I´ve heard this question so many, many times. It’s often phrased in different ways, e.g.
“what do you do with all the time…what´s a typical day like…don´t you get bored
with nothing to do…etc? There are many
books, magazines, seminars, and professional consultants who can/will offer
good answers to these questions. I would
not even attempt to offer serious advice on this matter; however, I can comment
on my 22 years of being off the corporate employment payroll, and 7 years of
blissfully not answering to anyone else´s need of my time (except for Dolores,
my spouse and full time focus).
I do agree that when retirement does come you will need
a focus for your energy. That can be in
any form that interests you – volunteering your services to various
organizations, back to school, writing, hobby(s), sports, painting, crafts, bridge,
and the list can go on. And it can and
will change as more interesting opportunities arise over time. As most of you know my interests center on
watching several sports (TV at this age), writing, new technology gadgets and,
not the least, being a “foodie.”
Dolores focus as a “foodie” has resulted in her Essence of Cuisine (EOC)
Cooking classes and all the essential continuing education, recipe development,
research, advertising, plus her interest
in Computers/Facebook, home decorating, and so forth.
However, back to the
most asked questions; “what do you do
with all the time…what´s a typical day like…don´t you get bored with nothing to
do…” Let me run you through a sample day which includes shopping for EOC or
basic grocery/supplies (2-3 times per week).
Rise
at 9:00 AM. [Isn´t that wonderful?
Someone just recently commented…but you go to bed the same day you get up! More on that later.] Turn on coffee
machine…fix breakfast…have coffee…read morning news (Kindle)…turn on laptop(s)
or Tablets or both and review emails…answer client inquiries (Dolores EOC)…clean
up (all) and get ready for the day…Leave for shopping (12:00 noon). Stop at Emiliano Zapata open market for fresh
fruit and vegetables…go to SAMs/WalMart for staples and additional fruit and
vegetables…go to Mega for items not found at previous stores…go to Costco for
remainder of meat, staples, veggies, not found at previous stops…go to
specialty stores for specialty items (Asian/gourmet/) never found at previous
stops…somewhere between stops and before returning home we will stop for lunch,
and occasionally go to Home Depot/Office Depot/Our fav. DVD vendor/liquor store,
etc. Arriving home at 5:30PM we announce
our presence to the local niño´s by horn and they haul all the items up to our
condo for a reasonable propina. Then,
well you get the picture –store staples, wash veggies and put away and collapse
with a cervesa (me). After a proper
interlude Dolores goes back to her Tablet Kindle, I to my Kindle or Tablet – we
might watch a bit of TV and finally shutdown around 1:00 AM… remember the comment
“but you go to bed the same day you get up” – now you know the rest of the
story?
But you don´t always go
shopping you say. You’re absolutely
correct. Factor in
· 7 neighborhood Niño’s that we´ve
semi-adopted which means, birthdays, holidays, swimming in our pool, the ocean,
and the Rio Quale (river), movies, special outings for hamburgers/fries, local
neighborhood parties, etc.
·
Trips
throughout Mexico, e.g., Guadalajara (Tonala/Tlaquepaque), San Miguel La
Allende, Guanajuato, Dolores Hidalgo, León, Morelia, México City, Colima, La Manzanilla, Melaque/Obregón-Barra
de Navidad, and so forth…
·
Other days get filled up by quick trips
to pick up those items overlooked when shopping (ouch), condo maintenance
assignments, a swim in the pool, breakfast/lunch/dinner/show with friends and
acquaintances, and visitors from afar.
And that’s it you say?... Well now that you asked, my travel” Bucket
List” includes many places, but “I've never
been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone.
I've also never been In Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there.
I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to be
driven there. I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and
work.
I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to
jump, and I’m not too much on physical activity anymore. I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there too often.
I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm.
Sometimes I'm
in Capable, and I go there more often as I'm getting older.
One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense! It
really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart! At my age I need
all the stimuli I can get!
I may have been in Continent, and I don't remember
what country I was in. It's an age thing”... From
my friend JoLyn
