Awkward Retirement or Are You a Bob or a Barbara

Barbara

I see that Bob Lowery over at Satisfying Retirement is writing about the daily life of a retiree. He has a huge readership so I am sure many people are taking note. That is a good thing.

I know Bob and his wife and have spent time with them. I think that he and I are pole opposites in that he likes a plan and I like a life lived willy nilly! I am sure that he finds me totally unorganized and a little bewildering.

My garden reflect my thought process. It is a scattered mass of this and that. Plants from friends, day lilies here and there and one single specimen when ten would have been much better. The truth is I really have no idea how to go about organizing my garden other than getting the things I regards as weeds out. Otherwise I am just happy stepping over and among the lilly and dying snapdragons.

Retirement for me is a lot like that. We leave when we want, come home when we are tired. Our vacations, even in foreign countries, not scheduled and agenda-ed. If we want to walk we walk. On our arrival we look at postcards (thank you for the idea Norah) and see what every tourist is visiting. Then we pick what appeals to us.

I can count the "guided tours" we have taken in museums or around town on one hand.

The question is probably "Aren't you missing stuff?" Yes, I think we are but I wouldn't change anything at all. We find more than we miss by far. Even in our daily life I know people are doing things I should do or even would like to do and I am a little envious. But not enough to prompt me to change.

Retirement for us is about the people both old and young. It is about good books, learning to put down ceramic tile and trying cold brewed coffee. I certainly don't feel the need to change the world so I don't think anyone is impressed with the ease with which my husband and I approach every day.

I, on the other hand, am impressed with the things that other's do. Bob is making retirement a huge success and I love that. He started blogging long after I had taken the pursuit up. He surpassed me within a few months. The fact that he asked me a few things about our retirement lifestyle and included an article by me in his book made me happy.

So, now you have retired, what do you do with all that time? Are you a Bob or a Barbara? You tell me. I still have days when I feel lost but I have learned to adapt and have a plan for when that happens. I suppose Bob feels a little frustrated when his plans for the day don't work out. I would follow that he too has a plan.

So, if you are retired, how do you spend your day? I am interested.

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Read other post about the retirement lifestyle here on this blog:

12 Posts about A Day in the Life of a Retiree.

2017 Version of Retirement Lifestyle

An Interview with me by Bob Lowery

Living the Future (I think this was is very good.)

Sometimes all the Important thing are in your own Front Yard!

My Own Front Yard

It's a Wonderful World!

My Irish

My Library Box

In My Library Box

It's a Wonderful World

Have a wonderful day!

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Magpie Murders: A Novel by Anthony Horowitz (Author) or OH NO!!!!

I just finished reading the most interesting and convoluted mystery book ever. Magpie Murders, is a novel written by best selling author Anthony Horowitz. It called my name when it was placed in my Library Exchange located in my front yard. It was described on the jacket of the book as "a thinking mystery reader's book". I was not disappointed.

I bought into the mystery and was nearing the solution. I could not stop reading. Then the whole thing came to a screeching halt. That is why at the end of section 5, chapter 1 and chapter 2, I looked up at my husband in shock and cried, "Oh no!" (I can't tell you why...it would ruin the whole book.)

I finished the book last night. A story within a story that invites you into finding a solution for a murder, this book was one that I did not want to lay down and I really didn't want it to be over with. It is a must read.

But better yet, you really need to check out the author's biography. It is in an of itself a "page turner". 

I am an Amazon Associate and if you decide to buy the book on Amazon, you can go through the link above. You will not regret it. 

What book are you reading?

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What Does Your Mind-House Look Like?

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I read the most wonderful blog post this morning. Carla Birnberg over at unapologetically myself reminded me that we need to form a habit of being optimistic. According to her what we say about our self to our self or to someone else becomes our reality. I know, this is not big news. We all know it. But, I guess we need to be reminded that we all live in the house we have built for our self. She said:

“My existence is a clear reflection of my thoughts.” Carla Birnberg, unapologetically myself

When a friend asked her if she had any problem areas her response was "No!"! Not true entirely but still she was shaping her own reality.

I think she has hit upon something that we all need to keep in our minds. Our Mind-House is one we built for ourselves. Only we live in that house so it becomes what we make of it. We can arrange the furniture, admire the arrangement and even tell others how great it looks in there. It is ours and ours alone.

So Carla made me wonder...is it true that we can change the course of our life with our voice? What do you think? How do the conversations you have leave you feeling? Do you go away with hope? Do the peoples that leave you feeling better than when they arrived? Think about it.

Does that make sense? I don't know. I do know that aging makes me realize that I am happy because I choose to be. If you saw me today and asked me how I was doing, my answer would be "Wonderful. How about you?" My Mind-House is in very good order and I like what is going on inside my head.

I know that Carla was absolutely right, my existence is a clear reflection of my thoughts.

How are you today?

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Thank you Carla Birnberg for lifting me up today! :)

Retirement and Bill Clinton: That's What I'm Talking About!

I know you have all seen the interviews with Bill Clinton and James Patterson. The newly released book co-authored by the duo give the media a chance to gather information from the less and less visible Clinton. It has been interesting. PERIOD!

But that is not what I am thinking. I am thinking, "That is what I am talking about!" When an former President of the United States takes a left turn (the dangerous kind of turn) and comes out doing something totally different I am interested.

See, I have been expounding on the possibilities in retirement for over 10 years now. We retirees are all "former" something and taking that left turn, the one that challenges us to be creative in a different way, is the one that can be so much fun.

Thank you President Clinton for setting a good example for retirees. We are all multi-talented if we choose to be and retirement gives us the opportunity to explore a new talent.

So, here we go...thanks to James Patterson and Bill Clinton.

What could be your "left turn"?

Have a wonderful day!

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100 Words

Back in the day before Retire in Style Blog I wrote fiction for weekly prompts. I love to follow a "meme" for inspiration. It was part of my 10,000 hours of experience...I am still working toward my 10,000 hours. Here is one I saw today that sounded like a lot of fun. 100 words to tell a story about a picture...not as easy as it sounds.

Did Curiosity Kill the Cat

PHOTO PROMPT © Connie Gayer

She only knew what she could see from the basement window and that Curiosity might kill the cat.
 

The keeper's name was Curiosity. His shovel and a pile of rocky soil was his work. The cat often rubbed the shovel with no notice of the watery mud at the bottom of the hole.

Curiosity glanced up, she caught his eye…nothing prepared her for the look of impatience on his face. 

What was he doing, did it have anything to do with her cat? She was sure that Curiosity was going to kill that cat sooner or later.

Have a wonderful day!

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For: Common Ground Fictioners

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The Gift was in the Mail?

Sure looks new for a
 55 year old smoker !)

Having dealt with repair people that tell me that "the part is in the mail" I do know how that works. Only last week we were waiting on that mysterious part for our refrigerator.

I suppose that is where I got the idea for my husbands Father's Day gift. See, almost 55 years ago I promised him a smoker...a real honest to goodness, big smoker for meat and other stuff. Then life happened and I forgot about the smoker...sorta. Honestly, my conscience has bothered me a little ever since.

So when our grandson turned up with one, I knew the game was on. I could not have our grandson with a smoker and my disappointed husband without. My husband agreed.

As soon as we arrived home from our dinner with that child, my husband was on the internet shopping. Next thing we both knew, the smoker was ordered, delivered and in  the garage...in 100 pieces.

There were no complaints about the assembly required and just 10 days later, we are putting salmon in the smoker along with some potatoes. (Have you ever tasted smoked potato salad? Yum)

The gift has finally arrive! I feel better now.

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