Today is my first official day of retirement! It’s exciting…and also scary. I’d been in the workforce for more than 45 years (well, except for six months when I was between jobs which doesn’t count, because I still had the job of looking for a new job!), and while I had many interests and hobbies ‘bc’ (before children), I just can’t seem to remember what they were!
What will I do with my time? Travel, volunteer, party with friends, cook delicious meals every day, find some new hobbies? Are there other people off during the day to do things with? Will I be able to keep myself busy or will I get bored? Will I have the money to do the things I want?
Right now I have a lot more questions than answers! And that’s why I started this blog: to help organize thoughts and ideas about what retirement is – or should be – all about!
Top on my list is spending more time with family and especially my two granddaughters! Luckily, they are just a few hours away by car and yes, I can still drive! And just as luckily, they do still need a babysitter.
Another high priority is to get up to the Wisconsin Northwoods more often. Our family has been vacationing near Minocqua for many years, but 1-2 weeks in the summer just isn’t enough time to relax and enjoy the many pleasures of lake-side life. (Note: the photo above was taken at Lake Shishebogama in Minocqua.)
I do have another less enticing list item – cleaning up and organizing the 30+ years of clutter and memories taking up space in our house! That may just take up all my time for the NEXT 30 years!
So…my life is ready for some new activities and events. I’ll be keeping my eyes and ears open to new happenings and ideas. Please let me know if you have any suggestions. (Oh…I just thought of one…a book club – anybody know of an online club or a local club in the Illinois Valley? If not, maybe I can start one!)
I hope you’ll join me on my retirement journey. Please feel free to follow this blog and post comments and suggestions about how to get the most out of the retirement years.
And stop by tomorrow to see what I end up doing with the rest of my first day of retirement!
Stay young!
Jill
Love your blog. Great idea. I plan on learning from your example.