What in the world do you do all day?

I've been asked that question several times, I usually reply with "whatever I like or nothing at all".

Truthfully it's a hard question for me to answer, I do many different things every day or every week and have no desire to list them for someone.
 

I tell them I do housework in the morning, then play around on the internet, eat lunch, read, take a nap, more internet, dinner, old movies, reading, early to bed. The one thing they pick out of that list, and out of my husband's list, too, is the nap. They jump right on that. There's a lot of nap-envy out there.
 
Never had anyone ask me or my husband that...


I'm not retired, I work 4 days/week

But my husband is retired and nobody has asked him like that either. They do sometimes ask "what are you doing now? - but i n the same small talk pleasant way people ask about my work or ask what are you doing o n the weekend? etc, just being friendly and interested.
to which he answers I do some voluntary work and I play bowls and I walk the dog every day etc
 
When I retired in 2011,found time to do one of my favorite things, go to the movies. I either went by myself once or twice a month.When his schedule permitted,my 'movie buddy,' Alexei{ Marcia&Dave's younger son}& I would go couple times/month. He provided the transportation & I would buy the tickets, it was wonderful and we bonded over our interest in movies. I also love to read, had more time to read a lot of books
I was volunteering 2 mornings a week as I had done on my days off from work,then Covid changed everything I still take my daily walks since moving here to Canterbury Woods- Gates Circle, that has not changed. I now attending monthly meetings,take the Gates Van when I need to go to doctor's appts,or go to local stores e.g Target,Kohl's,Wegmans.Some weeks don;t know where the time has gone
 
I tell them I do housework in the morning, then play around on the internet, eat lunch, read, take a nap, more internet, dinner, old movies, reading, early to bed. The one thing they pick out of that list, and out of my husband's list, too, is the nap. They jump right on that. There's a lot of nap-envy out there.
The housework I can empathise with. We live in a big house and an even bigger garden, when we both worked we had help. A gardening fairy, a homehelp fairy and an ironing fairy. Nowadays we share the domestic chores, they need to be done daily, I do the best I can in the garden but I am going to call in professional help once a month.

When the weather permits we do things like our weekly provision supermarket shop in our vintage MG and then meet up with other classic car owners for coffee. In our working lives I did most of the cooking due to my wife working various shift patterns around the clock, weekends and nights included. Nowadays I am back in the kitchen, it gives me something to do and frees up my wife's time so that she can spend more time indulging in her dressmaking hobby.

We still have, or had, a busy social life, it's on hold while my lady recovers from the surgery she had. She has been advised not to exert herself so no dancing but we still go to such functions to keep in with our friends in our social group.
Entertaining, having friends around for a meal, was something we enjoyed when we both worked, we still do, and as most of our friends are also retired we like to have them join us for lunch and spend the afternoons putting the world to rights.

Time, there's never enough of it!
 
No one has ever asked me. My routine is:

  • Morning coffee in my home office while I check emails and watch shows I've recorded on the DVR.
  • Lunch with hubby.
  • Gym time, usually an hour and a half.
  • Often shopping for food at various locations to put together meals.
  • Home by 3:30pm for more TV.
  • Prepare dinner.
  • Dinner with hubby.
  • TV with hubby with cats on our laps.
  • Evenings in various forums.
  • Then to Youtube. Yes, it is addictive. I will frequently fall asleep at my computer watching Youtube videos. I'll wake up at 3am wondering when I fell asleep. :ROFLMAO:
I find ways to fill my day. I'm just happy I no longer have obligations to anyone other than myself, and it is no one else's business what I do with my day.
 
I try to answer humorously. I'm a "At Home Detective." I walk into rooms and try to remember why I walked into them. Keeps me busy.
When a cat walks into a room and can't remember why they sit down and wash. However I doubt that you want to sit down and lick your feet even if you could get your feet to your mouth.

Now then what do I do all day? I sit on my fanny, play games on the computer, read a few things and watch TV. That is my day . Don't feel too sorry for me, I'm tired as though I did something come 10:30. Read for a bit , then turn off the light and go to sleep. I sleep like I was dead until 9:30 or 10. I'm happy as if I had good sense.
 
Last edited:
My daughter and her daughter have both come to live with me since Hubby died. Both work, one a NUM (Nurse Unit Manager) of a specialist facial/dental unit in a large hospital and the other a travelling music therapist with clients ranging from retirees to children with special needs. I do a lot of the washing, cooking and shopping, daughter does the yard work and granddaughter does her own thing most of the time. She lives in a large garage that has been upgraded as a semi self-contained flatette.

Apart from domestic tasks, I attend church on Sundays and am periodically rostered on as a steward. Then after morning tea it is off to lunch with other old ladies at one or other of the local registered clubs. Tuesday afternoons I facilitate a women's social group at the church.

Wednesday or Thursday mornings I visit the daycare centre at the back of the church as a volunteer. I have no set duties other than to be a visiting grannie and interact with the children. I might read them a couple of stories, get involved with whatever they are constructing out of blocks or just bring something interesting to show them as a conversation starter. This week I took along some largeish river stones that had Christmas pictures painted on them by another granddaughter.

Friday mornings I help out in the community garden. I'm not a lot of use but I do whatever small tasks are assigned to me and wash up after morning tea.

Saturday could be anything, but most days I take an afternoon nap for a couple of hours.

We have on elderly cat and four geriatric silkie hens that live free range in the back yard. Since the chickens have moved in, we have acquired a variety of wild birds coming down for a feed. Yesterday there were more than 30 white cockatoos, a couple of crested pigeons and four magpies all looking for a feed and my shopping list now includes cat food, laying pellets for the hens, sunflower seeds for the cockies, wild bird seed mix for the pigeons and rolled oats that seem to be favoured by all of them.

We also have regular nightly visits from a ring tail possum that I feed with a selection of fresh fruits. My job is to make sure we don't run out of food for all of the non human creatures.

When I'm not asleep, or engaged in my chores, I am on my laptop keeping up with current affairs at home and abroad or watching Youtube snippets of comedians, cat videos, cute babies and musicians. I belong to 3 forums but this one is the one I prefer.
 
My daughter and her daughter have both come to live with me since Hubby died. Both work, one a NUM (Nurse Unit Manager) of a specialist facial/dental unit in a large hospital and the other a travelling music therapist with clients ranging from retirees to children with special needs. I do a lot of the washing, cooking and shopping, daughter does the yard work and granddaughter does her own thing most of the time. She lives in a large garage that has been upgraded as a semi self-contained flatette.

Apart from domestic tasks, I attend church on Sundays and am periodically rostered on as a steward. Then after morning tea it is off to lunch with other old ladies at one or other of the local registered clubs. Tuesday afternoons I facilitate a women's social group at the church.

Wednesday or Thursday mornings I visit the daycare centre at the back of the church as a volunteer. I have no set duties other than to be a visiting grannie and interact with the children. I might read them a couple of stories, get involved with whatever they are constructing out of blocks or just bring something interesting to show them as a conversation starter. This week I took along some largeish river stones that had Christmas pictures painted on them by another granddaughter.

Friday mornings I help out in the community garden. I'm not a lot of use but I do whatever small tasks are assigned to me and wash up after morning tea.

Saturday could be anything, but most days I take an afternoon nap for a couple of hours.

We have on elderly cat and four geriatric silkie hens that live free range in the back yard. Since the chickens have moved in, we have acquired a variety of wild birds coming down for a feed. Yesterday there were more than 30 white cockatoos, a couple of crested pigeons and four magpies all looking for a feed and my shopping list now includes cat food, laying pellets for the hens, sunflower seeds for the cockies, wild bird seed mix for the pigeons and rolled oats that seem to be favoured by all of them.

We also have regular nightly visits from a ring tail possum that I feed with a selection of fresh fruits. My job is to make sure we don't run out of food for all of the non human creatures.

When I'm not asleep, or engaged in my chores, I am on my laptop keeping up with current affairs at home and abroad or watching Youtube snippets of comedians, cat videos, cute babies and musicians. I belong to 3 forums but this one is the one I prefer.
Wow, you sure do have a busy schedule. Looks nice and orderly..something I am NOT.
 
While I was working, I often wondered that. The older I got though, the more I looked forward to finding out.

I think if someone were to ask me what I do all day, I would say that I do what makes me happy and, I hope that, at some stage in life, everyone has that choice. :)
 
Witless ?....:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

Yep. Thats my standard answer when people try to con me into doing stuff.
I have learned to NEVER divulge that youre doing nothing. People will take this as an opportunity to rope you into stuff.
Always say youre busy. Even if you have to make something up.

Sorry Im busy today. I have to get ready. Tonight Im hosting a raccoon tea party. :D
 
I am chief executive officer of my own leisure group. Reviewed quarterly reports on snack consumption this morning. Numbers are strong. This afternoon I am conducting a hostile takeover of the sofa and anticipating managing a high stakes merger between myself and a nap. If time allows I will convene an emergency committee to investigate why my glasses continue to relocate while I am still wearing them, which research experts believe may be the first sign they have developed hobbies.

Morning reports, afternoon operations, evening emergencies, where does the time go.
 
In January, it will mark six years since I retired, a milestone that was swift in its arrival. The years have slipped by with remarkable speed, and I’ve enjoyed a life of deliberate simplicity. I do little, and that suits me perfectly.
As an introvert, I shy away from large gatherings and prefer to avoid the bustle of travel or cruises. For me, tranquility is heaven. My pleasures are quieter: I enjoy attending local car shows (there’s several good ones to choose from each month), and I recently made my way through all thirty-two of the Reacher novels.
My days are pleasantly ordinary. This morning, I spent about forty-five minutes at the gym before tackling some practical chores—repairing the sprinkler system and wrestling a stubborn tree root out of the yard. I handle the grocery shopping and, since retiring, have taken on a larger share of the housework, though still not the lion’s share by far!
We live in a retirement community where many residents are the opposite of me: they travel the globe, camp in their RVs, and fill their schedules with pickle ball or softball. I’m often asked, “What do you do? When’s your next cruise?” My answer tends to puzzle them: I’d happily pay not to go on a cruise.
 
Last edited:
I've found a lot of friends and acquaintances suggesting or offering me jobs. It's not like I'm asking them for any. I like being spontaneous when I can. For 50+ years I've had other people telling me what to do for the day, so it's nice being able to decide for myself. I have a few scheduled activities like working at a museum and going to church but I have a few others on the back burner I haven't made my mind up on yet. It's nice being able to choose.
 
My life is very organized and simple. I enjoy taking care of my husband and cats, cruise the internet (research and learn mostly) read, take care of my house and garden, and cook.
Four days a week, I go to the gym very early to beat the crowd. I hate it but I like to keep my strength and that is why I push myself to go there.
I like to walk and cruise around in my golf cart.
I love to watch movies and documentaries. I also like to nap!
I enjoy being on forums, my favorite is SF and its members that I considered as friends.
 
Being semi-retired, I still work from home a bit and greatly enjoy it.

Life itself keeps me busy. A large portion of my time is eaten up with life chores including keeping a house clean, clear and reasonably orderly (my office excluded), meals made, groceries stocked, laundry managed, medical and dental appointments kept. From TG - Christmas I'll also do some baking almost every day.

Difference is, now I'm not frantically shoehorning all of the above into shorter periods of time and dropping into bed fully exhausted every night.

DH & I usually take each of our two youngest grandchildren one day a week and and the older ones come for sleepovers when school is on holiday. Gives our kids a break and we love spending time with the grands.

Throw in a few vacations a year, lunches with friends, more reading, some SF time, a little streaming, and the time slips by.

I don't recall anyone ever asking me what in the world I do all day.
 


Back
Top