Today We Discovered It's Friday

Bob’s been retired for nearly four months now and one of the first things we realized is we have lost track of time.  Without the structure of the workweek it’s easy to forget what day it is.  Like so many, we have always been scheduled . . . work Monday – Friday, Saturday chores, Sunday make pancakes for breakfast and relax. I always have had my Friday errands of buying gas, getting cash from the ATM, picking up dry cleaning, going to the store, etc.  It was my routine. Now we have all week to do whatever needs done or whatever we want to do or do nothing at all.  It’s a bit confusing at times!

Our post-retirement schedule has revolved around travel . . . are we on a trip or are we home?  If we are on a trip, where are we and where do we need to get today.  If we are home, does anything need to be done today? And, let’s get started planning that next trip!

When Bob retired we took two weeks to get caught up on chores and maintenance of our home and spring yard work.  Then we left for a three week trip down the OR coast, the Redwoods, Napa, SF Bay area, Yosemite, Lake Tahoe and Crater Lake.

Beautiful Crater Lake, OR

We returned home for three weeks and again spent time getting caught up on chores, maintenance and yard work.  Time to leave again!  Our most recent trip was just over three weeks to Alaska. 

Looking for Denali

 Home again for three weeks and what are we doing?  Yes, chores, maintenance and yard work.  

Weeding never ends!

Windows!

Next up is a 5 week cross country driving trip from WA to MI, taking a long way around and back again.  Our schedule revolves around what needs to be done and where we are, not what day of the week it is.

When Bob worked he had an alternate Friday schedule, meaning he worked longer days but had every other Friday off.  It was a nice schedule and he got in the habit of arranging his doctor and dental appointments for that Friday off.  I volunteered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I usually arranged my appointments on Wednesdays.  Now, all we concern ourselves with is scheduling appointments when we will be in town.  And truly, one medical or dental appointment on any one day is more than enough!

On the “lets have some fun” aspect of our life, we used to take in a movie matinee on Saturdays.  Now we realize we can go on a Tuesday afternoon if we want.  Eating out was normally Friday evening or Saturday lunch; now we are leaning toward Wednesday or Thursday evening.  Sunday afternoon drives are more likely to occur in the middle of the week.  Saturday morning runs to Home Depot are generally early in the week, because Bob has the entire week to work on his projects.

Let's Rock & Roll!

Although we often don’t know what day it is, we do usually know the date.  I think it’s our genetic makeup.  Bob’s an engineer; I’m a burned out accountant.  We think in terms of numbers.  So one of us generally knows if it is the 6^th, 7^th, or 9^th and one of us usually knows if there is some obligation on that date.  But is it M, T, or TH?  Who knows?  Not me!

However, we have sort of slid into a bit of a daily routine when we are home . . . sleep a bit later, go out for our exercise, have a leisurely breakfast, check email (and the blog!), housework, grocery shopping or yard work, easy lunch, maybe a nap . . . you get the idea.  Our lives have slowed down and relaxed.

Community pool awaits Le Anna

Bob out for his morning walk.

Our insight into retirement is everything will get done.  We will take care of our home, our yard, and have some fun along the way.  We will plan and take our trips and when we return our responsibilities will be waiting for us.  We have the freedom to do whatever we want, when we want, as long as the money holds out and we have our health.  Today I discovered it’s Friday . . . I think I’ll make pancakes.

Blueberry pancakes!  Yummy!