Retirement: Random Thoughts

5,040 pieces - I counted

When I retired on April 10, I was half done with this puzzle, or less, so I put together maybe 3,000 pieces in less than three weeks. I have time on my hands, and I do not watch much TV or play lots of video games, so I spent a lot of time puzzling. Usually, it takes me most of the year to finish one of these - this year is different.

Coronavirus is definitely the theme of my early retirement. I check the statistics every day. Today is Tuesday, and Tuesday death tolls are always high. If today we have fewer deaths than last Tuesday, that's a good sign, or at least it means that New York is possibly past the peak.

In addition, coronavirus has put a crimp in two activities that would have meant significant changes to my lifestyle: weekend outings, and getting involved in the community. Jackie and I are already thinking about taking some short trips starting maybe June - we are a bit stir crazy, like everyone - but going wine tasting or spending a night in Eastern Washington is off the table for now. Community activities - chess club, bridge, Jubilee (our community name) Democrats, group outings, community shows - are all on hold. Because of that, my days feel not too different from what my weekends used to be, but with less activity.

Other thoughts:

Based on the choices I have made, it appears that cleaning the toilet appeals to me more than working in the yard does. Today I chose to start working in the yard early, trying to get into the habit. It really is not so bad, except weeding, which is bad.

Going to pick up burgers at Sonic seems like a real treat now.

Sometimes I walk with Jarrod, sometimes on the phone with Mike, sometimes by myself. I am a very introverted person, but walking alone is boring.

Rowing on the rowing machine is boring too, but I think that I have used it every day since I retired and have rowed about 10 kilometers total. I listen to audio books to get through. [Blogger is telling me that "kilometers" is misspelled and needs to be "kilometres." I sense a British bias.]

I have not started drinking during the daytime, but I am beginning to wonder why not.

My closest co-worker at my last employer contacted me yesterday and said she was laid off. I think maybe I did OK to leave when I did. [Update: everyone I worked with got laid off.]

When you are retired, one ice tray is enough to make plenty of ice for the whole family.  Keeping up with making ice seemed like a struggle when I was working.

In general, all is well.

Retirement: The Next Big Thing

First, a little update on how retirement is going. Today is my sixth day since my last work day April 10, and I am pleased enough with my days so far. Looking down my list of retirement activities I had planned, I have been surprisingly good about exercise and housework (!), and have prepared dinner several times. We actually ventured out for a weekend activity last Saturday, drove to the coast and ate lunch in our car, which was very nice considering the restraints we are under. And here I am writing my first post-retirement blog post, so that's not a bad effort.

On the other hand, I have not touched the piano yet, and I have done very little yard work despite unnaturally good weather, for this part of the world, all week since I retired. It is another beautiful day today. This is getting weird.

Community activities are on hold.

One odd item: I have been using a feather duster, on a regular basis, to dust. I never expected that.

The big item I can see now is missing from my plans is The Next Big Thing, some overriding goal to pursue, some substantial accomplishment. Everyday tasks like exercising and keeping the yard in shape are good things, but I feel like I am missing something. My friend Chuck wrote novels after he retired. My brother achieved his Life Master designation in bridge. I could use a goal along those lines.

I have considered writing, but I really don't have any ideas for a novel. Writing blog posts or Twittering fall more into the day-to-day category. I could probably become a bridge Life Master if I devoted myself to it, but that has been done, and I am not sure I could muster the devotion. I would like to play chess, but I simply do not have the brain power, to put it bluntly, to be much better than I ever was, which was only fairly good. I could understand trying to set some goals around golf, but I don't think that is for me.

The one thing that occurs to me so far is to devote more time to politics, to try to work with others to make small changes in the world for the better. So that's one idea, one that will stay on hold for the time being given the pandemic. I prefer to have a few viable ideas to choose from rather than just the one, but it's a start.

So add one more retirement activity to the list: find the next big thing.