Time flies

Andy Rooney once quipped, "life is like a roll of toilet paper; the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes!" How can my days, weeks go by so fast? I thought time went by quickly when I was working since every day was scheduled to the max and I was exhausted at the end of each day. Time is actually going faster for me now. Once I opened the door to "what would you like to do today", there are not enough hours.

Did I mention liking this? :)

It's Tuesday

Took a nice walk this morning. Came home and cooked bacon and from-scratch blueberry pancakes using fresh berries from our Farmer's Market. Had a leisurely conversation with Shel. Played a couple moves on Words With Friends. Getting ready to hit Michael's and an antique store for project supplies. Tonight we are meeting friends for Taco Tuesday at our favorite country dive. It's just Tuesday--an ordinary Tuesday--people and I am not on vacation! Amazing, this new life!

Multiple-choice question

I was talking with our oldest son last nite and he asked how I was adjusting to retirement. He asked, "are you depressed, sad, lost, bored, wondering what to do with yourself?"

The answer to all the above is, "NO"! Haven't had even a fleeting moment of any of the above. Yep, surprised me too!

I get it

It used to drive me nuts when retired people would say to me, "I don't know how I got anything done when I was working. I am so busy now!" I swore I would never say that. I pictured an elderly friend of mine from my small hometown who used to plan a whole day around paying the utility bill as he would write the check and walk it down to the utility company and chat with the clerks.

Two weeks into this retirement thing and I get it! I am busier in a different kind of way because:

• the pace is "slower" (aka normal)
• there are no deadlines except those I impose, so projects can evolve and take interesting turns
• my focus has broadened so I see more things that need to get done and more possibilities for creative projects

Yep, I am "busier" now with things that mean something to me! I think I like this!

New skill

Yesterday I mastered uni-tasking :)

Today

After years of going to school and years of parenting and years of work, I OWN this day. It is mine and it feels AWESOME!

Life as I know it

Dream: I would wake up the first day of retirement full of physical and creative energy, bounce out of bed and walk for 30 minutes, organize some files, have two great client calls and do whatever people do in their free time. I'd fix a gourmet dinner for Shel and I and eat on the deck enjoying a stimulating conversation.

Reality: I woke up dizzy from a sinus infection, didn't walk, got sucked into the new computer, got a virus notification an hour into trying to figure out the new system, which Shel then had to undo. Had two difficult client calls and questioned why I didn't just take the summer off. Resented not having free time and a million other things I chose to grouse about. Made bruschetta for dinner, which I ate alone while Shel wrestled with a project he needed to get done. Went to bed early.

Moral of the story: today is a new day.

Who knew?

Today is officially my first day of retirement. I retired on June 29 but had a house full of kids and grandkids until Saturday. Here's what I am noticing so far:

• sweeping the floor can be meditative
• a book can be read over a period of days, not just in how long it takes to fly from point A to point B
• having an open schedule can feel a bit like a free fall when you've been scheduled back to back for years
• there are no deadlines for anything (except may be taxes)