So what does one do with their time?

M

MarciKS

Tired of being treated like crap here.
i am not yet retired and i am curious what those of you who have retired do with your time. how do you keep busy? i know my parents sleep a lot and watch a lot of tv. they used to go eat out a couple times a week. is there someplace to go to meet other seniors and maybe make some friends?
 

MarciKS said:
how do you keep busy?
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I really don't know how I did it when working.
Since retirement it's been balls to the wall
Building cabins
Clearing land
Buying/selling properties
Hiking over hill and dale (hills and dales wear me out anymore....never used to)

Most every night I fall into the Laz-y-boy and collapse
(I'm collapsed right now)

MarciKS said:
my parents sleep a lot and watch a lot of tv
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We no longer have a TV, since moving back to the cabin
When in town I'd watch a few shows
Not worth the time
 
Gary O' said:
I really don't know how I did it when working.
Since retirement it's been balls to the wall
Building cabins
Clearing land
Buying/selling properties
Hiking over hill and dale (hills and dales wear me out anymore....never used to)

Most every night I fall into the Laz-y-boy and collapse
(I'm collapsed right now)


We no longer have a TV, since moving back to the cabin
When in town I'd watch a few shows
Not worth the time
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I didn’t know your already moved back!!!
 
MarciKS said:
you're retired and able to build cabins?
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Built 'em before and after retirement

For me, retirement was just getting to do what I want to do...….all day long

p3RZJcB.jpg
 
Sometimes it seems there aren't enough hours in the day for all my projects. In the summer I have my garden and yard work, sewing, embroidering, new recipes to try,even some woodworking projects and painting with my sons help during the winter. Looking at old photos, reading and I still enjoy the adult coloring books that were all the rage a few years ago.
And the one my hubby hates is arranging and rearranging everything in my home. I'm thinking about painting our bathroom this fall but haven't told him yet.
Visits from my grand kids.
I'm kind of a loner and have no desire to join groups or clubs. This forum is as social as I get.
I'm not much of a traveler but do like short trips.
I join the hubby for a little TV watching in the evening but never during the day. To much fun stuff to do.
 
I have two huge wrap around porches and pole fences, which I'm restaining. I design coloring books, do serious sculpting for bronze and am sculpting clay cartoon figures, design greeting cards, paint paintings, spend time on HERE. I communicate with angels and write a monthly feature article in a magazine. Seems i'm always trying to organize things which is a bore. Keep doing upkeep on my home and property. Write poetry. Listen to my ole time rock and roll. Play with my dog. Reinventing myself. My books are on Amazon. My art is on Flickr.
About socializing, nope. none. Absolutely alone. Don't care.
 
Where to start?
I’m more selective in my walking places. I divide my time between carving, painting, playing sax, singing, gardening ( built a greenhouse ) and my many enjoyable hobbies. Experimenting with different foods and recipes is fun. Try new things. Explore life more. Sometimes I enjoy having naps during thunderstorms.
 
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Dear husband and I have been slowly renovating, upgrading, and refurbishing our home... bit by bit, year by year, as we have the money, and let me tell you, nothing keeps one busier than busying oneself in and around the home.

As for myself, I love gardening, so am always tinkering outside doing this and doing that, and between a little visiting every now and then with friends and family, cooking and baking, and just doing our own thing, we stay more than busy.
 
MarciKS said:
i am not yet retired and i am curious what those of you who have retired do with your time. how do you keep busy? i know my parents sleep a lot and watch a lot of tv. they used to go eat out a couple times a week. is there someplace to go to meet other seniors and maybe make some friends?
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At first you feel guilty. You SHOULD be working. Something feels unnatural. But soon, you're no longer governed by clocks or by money. You're just YOU! There is nothing to prove to anyone. You read, if you want to, you paint, if you want to. listen to music, if you want to. You have time to move at your own pace. You are at once, limitless, boundless, infinite. You're not resigning to old age. You can now become the real you.
Expand your mind. Indulge in your interests. Do whatever you want!
 
We have a wonderful rec center in our town with programs for all age groups. We joined a bridge group. I had to drag Dave and he did not have a good time at first, because his bridge skills were rusty, and he made mistakes. I said he could stay home if he liked, but I was still going. And so he kept going with me, and guess what? His skills improved, and he enjoys it. We've made some great friends in that group. We've even gone on trips with them. We enjoy day trips, and other travel. Before our unfortunate incarceration, we were planning a trip to England. Sadly, not this year. Dave enjoys cooking (and he's very good at it!) and fussing with his plants on our deck. We do a crossword puzzle every morning and after dinner and most weeks we have a jigsaw puzzle set up in a spare room. Some days it's just nice to putter around the house.
 
I swore to myself when I moved here two years ago that I would live each day to the fullest. I am always busy doing something and I live in a small studio apartment with only a small pet so not any upkeep to do on it. I write two blogs now, used to write four. But I am not writing a post daily, just when I want. I work on my family tree almost daily. I have been doing various projects, like going through photographs and giving them to family members. Making photo albums for my brother and my son for a present. I cook from scratch most of the time. I do not like to eat in restaurants very often or get fast food. I am on social media and get caught up in that, which I am trying to cut back on that a lot. I watch YouTube videos instead of television.

Due to the quarantine, I am not doing much socialization. The other residents in my building normally have some social activities we do on a regular basis but right now we can't. One or two drop in to talk to me every now and then. Hopefully, the YMCA will open back up soon so I can talk to them about joining. They have special programs for senior citizens in our community. I want to get into a regular exercise program soon. Our small city normally has a lot of activities outside in the parks (that are right across the street from me). The art council is in one section of my building and they have a lot of things going on there all year long. The library is right across the street from me and they have various programs as well as books. I go places with my boyfriend or to his house about once a week or so.

I have never been one to take a nap unless I was sick. I do lay down though when my knees are unbearable. Just for 10 minutes or watch something on YouTube or Amazon Prime, then I can get back up and am fine. I am never bored. I forgot.......I also take rides around the park on "Jazzy" (my mobility chair). Sometimes I just need fresh air.
 
Before the virus hit,I volunteered 3 mornings/wk at 2 local organizations
On Mon&Tues mornings,I volunteer at org called'Canopy of Neighbors"{also a member} working in the office.I have a list of other members I call to see how they are doing.Since March,I've been calling from home every Mon,they all appreciate the call
On Thurs,I volunteer in the business office at my church,doing weekly computer tasks,helping the ladies with various projects,our church is still closed
I take 2-3 walks/day depending on the weather,I'm a life long walker.I read alot books,do the daily NYT crossword puzzle,been doing them for yrs
In the summer,I sit outside in our community garden either reading or talking with other residents,now wearing masks social distancing
I have no idea where the time goes,but its important to stay busy
 
I am much busier now than when I worked! I read a lot and belong to a book club. I crochet, make all kinds of gifts for the holidays. I teach line dance 3 days a week at the senior center (when it is open after this coronavirus)! I write short stories for my own enjoyment, and belong to a writing group. I love cooking and baking which is good because I have food restrictions because of my health so I cook some "specialties ." I have my dogs to look after...well, they look after me, too🤗 Before this Covid, I regularly went to lunch and movies with friends, I do miss that. I also went to the gym before Covid. Now I walk a bit also while listening to an audiobook or podcasts.
 
In any 24 hr. period I never seem to be bored since I retired 15 yrs. ago ...and I live in a small senior apartment these days. I'm good at sleeping :ROFLMAO: . and get in over 8 hours every night.... but no daytime napping ever.
I hit the floor running early every morning with a long walk with my dog before the heat/sun gets going. That's my favorite time of the day.
We do a routine of three walks everyday, and it has helped me in my general health too.

I used to knit, sew, and read books .... but can't do any of those things anymore because of eyestrain ..
My time is spent keeping my apartment in super shape ... cleaning, decorating and rearranging all the time. .. And my favorite place is my outdoor patio that I keep full of plants. I sit out there often and watch the world go by.... great view, on the 3rd floor facing toward the city.
Life is good.
Waiting for the day my grandkids can come over again, and spend time shopping together.
 
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I love what I'm doing so it doesn't feel like I'm working. I get a heaping dose of mental stimulation which keeps me on my toes. Working with "kids" doing their clinicals make me understand their generation and how to get along with them.

I'm not thinking of retirement, I'm planning to go back to school for further learning.
 
MarciKS said:
i am not yet retired and i am curious what those of you who have retired do with your time. how do you keep busy? i know my parents sleep a lot and watch a lot of tv. they used to go eat out a couple times a week. is there someplace to go to meet other seniors and maybe make some friends?
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This is a pretty broad question. I would narrow it down to:
- Early retirement when you are still fairly vigorous which I think would be when we are between 60 and about 75: (We traveled quite a bit, hiked, took cruises, did a lot of landscaping, rode my motorcycle, visited far-flung family members, remodeled the house, went to the gym or swam several times a week, participated in frequent potluck dinners where we ate too much, took in a number of shows on Broadway, got into Yoga in a big way, and took up watercolor painting.)
- Later retirement when a lot of energy has departed and various aches and pains start to need increased attention. In my case this started around 76: (the motorcycle leaves, doctors appointments take more time, getting a good night's sleep doesn't always happen, the wife mandates that I stay off the roof, I start getting yard service, we start to go out for nice lunches rather than dinners, wine consumption takes a nosedive, travel overseas becomes rare, TV watching increases, reading decreases because of declining eyesight, and I had to start dealing with prostrate cancer.)

And then along came COVID19 which changed the equation even more drastically for all of us.

Your parents sound like they are in the later stage of retirement; cut them a lot of slack.
 
Agree @Pecos ... retirement comes at many ages, and different degrees of life activity.
Sleeping a lot, and sitting in front of a TV for hours on end probably has a lot to do with health ... both physical and mental.

I'm 77 this year, but still plowing ahead with ideas for " the future." ... Maybe I won't get there, but planning is sure fun.
 
We're 72 and 73. I've done a lot of ESL volunteering through the years, but have stopped now.
My husband got his teaching certificate once he retired from Engineering and Systems Mgt. Right now, they are doing Zoom conversation classes, twice a week. They used to be held at a local library and ESL Centres through govt. run programs.
 
I never realized that we were supposed to give any thought as to what we would or should do during retirement? One thing didn't change - - we rarely chose to "socialize" with other folks before retirement and nothing has changed since. Possibly if we weren't surrounded by our kids and grandkids it would have been different. By choice, they are our most enjoyable friends and some are also grand-parents.

"Activities" also leave me cold. I've only been in a local senior center once in the past 28 years of retirement although we did visit one a few times when in Florida. We've spent a lot of time in Maine and Florida during these years but basically just drift along, day to day, doing what seems to be enjoyable at the moment. As we've moved into our mid 80's some of our most enjoyable "activities' are good mid-day naps.:)
 
Pecos said:
This is a pretty broad question. I would narrow it down to:
- Early retirement when you are still fairly vigorous which I think would be when we are between 60 and about 75: (We traveled quite a bit, hiked, took cruises, did a lot of landscaping, rode my motorcycle, visited far-flung family members, remodeled the house, went to the gym or swam several times a week, participated in frequent potluck dinners where we ate too much, took in a number of shows on Broadway, got into Yoga in a big way, and took up watercolor painting.)
- Later retirement when a lot of energy has departed and various aches and pains start to need increased attention. In my case this started around 76: (the motorcycle leaves, doctors appointments take more time, getting a good night's sleep doesn't always happen, the wife mandates that I stay off the roof, I start getting yard service, we start to go out for nice lunches rather than dinners, wine consumption takes a nosedive, travel overseas becomes rare, TV watching increases, reading decreases because of declining eyesight, and I had to start dealing with prostrate cancer.)

And then along came COVID19 which changed the equation even more drastically for all of us.

Your parents sound like they are in the later stage of retirement; cut them a lot of slack.
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yes the folks have failing health so it's understandable.

why does the wine consumption nose dive?
 
There are many things people can do with the time, if they remain well enough to do them, Marci.

Some people need or want to continue to work, often part-time, and sometimes at something different. That gives structure to the days and weeks, but one could also plan one's own schedule, of walks, or indoor activities.
There are so many hobbies and interests, one could expand, or take up.....and joining some group is a good idea, if one likes their focus and the particular people.

There are classes, and non-profits...... or something you'd always wanted to learn.....
but most people just do their regular interests.
Again, IF they are still able to.

It is good to try to think of developing at least some long-term interests, or lifelong type of hobbies, that wouldn't end, if/when, you become less physically able.

Though some of those become difficult as well, for unexpected reasons....so one needs to expect to adapt.....repeatedly.

It's best if you can keep from defining your self and your value, completely by an activity or job, that depends on your physical strength, that might not always be dependable, later on.
It's a very hard transition to make, for those of us, who've done that.
 

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