* I LOVE sleeping in. ;) I do NOT miss the 4:50 a.m. wake-up alarm AT ALL.
* I am grateful that I don't have to leave the house and stand on the commuter train platform on frigid mornings when the snow has piled up overnight (and the trains are delayed as a result... :p ).
* I don't miss the stress of work. At all.
* I do miss my co-workers. (Well, some of them, lol.) Not having kids ( = meeting other parents) and working/commuting 10-11 hours a day, we don't have a lot of local friends. And of course, most of the people we do know are working.
* We have saved a bundle of money in transit costs, lunches and coffee/tea alone.
* I love having the freedom to do what we want, when we want.
* It's great to be able to go to the mall on a weekday afternoon when it's not as crowded and busy.
* I loved our daily walks during the summer and fall months (and I especially loved the 10+ pounds I lost as a result).
* I miss those walks now that the weather isn't cooperating. :(
* Daytime TV is a wasteland. :p
* I hate to admit it, but now with the busy-ness excitement of Christmas season and my birthday behind us, and sub-zero temperatures outside, we're going a bit stir crazy.
* We're going to investigate the local rec centre, which includes an indoor track, swimming pool and fitness classes, including yoga (which I have missed). (And by posting this in my blog, perhaps I'll be more likely to follow through, lol.)
You can find more of this week's #MicroblogMondays posts here.
Hope you find the perfect activities to enjoy for this new season.
ReplyDeleteIt's been five years since I was in your situation. Retirement just gets better and better.
ReplyDeleteI love this list - my (soon to be former boss) often says, oh what would I do with myself if I retired?? I think I would have zero issues filling my days. But I completely connect with the cold-weather stir crazy. We're feeling it a bit here, as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad this is a good space for you.
Glad to hear you're in a good space. I know initially the transition was hard but you and dh have done an amazing job with transitioning to this new stage.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree about the work stress. ugh.
Excellent! Good for you! Are there any clubs around as well? Those are quite the good opportunity to socialise more, in case you miss this.
ReplyDeleteI recently joined a book club, and although some books are very silly, as are the people who suggest them, it is very nice to go out and chat, meet new people, and hear other people's opinions. Very refreshing.
Yes, yes, and yes! Can relate to all of that.
ReplyDeleteDH and I have had great plans of using an entertainment voucher book, and trying a new cafe (for coffee and/or lunch)once a week. We've done it once, back in (I think) November!
Loved your list - definitely way more hits than misses. :) It's great to be at peace and do the things you've always wanted but hadn't the time.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great six months! I hope you find a fitness club that you like!
ReplyDeleteLoving the list, too. :-) GOOD LUCK in finding more indoor activities to do!
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone! :) We did go check out the local community centre -- not as fancy as some of the private clubs, but still a pretty impressive facility with a broad range of options. Did not hand over the credit card (yet), but came away with a handful of brochures, schedules & membership fee information. We will probably try the "pay as you go" or seasonal option at first until we see how much we make use of the membership.
ReplyDelete@Quidnunc & Cristy, it is an adjustment and six months is really not that long in the grand scheme of things, is it? I know it will get better & I will eventually find my niche(s). :)
@Mina: Book club is an excellent idea. I've always loved taking part in online book discussions & it would be fun to be able to do it in "real life." I understand the local library runs a couple; I may check them out.
We've also resolved to plan at least one big outing a month -- the (relatively) new Ripley's aquarium in Toronto is at the top of our list, and we will probably go there sometime in the next few weeks. I'd also like to go to the art gallery again soon; it went through a major renovation a few years back & we haven't been back there since it was finished.
That definitely is a silver lining -- to only go out when you want to go out vs. having to stand in the slush at an unholy hour.
ReplyDeleteI have three words for you: daytime book club.
Social AND an excuse to buy more books.
Might I suggest that you two take dancing (ballroom)lessons at the rec centre. Sometimes continuing education courses offer them as well. Years back, hubs and I took a course at the local rec centre, it was dirt cheap and a lot of fun and very sweaty!
ReplyDeleteAs they say, every cloud has a silver lining. Hope you find what you seek in the Winter.
ReplyDeleteDropping by from Microblog Mondays linkup.
Sounds like the not working has had a lot of upsides for you! I hear you on missing co-workers. Working from home can be somewhat isolating and I don't know a lot of people in our area still. It can take some efforts. One thing I've done is start a book club on Meetup.com. It's been great. You should see what kind of groups are out there in your local area; I have had a lot good experiences with joining groups on that site and meeting new people :)
ReplyDelete