Anybody else enjoy the 'doing nothing' aspect of retirement?
francienolan
12 years ago
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Comments (7)
emilynewhome
12 years agofrancienolan
12 years agoRelated Discussions
Nearing Halloween, is anybody else cursed?
Comments (4)Speaking of a curse... I've been having strange trouble with scarlet runner beans. Last year, a friend told me about how lovely they were and asked if he could plant them where they'd grow on my fence. I said yes and he put an entire packet in the ground, along ten feet of fence. He planted them in April, way too early (I didn't realize what he was out there doing until he came in and announced he was done). Most of them rotted in the ground. I assumed they all would and started to dig up the area in May. I discovered that three plants had made it, but one was already nibbled to the ground by a rabbit or other critter. In digging up the area to plant other stuff, I accidentally killed another. The last one struggled for a long time and eventually produced three beans. Only three. So this year I planted those three beans. All came up. I accidentally bumped one and it freakishly broke in half and died. Another had the growing tip damaged (I'm not sure by what) and never made it. The last grew slowly... so slowly... and produced three seed pods. I zealously guarded these pods against husband and children, reminding them every time we picked beans not to pick THOSE pods. Leave them be, let them ripen. Last week I cleaned out all the other plants growing on that fence and cut down the sunflowers, etc. I didn't have time to do it neatly, so there were a lot of stragglers. We had a house sitter over - the same friend who had wanted to plant the scarlet runners in the first place. We were in a hurry when we left and I didn't give any specific instructions about the garden (not that I'd even thought about it). When we came back and I was unpacking, I saw my garden basket near the door had four bean pods in it and one was a scarlet runner pod! I asked him, "What happened to the other two? This was on a plant with two other pods." He said, "What? Oh, well, the other ones didn't look very good. I think squirrels got at them. I threw them away." I have a bad squirrel problem, but I've grown beans for two years and I have yet to have a squirrel (or anything else) eat the bean pods. Hoping the squirrels had only chewed on the pods and there were a few seeds left, I asked where he'd thrown them away. He said the trash. So I looked. All I found was carefully hulled pods, hulled by a human. When he saw that I was looking, he said, "I just threw the beans out. They were kind of dry and hard." This is a nice guy. Were it nearly anyone else, I would suspect malice. But he's dumb and nice and well-intentioned. I took a deep breath. "Okay. Where did you throw the beans?" He said (and I'm not exaggerating or kidding here), "Just out in the back yard. I was hoping a squirrel or a bird might eat them... I'm sorry." I bought a flashlight (my old one was dead) and searched. I found three. This morning I found two more after carefully raking the area where I'd found the other three. That's probably all there were, as they weren't big pods. There are three beans still in the pod that was in the basket. I imagine that he thought he'd help finish cleaning off the fence and noticed a few bean pods. After that, it's sheer human perversity and the absurdity of life. Was he bored and decided to shred the pods, then tossed the seeds when he was done? If so, why carry the hulls inside to put in the trash? Did he think that the dried out pods wouldn't make good snap beans (I haven't grown dry beans so he hasn't seen that)? It's just weird. Plain weird. It's not a big loss to me, as I could just buy a packet of seeds and be as well off, maybe more. Plus the scarlet runners are apparently very accident-prone and don't grow well where I'm planting them. But it was bizarre that after two years of coddling, most of my seeds get tossed out so "a squirrel or a bird might eat them" by a well-meaning helper....See MoreAnybody else don't know what day it is?
Comments (23)I have one of those wonderful atomic clocks, with big numbers on it. Besides the time, it shows the date, the day of the week and the inside temperature. Being retired and living alone, I'd never know anything without that clock. I keep calenders around handy, and even have the little stick up ones in the vehicles for reference when I'm out and about. they said they hadn't even adjusted to the time change yet! tee hee hee...I've still got 2 clocks I need to set backward an hour yet. Sue...See MoreWhy I'm enjoying retirement at this moment!
Comments (35)I've found that "Volunteering" is a bit like having a "Hobby". Best to find these before you retire, after which you can devote more time to them -- if you wish. I think it's difficult to find *meaningful* work as a volunteer. One thing DH has enjoyed is called Grand Times. About sixty Seniors volunteer in township high schools. Teachers request help with all kinds of things, and the leader of Grand Times matches volunteers to meet the needs. DH is usually 'at school' for a few hours twice a week on some assignment. He's worked with the same kids in a remedial English class for two years. It's sometimes one-on-one; sometimes he's working with a 'team' of kids on an assignment. He feels useful, and the kids seem hungry for help. He also helps judge presentations for the marketing classes and helps with senior essays -- nice mix of lower and higher achieving students. More schools could avail themselves of the Senior talent lying fallow in their communities. "Volunteering" needn't be primarily serving the entertainment or time-structuring needs of retirees with 'make work' assignments to keep them busy. What have some of you found to do in retirement that uses your experience and talents?...See MoreEnjoying one of those retirement benefits, today!
Comments (14)Oh, yeah, forgot to say -- I joined a garden club in our town that always met on first Mondays, 1 PM to 3 PM. I had always wanted to do that. But I learned quickly that that type of group is not necessarily into gardening big time, it's mainly a ladies' social club. It was kinda clickish and I didn't really fit in, but I am still a member and try to go when I can. I did a program for them last year -- a slide show on the importance of watershed issues and native trees. Other clubs/groups in our area are: a Study Club that meets for a weekday luncheon and shares book reviews, the League of Women Voters (I love that), our local Chamber of Commerce, a ladies' charity group at my church, and a support group for parents of ADHD children (several of my kids and I have ADHD). All meet during the work week. I go sometimes, and that's enjoyable. I have been avoiding paying dues to things that are expensive, like the Chamber, but they tolerate me and still make me feel welcome. Some groups you can just tell them -- I am retired and can't afford the dues on my income, but would like to come to your programs occassionally. They'll have you as a "guest." Also, groups that need volunteers will welcome you if you put in some time on one of their projects. I did that with the Chamber, and that's why they "put up" with me!! -- Marie...See Morejakkom
12 years agovala55
12 years agojannie
12 years agovala55
12 years ago
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