Monday, March 27, 2023

Monday Musings: Happy at Home

Fabric Easter baskets on my table today!


As I write this I am sitting “rear down and legs up” as I described elsewhere. Actually I used a different word than rear, but you get my drift. The after effects of an abbreviated and difficult walk (for whatever reasons) this afternoon. I really should limp around the house for ten minutes a couple times, as I had more than a few hershey’s kisses during the dreaded errand day! We’ll see.


Yesterday I had an illuminating discussion with a church friend. Her husband died in October. She had been doing as well, or as well as can be expected considering her recent widowhood. Then, she fell and fell badly. Post surgery she has been staying with her daughter and son-in law, and within her limitations post cast, doing the kinds of things she did in her own home. Reading, cooking, knitting, watching TV. Playing with her dogs, visiting with her family, meeting up with friends one or two days a week and going to church. Apparanly she had never talked much with her adult kids about her (their) retirement lifestyle, because the children think she’s depressed because she’s not leaving the house on a daily basis to go out and do up the town. She has however met me for lunch more than once, attended various church stuff, and done other social things that of the kind she would have done pre widowhood and pre injury. There is just a communication gap.


Which makes me wonder what my own kids think I do in retirement. I mean, I have a lunch group and a crafting group and am active in my church. I occasionally do a social thing at the senior center, or take a drive, or go to the movies on Tuesday. Or maybe attend the local amateur theater depending on their show. And I visit my daughter every week or so. And lord knows, I’m going to a wedding in Lake Tahoe in a few months.


But much of my time is spent here, in the proverbial nest. Crafting, sewing, reading. Streaming TV shows. Doing my version of cooking or not cooking. Reading or writing. Sitting on the patio reading or writing. Sewing. Putting up seasonal decorations. Chatting with the neighbors. Walking the grounds and going to the pool in the summer. Doing as I am at this moment post dinner: sitting in my recliner with a book and my laptop and observing life as it goes by my patio door and window.


I do try to keep social connections, especially after moving. But I enjoy my own company and my little abode. Which means, when I leave it, it’s going to be for a good cause or reason, because otherwise I am mainly happy where I am planted.


Tomorrow I will go to my gals lunch. Saturday afternoon and evening I will partake in a pop up craft fair, with a group of folks who are mainly half my age. Sunday I will go to a class and to church and perhaps out to brunch although I am trying at least a little Lenten abstinence on tap. If she gets away, my kid may come for half a day.


In general, this is enough for me. This is where my balance is these days.There was a time in retirement (as long time followers may remember) when I went to school full time, had a craft business (the kind where I did a road trip based on where there were craft fairs), had a big house, two active dogs, and volunteered by giving time to multiple organizations at the same time.


Things have changed. Not because I’m less active as such (although generative and immune diseases tend to march slowly onward, lol), but because I value my own time more , appreciate less chatter, and have an endless ever growing list of stuff I want to do. Right here at home.


Mainly. Mostly.

18 comments:

  1. I see some of my friends who volunteer at a different place every day! Sometimes I feel guilty, that maybe I should be doing more. But in reality I am out of the house more often than I like now! I enjoy lunch with friends a few times a month, volunteer at church once or twice a week. I'm on a temporary committee for my town that meets twice a month. I spend a lot of time carpooling grandchildren, too. I would enjoy more time IN my home and maybe going out once a week. I like my own time, too.

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    1. I loved that time of my life, and I do on occasion volunteer. But these days it is more things like making quilts for foster kids and church projects

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  2. I am enjoying doing similar things as you in my retirement. A good mix of lunch with long time friends, church and fellowship on Sundays, walks with my dog, visiting with my sons, reading, watching TV and plenty of quiet time.

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  3. Ditto! Besides still needing to work 32 hours, I like my spot too. I enjoy the quiet since my work home is noisy with 6 other people! Linda in Kansas

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    1. I have enjoyed living by myself more than I thought I would.

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  4. It looks like you have created a great retirement routine that fits you perfectly. You have a good balance of external and home activities. Continue to enjoy your time to the max!

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  5. We are mostly hermits and that is just fine with us:)

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  6. I've always been a home body; when I was working I would come home and settle in - no desire to got out and about. Now in retirement, I stay home a lot more than I go out - even more so since the pandemic.
    Like you, I have creative outlets, spend much time doing family research, and of course the everlasting housework keeps me busy most of the time. I do love to travel - at least once a year and I amuse myself by planning the next trip a year or so in advance.
    In my case, my adult children have a good idea of what I do - my son because he lives with me, and my daughter because I talk to her a few times a day!

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    1. Ah
      I rarely talk on the phine and visit my daughter once a week. She has a general but not specifics.

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  7. I see a few friends over the course of a month and plan on starting live attendance at Mass on Palm Sunday. I am content to stick close to home and do a couple of big trips/or small trips each year. Being content in myself is something I have worked at achieving.

    God bless.

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  8. This sounds like a pretty darn good retirement lifestyle. I recently did a post about a typical day in retirement as well. I love my slow mornings, which probably appear boring to others. Being happy at home is a wonderful gift we give ourselves. Your Easter basket turned out soooo cute. It makes me want to sew a couple for my grandkids.

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  9. To me, balance is becoming more important. Like you, I am content in entertaining myself at home with various endeavors and activities. Yes, I volunteer at the library one or two days a week, attend church most Sundays, and have family dinners a few times a month. But, if I don't leave the house on any particular day, I celebrate not having to drive the car somewhere.

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  10. If you take pleasure in your own home and your own company contentment is never far away!

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  11. I love your fabric Easter Basket. That's really cute!

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Thanks for stopping by! I love to hear from others, and I also love to hear all points of view.. Just leave the profanity and insults at home, OK? Thanks!!