How do you spend your first week of retirement after working full-time for forty-five years? ANY WAY YOU WANT!!! That's the free part of happy and free. How about the happy part of happy and free. Well, my blood pressure has dropped ten points as well as my heart rate- really. No exaggeration, I check it every day- down ten points! Here's the kicker. If the Rapture had occurred and the world ended at 6:00 pm Saturday, May 21st, I had one glorious week!
Retirement started on Sunday. Why Sunday? Because I had no Sunday work anticipation blues. No homework. No meetings for which to prepare. No having to play fireman putting out flames of the latest disaster that erupted over the weekend. My round of golf was not played under the pall of work the next day. Actually, Sunday did involve some work considerations. I heard from the Golf Pro at the City of Denver's Kennedy Golf Course. I need to be in Denver on June 2nd for my job interview. Yes, I will be returning to work- at a golf course! If I can call that work. They pay me for part-time work and I can play unlimited free golf at all city courses. Life is sweet!
Monday was the first day of my "retirement schedule". I have read several books on retirement and even though I seem to be the perfect candidate for a happy and free retirement, maintaining a schedule is important to stay mentally busy and active. My day starts with a leisurely morning from 6:00 to 8:00 reading the paper, drinking coffee, healthy breakfast and listening the radio followed by a one hour walk. I'll talk about my schedule in a later post. The word I would use to describe my first day was, unrushed- if that's a word. In the past, I would try to get in as many things possible on my day off rushing from one activity to another. Not Monday! I had to stop at my Honda dealer to pick up sunglasses left the Jeep I traded earlier ($167/mo gas savings) when my dealer asked if I had a minute. Well, I sat and gabbed like a retired guy for almost an hour. Unbelievable- but great!
Every day was busy and never boring. I started working on my list; shopping for a guitar (used), studing the right fly fishing equipment I'll need, long walks with Mrs. Wonderful, lots of golf and a ROCKIES GAME at Miller Park. I even sat on a bench in downtown Lake Geneva relaxed watching the flatlanders.
What have I learned about retirement? Planning is important. Turning off the TV is a must. I'm happy to say that so far retirement IS an opportunity to spend the rest of my life carefully exploring and planning interesting times and adventures. It's all possible because I'm RETIRED HAPPY AND FREE!
P.S. I have to remember- take a camera so I can add picture to my blog!
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