#44: The Best Thing?

I have a friend who says that what she likes best about retirement is having time to read the newspaper, the entire paper, on a weekday morning while enjoying a cup of coffee.

Not sure about "best", but I definitely now enjoy reading more than the headlines with my morning cuppa.

Ask me, for example, about that quintessential Canadian crop, canola.  I can tell you why it is suddenly so cool, and a lot of other things besides.  (Or take a look at today's Globe and Mail Life section, page 1...)   


 

#43: Conversation

He:  It's really nice out.  Do you want to walk downtown after lunch?
Me:  I'd love to.
He:  We can drop books off at the library and then get your watch fixed.
He:  Maybe stop for a drink...check out Carden Street.
Me: Sounds good.
He:  We can do stuff like this all the time now that you are retired.
Me:  (Smiling) I know. 

#42: Gong Show

Went to the Seniors' Centre today to take out a membership.  Yikes.  The Seniors' Centre.

The place was full of really nice people-- nice, old people actually.  Some of them will very likely be in the class I signed up for: Qi Gong.

I suppose that embracing, or at least not running away from my age, is a good thing.  Besides, Qi Gong is a great way to maintain strength and flexibility. I will try to think of it as an investment.  

#41: Funday

We joined a friend and her husband at a local jazz club this evening.  Her son's band was playing so we enjoyed the music for a couple of hours and had a drink. 

Another guy was at our table, and when I found out that he was retired, I asked him what he liked best about his new status.  His emphatic answer was "It's Sunday night, and I don't have to work tomorrow!" 

What a great concept.

#40: Retirement Project

Retirees are just naturally expected to have a few projects-- scanning old photographs or cleaning out the basement--that are fall-back activities in case there is nothing else to do.

I would gladly ignore these boring-but-worthy tasks except that disorganization offends some basic bit of librarian DNA. So today I started with the garage, a manageable mess, and realized that one hour of sorting, cleaning, and discarding is all I can stand.  At this rate, the garage will be clean by Christmas.

Good thing retirement projects have no deadlines.   

#39: Woody 'n Me

It is tempting to celebrate retirement simply for the opportunity to work in the garden all day while in the company of woodpeckers.  Amazingly, they seem not to notice the lady in the big hat pulling weeds in a flowerbed two feet away. 

#38: Booklust

Who reads a chapter or two in the morning before she even brushes her teeth?

A retired you-know-who.