While I am Buttercup most of the time and Stinkweed, Buttercup's not so smiling alter ego, from time to time, tonight you can call me Sleeping Beauty. Yes, you're looking at my castle.
I've been living in Retiree Fantasyland. Without realizing it I have built a number of fantasies about being retired. The first is...If I wasn't working I wouldn't be aggravated. Of course lots of things have aggravated, saddened and depressed me over the last four decades of work that had nothing to do with work. But I had a fantasy that without work I'd be (reasonably) happy all the time. That fantasy went away pretty quickly and I think by the second week of retirement it was gone.
The second fantasy...If I wasn't working I would have time for everything I want to do. I carried this myth until late last week. I got home from Chicago with a long to-do list and realized some of it just wasn't going to get done quickly, or at all. I am not much more efficient than when I was working. I do have more time, but I've added some new things to the mix, and I'm enjoying them. But there's still not time for everything.
The third fantasy...If I wasn't working I wouldn't be tired. I would have a good night's sleep every night and not be tired in the morning. This is my Sleeping Beauty Fantasy. I stopped sleeping well in 2002. I began menopause, lost my waist and stopped being able to sleep through the night. My sleep has gotten much better, but I haven't and won't return to the years of teenage sleep. But forgetting this reality, I had a fantasy that fatigue would be gone. I've been exhausted for most of the last ten months, and as an improvement I'm only tired now. I found myself really tired this morning and realized that some days I will be tired, particularly when I've been very active. The beauty of retirement is that I can say "I'm not going to zip out of the house after 8:00 a.m. -- just like work -- and go to exercise class. I will take it easy this morning."
And the beauty and gift of retirement is the latter, I can take it easy. What a gift!
Wishing you a Tuesday filled with many gifts.
14 comments
Looking forward to retirement - just eight more months - so I'm taking all the advice I can get.
Enjoy the day darling....love Ria...x !
Carol! Retirement is a myth! xxoo
Life does go on they say. Keeping too busy will tire you out. I never rush any more. I like the slow and easy life. I started out retirement caring for a new grandson when his mom went back to work but that only lasted about 2 months then it was to home and relaxing more. I may get up earlier some days than others but that is my choice not someone else's. Take it easy and relax. No since tiring yourself out when you don't have to. It takes a lot of rest to recoup from many years of working.Hope your Tuesday is a terrific one.
The days tend to get away from me since I retired BUT... there's always tomorrow:) Enjoy each and every day dear friend, HUGS!
All those tasks that you put off when you were working because you did not have time, only have 50% chance of getting done in retirement. The truth is that they did not get done because you did not want to do them then and you don't want to do them now. I have been retired two years and many of my best intentions are still my best intentions. I now live in a mañana world.
I can really identify with your reality checks. Sometimes just the monotony of daily living and make you tired! This is especially true in the winter.
Still working, still tired and still don't have enough time to do everything. Oh well.
:)
I love being retired and one of the best things is not having to get up because I have to another is being able to go anywhere when I want-no more I can't because I'm working, this was a huge bonus! But I did have to learn how to prioritize...scaled down my to do and want to do lists, now everything has its place and balance has been achieved-
So true, we retirees can sleep in or have a slow day once in a while as needed.
I have been retired for ten years and have LOVED every minute of it! I have tried to give myself time for a variety of things, particularly staying away from something that carries stress with it.:-)
I received a very nice mailing today! Thank you, Buttercup! xo
My days do seem to go by much faster since I have retired so that is my excuse for why things aren't getting done!!! I have made much progress in many areas but not as much as I had desired.
I know my tiredness comes from the thyroid problem but when I think about it, I do have a good amount of energy for someone "my age"! Staying active does help with the energy level - - - but just doing nothing is more than wonderful, too! Sometimes we need to do that just to completely recharge - - and Praise the Lord - - we retirees have that option (except for the five days I babysit!)...
Gosh, what a thoughtful, interesting share!
There's little likelihood I'll ever retire; but you've touched on lots of assumptions I think suppose we've all made about retirement.
Thanks for taking good, gentle care of yourself!
I've been retired for almost four years and have loved every minute of it. Yes, somethings that were on my retirement list are still on the list. I was gun-ho at first and then settled in. One of the comments put it perfectly, I didn't do them before because I didn't want to, and I still don't.
On the other hand, there are things that I do that I never thought of and love. All in all, i'd rather be retired than work.
Be well.
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