activity, like I gave up motorcycling after 15 years. Normally I have two or three (usually non-fiction) books going at the same time, most frequently (but not always) about World War II. I also really like paleoanthropology and physics/astronomy at the level of the general (educated) reader.
I have both intellectual and non-intellectual friends. But, unlike Happy, I do not elevate my intellectual interests (as much as I value them) to the level of superiority over others. Partly this may be because I knew too many people in graduate school who were real scholars and intellectuals but who were also real jerks (failures as human beings).
Another thoughtful, very fine post by EscortRider. I'm not quite to retirement age yet, but do snowbird half the year. Like Happy, I intend to be involved in my business to a very advanced age--it is intellectually challenging and stimulating. But like Mr. Rider and others, I would defend anybody's choice to take up other kinds of challenges. A couple of major themes, thousands of years old, apply to this situation, in my opinion. One is "A sound mind in a sound body," and the other is, "Balance in all things."
So I've started on the routines that hopefully will last over the rest of a long lifetime. Attention to diet, swimming half a mile five mornings a week, walking a mile or two every day, reading fiction and non-fiction, connecting with friends and loved ones, traveling at every opportunity, taking in the art festivals and shows that come to town and looking in on museums I haven't been to at every opportunity.
For me, the most important thing of all is to be useful to others (which I do via my business). I know my activity is useful because others pay me well to do it. So I don't know if I can ever retire fully--unless I outlive my usefulness. I would not presume to judge anyone who made a different decision about work and retirement, maybe they are more confident than me that they have already contributed a lifetime of work to others. I feel very fortunate that I have been able to put work and pleasure and duties and fun all into one integrated lifestyle.
Wondering how you feel about your retirement days. Are they full of joy, or do you now find yourself without adequate funds to enjoy all your spare time.
I think finding the right place to live is so very important. Where we live now there is not a chance of becoming bored.
We can go to the beach, walk the boardwalk, head to a show, or go off to visit Charleston. That is just a short list. I find this SC area awash with things to do.
We are taking another cruise soon to the southern Virgin Islands. I don't like that the stops are short but we do enjoy each one and the chance to have "some" time there.
Perhaps we will fly to one and stay a longer time as the future rolls along.
I wonder what makes you all happy as the retirement time comes upon you.
Do you plan to drive off into the sunset and see your USA?
Sometimes, do you feel it is too late as your health is declining?
I find happiness in my time with family. Our special days together at gatherings and social events.
The extra's come with hobbies and travel.
Wondering how the rest of our CD people are exploring this time of their lives.
As an introvert, it is not necessary for me to be entertained to be happy. I can sit for a very long time, looking out the window at my bird feeder, or grow a little garden, or interact with my kitties and be immensely happy. I realize that everybody is different, but I feel a little sorry for those who must CONSTANTLY have some kind of stimulation or risk boredom. What a tedious life it would be.
That sounds wonderful as well. I so wish my husband wasn't always ready to head out someplace. Maybe from his days heading off to work(outside) for the telephone company. He wants to head someplace, somewhere...
But, like you I love to be home in my gardens. It is enjoyable for me to start up a new flower bed. I so much love, that the south has plants and flowers I have never known of in the NE.
Walking the dogs, taking them to parks or sitting with them is very enjoyable.
Painting is a restful pastime for me. I try to save it for the more winter like months so I can be outside in spring.
Reading by the Oceanside is joyful.
I'd say carving and golfing is my husband favorite more peaceful things to do.
Being entertained or on the run isn't usually on my favorite list.
In downtown Edina there is the cutest shop (very high end) that has bird houses that are mounted on a telephone pole -about 1/2 the usual size around - with all different kinds of bird houses painted in various ways - very classy but yet still whimsical. They sell for $300-$600. With your talents and proper equipment you could charge much less and still make extra $$. If I had the talent & tools I would do this without a doubt.
I wish I could get my husband into doing something like that. I don't know why he never got into it much.
I too go to a very nice bird store in Pawleys Island, SC where they have unique ones. I do have one on a pole in the front yard, side. It is mixed into the shrubs and looks really nice. It is the same blue as my shutters and front door. I'd like to have a few more by the lake. Maybe one in each garden. I think you and I would have a blast shopping for those. But, we could try, try, try, to get hubby to build it. Yes, then so much cheaper.
Summering, you are a class act to respond so kindly and positively to HappyinWyoming, who first posted such irritating and offensive remarks to your wonderful original post! It takes class and talent to turn that exchange into something positive and kind...and I give you many kudos for being able to do that with someone who is obviously obsessed with appearing superior to the rest of those posting ... I'm so happy to see that you and others here are truly enjoying their retirement...I have been blessed to find and purchase a lakehouse which I go to on weekends now and will be my permanent retirement home, God willing, in a few more years! Can't wait to get involved in so many things I don't have time for now!
Summering, you are a class act to respond so kindly and positively to HappyinWyoming, who first posted such irritating and offensive remarks to your wonderful original post! It takes class and talent to turn that exchange into something positive and kind...and I give you many kudos for being able to do that with someone who is obviously obsessed with appearing superior to the rest of those posting ... I'm so happy to see that you and others here are truly enjoying their retirement...I have been blessed to find and purchase a lakehouse which I go to on weekends now and will be my permanent retirement home, God willing, in a few more years! Can't wait to get involved in so many things I don't have time for now!
I agree with you. She was very kind and generous of spirit. No wonder she is having such a great retirement!
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