A Week In The Life of A Retiree

[BucFan]

This is a very interesting thread. Thanks to everyone that has shared.

[normie]

Originally Posted by leorah

Well, if I had known that my relationship with my husband would be judged by the order in which I listed him in my post I would have taken much more care in how I phrased what I wrote!

The important thing to remember is that this is the internet. No matter how carefully you phrase things, someone will judge it incorrectly. And the odds are also high that a person who judges you is actually just some bored little 20-something posing as a retiree. They get a cheap thrill out of trying to trip up the old folks.

Not saying this was necessarily the case here, but I don't give too much creedence to judgmental comments made by anyone the first time they visit this site. I wait until someone has established himself as a regular on the retirement forum and has posted enough that I can develop a sense of who that person really is.

The other thing to remember is that you can't hear the tone of voice when people are writing. Sometimes people write light hearted comments--and because you can't hear the laughter in their voice the reader takes it in a different way. (But I think you already know this, since you seem to have a good sense of humor about it all. Glad to see you're not taking it personally, that's the important thing.)

[TuborgP]

Originally Posted by Steve Bagu

Did read that Leorah's husband was not yet retired. Still stand by my limited observastion.QUOTE "Sun exercise outdoors with DOGS and HUSBAND" Should be with HUSBAND and dogs in that order. Also," Out to dinner with friends IF!!! HUSBAND DOESN'T PLAY TENNIS. How quaint!!. Different wardrobe is needed to play tennis or to go out for dinner. They don't work hand in hand. I am not snooty or anything just an obervation into someones schedules and PRIORITY. I have two large dogs, father and son and they do not need me for play time as they have romp around each other. Stefhen

Stefhen, you should add to your activities:

Reading forums and finding something to bring rain on someone's shining day.
Do you build rain making machines as a hobby?

[MotleyCrew]

I dream of a schedule like hers. Enjoy!!!!

[ontheroad]

A week in my life is not static but dynamic: one week I might explore several towns near my new community; interview folks for several articles I'm writing, or just look out the window and watch the deer and the birds or admire the landscape as it changes with the presence of snow, the absence of snow, and study the changes that indicate the possibility of warmer weather in the near future.

Today I slept in, a rarity, and have just been reading a watercolour book, and pondering whether or not I have the necessary palette, and paint to follow an experiment in colour that appeals to me. I also am sorting my books, by category, and in different rooms. Several will be offered to a local literacy program I visited last week in a neighbouring town.

I would be out and about, today, but the weather has been awful, and it is unlikely I'll find myself much farther than the back-door.

Next week undoubtedly will look different as deadlines are approaching, and leisure decreased but in retirement the schedule is mine to make and mine to keep.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by leorah

A typical week:
Monday: Ride recumbent bike 11 miles, throw in a load of laundry, play with/walk the dogs. Answer email for volunteer organization. Work in jewelry studio. After dinner, spend time with husband (not retired yet) and play on the computer for an hour.
Tuesday: Ride recumbent bike 11 miles, play with/walk dogs. Answer email for volunteer organization. Work in garden/do lawn work. Do booking for singer-songwriter friend. Check investments. Spend evening with husband and dogs.
Wednesday: Ride 11 miles. Play with/walk dogs, do house chores. Answer email for volunteer organization. Grocery shop, run errands. Volunteer for dog rescue group. Go out to dinner with husband and once every two months attend theatrical event
Thursday: Ride 11 miles. Answer email for volunteer organization. Play with/walk dogs. Work in jewelry studio. Out to dinner with friends if husband doesn't play tennis.
Friday: Ride 11 miles. Play with/walk dogs. Volunteer for dog rescue group. House chores. Work in jewelry studio in afternoon. Prepare for evening Religious services.
Saturday: Religious services followed by lunch with friends. Spend day with husband and friends. Attend musical or theatrical performance in evening.
Sunday: Leisurely lunch with husband. Exercise outdoors with dogs and husband. Visit museums and art galleries. Once a month attend board meeting of volunteer organization and dog rescue group. Once a month breakfast meeting with singer/songwriter to discuss bookings and performance schedule.

Whew, makes me tired just thinking of it! I'm busier now than when I was working!

At 11 miles a day, you do 4,015 miles a year. I think that's more miles than I put on my car this past year.

I have friends who once walked for exercise. They said they couldn't just walk for the sake of walking so they walked to Carvel.

[normie]

Originally Posted by LauraC

At 11 miles a day, you do 4,015 miles a year. I think that's more miles than I put on my car this past year.

Wow, never thought about it that way. I've been racking up the mileage myself, wonder what it's doing to my Blue Book value?

Originally Posted by LauraC

I have friends who once walked for exercise. They said they couldn't just walk for the sake of walking so they walked to Carvel.

Now that's I call incentive!

[leorah]

Wow, I hadn't even considered the total mileage! Actually, come warmer weather I'll probably reduce the miles and walk more. Where I live we don't have sidewalks and that, combined with raw New England weather, isn't conducive to much walking during the winter months. My husband and I foster dogs for a rescue group and playing with them in the yard isn't as good as walking them around until they're tired. I wish we did have an ice cream store close by, but the motivation of getting dogs tired enough to sleep quietly all night is sufficient motivation for me right now. One of our goals is to get the dogs to allow us to sleep in a bit on weekends. Ontheroad has the right idea there!