#14: Holiday Change Up

No doubt about it.  Taking more than three weeks holiday is a definite benefit of retirement, and I am leaving today for five.  And I will be away in the summer, which was also frowned on in my workplace.  

I am sure I will encounter five weeks worth of good things with no effort at all!

I'm not sure I will be blogging about them, however.  I depends on how lucky I am to find internet connections and keyboards that are in English.

#13: The Real Me?

I spent the day without makeup. I worked outside, I visited with a friend, I went to the bank and no-one recoiled in horror.

I appreciate the "advantage", but I felt like my face was wearing pajamas. 

I need to come up with the makeup equivalent of jeans-and-tee-shirt.

#12: No Lunch, No Problem

It is Sunday night and here is nothing in the refrigerator to pack for lunch tomorrow.

Wait a minute....

#11: Hugs Help

I had another lovely retirement celebration dinner and other thoughtful gift from friends.  It's hard not to feel good about that.

Which is just as well, because I dropped in at the library today to give something to a friend.  I talked to a few people, put something in my former boss's office, saw my empty desk and felt really sad.

It would be so much easier if I hated the place.

#10: Anyday Art

Weekday afternoon at the Art Gallery of Ontario!

Of course there were a lot of other retirees there as well.   It was a bit like a seniors' centre outing.

Still........Weekday!   Wahoo!

#9: Slacker!

Today I woke up tired, achy and with a scratchy throat, thankful I didn't have to go to work.  Finally, I could listen to my body.

Too bad I could only hear it barking orders about meals, laundry and gardening.

Listening must take practice.

#8: And You Call Yourself an Adult?

This afternoon I had a temper tantrum.

It was a word processing task that set me off -- producing address labels.  I don't do it often, or well, and when things go wrong, as they often do, I want to scream and throw things.  This sort of behaviour is frowned upon in the workplace, however. But at home, why not?

I wish I could say that my angry tirade fixed the problem.  My husband did that.

#7: My New Uniform

I've worn the same skirt three days in a row.

Although Working Me would not have approved, Retired Me says it's OK.

But three days is the limit.

#6: Unlimited Lunch

Lunch with at friend at 12:00. 

At 12:55 I got anxious -- surely I had to be somewhere.  It felt wrong, but I kept right on talking. 

I think I could get used to this.

#5: Bedtime, Schmedtime.

It is Sunday at 10:55 and because of another commitment I've just missed the last episode of The Killing.  Darn!

But look-- it is also running from 11:00 to 12:00! And I can stay up as late as I want.

Sunday can offer retirement specials, too.

#4: What Housework?

I have had a Saturday epiphany:  I do not have to do housework today.

In my former life, Saturday was my one opportunity all week to view my messy kitchen and bathrooms in broad daylight in order to clean up with some degree of accuracy.  (This happens as one ages....you can't see dirt in the dark.)

Hmmm.  Reading on the deck or cleaning the toilets?  No contest.

#3: Daylight Rambles

I went for a walk in my own neighbourhood.

In itself, this is not so unusual, but today I was not walking around after dark.  To walk in the sunshine and admire my neighbours' gardens in full colour is a real pleasure.

That said, I hope that my husband doesn't think I have given up night-time strolling with him.  And when we encounter the mysterious, bushy, greenish lump at the corner of Forest and Maple, I will be able to say with complete confidence "That is a giant hosta." 

#2: Thursday is the New Saturday

I just had a lovely dinner with friends on a Thursday night.

This is remarkable because since the beginning of time I have worked every Thursday from 12:00 to 8:30.  I have answered reference questions,  found reserves, and done live chat with teenagers from Brampton (it's called Ask Ontario.)

Now I can treat Thursdays like Saturdays..... or not.  Retirement, apparently, is all about flexibility.

#1 (364 to go)

I just came back from Saskatoon.

Because I am retired, I had total flexibility and could pick the cheapest possible flight on the cheapest days.  Left on a Thursday (WestJet), came back on a Tuesday (Air Canada).  Oops.

At least us retirees are in no tearing great hurry to meet deadlines.