Retirement Routine

Now that spring is here and I am coming up on the first anniversary of my retirement I'm starting to believe I really am retired, LOL. At first it felt weird doing things during the day, like someone would see me and report me for playing hooky from work. Or waking up late and thinking, oops, I'm in trouble. But I am retired, really honest to goodness retired. I'm starting to develop a routine. Mondays I run errands, Tuesdays I clean, Wednesday is massage therapy for my lymphedema, Thursday I work in a scrapbook store, and Friday I crop all day at my local scrapbook store. Saturdays vary depending on whether my 10 y.o. grandson is with me. Sunday is laundry, ironing, and movies on Lifetime Movie Network. I will be starting a volunteer position one lunch hour/week at St. Agnes High School. It's my older son's alma mater. They've just started a hot lunch program and need some lunch room volunteers..

I can't say I ever gave much thought to retirement when I was younger. I figured I'd be growing old with my spouse. We had talked about doing either Peace Corps or medical mission work in retirement. Divorce changed those plans. I always loved nursing so I figured I'd work until I was well into my 70's. Cancer and lung disease changed that. My life revolves around my grandkids and simple pleasures. I love my adopted state of Minnie-sota, you betcha. I couldn't be in a better place when it comes to both medical care and quality of life. So, retirement isn't what I had envisioned but it is good.