I've been retired for about 1 1/2 yrs. I worked an evening shift when I worked (3 pm to 11 pm) then had to "unwind" before going to bed about 12 or 1 am. Now -- I find I am a morning person - get up about 6:30 or 7:00, and yes, I do have a somewhat routine that just established itself, but I feel more at ease if there IS a routine (not schedule!). I put on coffee, clean up the kitchen, feed the animals, read the paper, and, because quilting is a major hobby with me, and I'm more productive in the morning, I spend mornings doing more active things, sewing, cleaning, shopping, yard work, etc. etc. I am a little surprised at how busy I find my days sometimes, and wonder how I did everything when I did work. Also - I find I'm cleaning and keeping up the house a little more than I did before - I'm definitely not a "neat freak" but just do like a fairly orderly, clean environment. I'm absolutely loving retirement - I think it is the chance to choose and control how my days' activities go, and I didn't have that before. DH is still working, but I'm pushing him to retire next summer when he turns 65.

What a timely question. I had the most horrid noon meal. Actually I didn't eat it. I went to an event where I paid over 40 dollars to attend. As with most events the meal choices were uninspiring. Salmon ,chicken,veggie lasagna, that sort of thing. I decided the chicken piccata couldn't possibly be too terrible. Boy was I wrong. The whole meal was terrible. I don't know how some ate it and some actually thought it was good. Go figure. This was at a country club. First we got basic sweet french rolls. The kind with the over browned crust that once cool hardens into instant staleness. The butter balls were on the table so long they were melting. When we asked for more butter it was still frozen solid. It wasn't even real butter....just a shade above grill grease. Ick. The salad was a half of a small apple dice on about a 1/4 cup of bagged lettuce mix with a few (again straight from a bag) candied walnuts. Then the chicken...oh my. It was an over breaded "Tyson" chicken cutlet that I believe was either baked or nuked. it had the same consistency of a a breaded TV dinner. There was no piccata about this thing. No lemon flavor, no lemon garnish and certainly no capers. It had some kind of mushroom glop from a can on it. There was a table spoon of white/wild rice that crunched. The only thing edible (to me) was the few frozen green beans on the plate. I gagged down a few bites of chicken. Another lady asked for a box and so did I. They don't give out boxes for fear of being blamed for food illness. BS!! Any problem with the food is already right in their kitchen. I also observed servers holding plates near guests whose costumes (this was a costume event) were hanging right into the plates while they paused to speak to someone. Nothing like letting someones boa brush into someone's salad. Ick Double Ick. So basically I spent 40 plus dollars on frozen food that was poorly prepared and served by I thing either the kids of club members or some caddies. They were not trained wait staff. So tonight I went to a family owned diner and had a nice meal of Soup,lamb chops,baked potato, fresh asparagus and cheesecake. All for under 15 dollars with very nice professional service.

jewelis- I wasn't referring to her response but to the letter writer who said by the time dinner is served (when they've been there for 2-3 hours) they are all ready to go home. Marilyn, I'm going to chalk it up to different people behave differently. It was my grandmother who instilled in me the belief that it was rude to "eat and run" so to speak. It's worked out okay for me since my husband's 101 year old grandma never wanted us to leave right away either. She always wanted to see her great grand babies. Come to think of it, she may not have cared if WE were there, just the babies. ;)

Sorry for the yellowed image, it's gloomy outside today, but this is the view from the eating area in our kitchen. Here is where we eat 95% of our meals during cool or super hot weather, if it's mild or warm, we eat out side at the table. Our dining room is for larger gatherings. I love it there too, but rarely would the two of us choose to eat there alone. I've cleaned up the table so that the bottles of vitamins, supplements and Kleenex box are on the island, normally they live at DH's place! The tv is on the counter, to the right of the table. DH hates it being on in the mornings because it disturbs his reading of the paper, however we are usually watching the news or Jeopardy during dinner. Rarely do we eat in the den. We just don't find it comfortable to hang over the low coffee table while sitting on the sofa. Although that said, DH takes a tray in there when I'm having a Mahjongg game at the kitchen table. DD moved to Georgia and has the above areas and a darling screened in porch. I think that would be the best of both worlds.