Boredom …. Not a Chance!

As I stood at the counter of a local coffee shop, head down counting the coins in my hand, I heard someone call my name. Across the room was a woman whom I had worked with over twenty years ago!  As we chatted, she asked if I was working in town. When I mentioned that I was retired, her first response was “Oh, you must be really bored.” I have heard this before from various people and always reply, “Not at all. In fact. I don’t know how I found time to work!”

My spouse and I have been retired for almost a year now and have yet to say the words, “I’m bored.” I am an avid gardener, and enjoy working both at the house and at our summer property. Ger-bie is more the ‘grunt’ man and gathers tools and moves wheelbarrows full of earth etc. at my request. He also gives me valuable input when I ask for his opinion on location of plants or garden ornaments.

We have a membership at a local golf course and try to get out at least 3 days per week weather permitting. The cost is minimal compared to the enjoyment we get from walking the nine holes together soaking up vitamin D along the way.

Something else that we enjoy is touring the area on our motorcycle.  There is nothing more exciting to me than the rush of the wind on my face as I hold tight to my partner. We are definitely planning some longer trips in the summer of 2012.

My local library keeps me well-stocked with reading material. This ensures that when my lounge chair and fireplace beckon, I have a novel to curl up with. Ger-bie is using his free time to learn to play his guitar. It is comforting to hear the familiar tunes from the sitting room and I know he appreciates my positive feedback when he perfects something new.

Retirement means we have more time to do the things we have always done but at a more leisurely pace. Retirement means that even the things that have to be done like house cleaning, laundry etc., can be done together when we want to do them. Retirement means our time is spent, not just making a living, but actually living, and I have to say it’s wonderful!