When is a SAHW retired?

20 years ago

Hi all! I'm a SAHW (stay at home wife) - have not worked outside the home for at least five years, other than teaching occasional quilting classes. I didn't "retire" in the traditional sense from my last job, just stopped working. I don't plan on returning to the work force, but if something interesting came along I might. I don't have a pension - just a loving DH with a very good and secure job. He will probably retire in 6-7 years, maybe sooner if offered early retirement.

It seems SAHW/Ms aren't often included in retirement dialogue. This is not a critique - just an observation. I do the majority of the housework, laundry, cooking, bookkeeping/money management, gardening, vacation planning, holiday planning/cooking/shopping, relative management (ha!), and shopping in general (not complaining about that!). So, am I retired? If not, when would you consider me retired?

Diana

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Comments (14)

doteroo
20 years ago
If you husband hires a maid then you will be semi-retired but you'll never be completely retired until you kick over. Neither will I.
ritaotay
20 years ago
Sorry but a SAHW can't retire... If they did who would do all the housework, laundry, cooking, bookkeeping/money management, gardening, vacation planning, holiday planning/cooking/shopping, relative management, shopping in general and everything else...

Rita
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angelcub
Original Author
20 years ago
LOL! The maid probably won't materialize, so my DH will have to do. He does look cute in an apron. ; )

While I do most of the above mentioned work, I should add that my DH is always willing to help. It's just he's gone from about 6 am to 6 pm, 5 days a week, so I "just do it." I'm a morning person and am usually done with whatever "housework" I have scheduled for that day by noon. It's just the two of us, so things don't get very messy.

I often feel retired. My days are my own to do with as I please. I have certain days I do certain work, but I rarely feel I must get something done. So maybe I'm semi-retired. I think about DH's retirement a lot. I am really looking forward to the day when he does. I've even been checking into places to retire to if we relocate. Well, someone has to do it! : )

Thanks for your input!
Diana
joyfulguy
20 years ago
Sometimes during my 20 years as a personal financial advisor I had seminars dealing with retirement.

One day, having endured the retirement party, plus all the good-byes, Tom took his tools, pictures, supplies, etc. home with him from his last day of work.

Next morning, after having enjoyed the luxury of sleeping in, he sat in his favourite chair, reading the paper.

After a few minutes, he lowered it, looked around, then picked it up and read some more.

Soon he put it down again, looked around ... and contemplated a bit.

After half a dozen episodes like this, Susie asked, "Something wrong, Tom"?

Tom asked, "Where's breakfast?"

To which Susie asked in reply, "You retired yesterday, didn't you?"

"Yeah, sure - you know that. What's that got to do with anything"? asked Tom, a bit abruptly.

"So did I", replied Susie, sweetly.

Then she continued, "I'll tell you what - I'll get breakfast, now. And then we'll sit down and discuss who's going to do what, around here".

We don't have a report of Tom's reply to this "suggestion".

Funny - this story seems quite a bit more popular with females than with males.

Have a great weekend - Oh, I forgot: when you're retired ... **every day is weekend**!!

ole joyful
ritaotay
20 years ago
Cute joke Joyful Guy but I have a feeling I know what Tom's reply was.... LOL

As for me... Well, early in our marriage hubby decided to fix breakfast one weekend... He made 'scrambled' eggs... We were low on milk so he used Vernor's ginger ale... Then to make it more substantial he added sauerkraut... I ended up banning him from my kitchen.

Then last Wednesday he was upset because his favorite shirt wasn't washed so he took it upon himself to 'do the laundry'.... On Thursday I had to go out and buy a new washing machine...

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that after 'retiring' from the phone company that I'd be a SAHW who could NEVER retire...

Oh well, such is life.... In my next life I'm coming back as a man... LOL

Rita
joyfulguy
20 years ago
Rita,

I'll bet!

o j
joyfulguy
20 years ago
Rita,

No reply?

I'm disappointed in you!

o j
devorah
20 years ago
Rita, you've been had by a master manipulator. Thanks for the laugh. I wonder what would have happened if you had eaten all your eggs and asked for more. My husband's first attempts at cooking were really awful, but I kept praising him and he got better. He will never be good, but when I am tired, "good enough" is good enough.
ritaotay
20 years ago
Well Joyful Guy they say a leopard can't change his spots... LOL

Actually I think I was a man in a previous life and now I'm paying for it, big time... LOL

Rita
joyfulguy
20 years ago
Rita,

I don't have a thing to say ...

... who am I to question your judgement?

o j
ritaotay
20 years ago
LOL

Why not? Everyone else does... LOL

Rita
joyfulguy
20 years ago
Rita,

Before you start out on the daily round, look yourself in the bathroom mirror, grin, and say, "I ain't stupid!".

Probably no one else will offer you such authentication.

Have a great week.

ole joyful
joyfulguy
20 years ago
Rita,

If a leopard doesn't pursue - change his/her "spot"s ...

... s/he doesn't eat!

They can't just sit there, open their mouths and have prey walk in.

But some retired men seem to think that such should be their lot - more or less.

Right?

o j
joyfulguy
19 years ago
Rita,

... where are you?

o j

When is a SAHW retired?

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When is a SAHW retired?

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