I was enjoying the holiday weekend so much, and the weather forecast was perfect for Monday, that I decided to extend my 3 day weekend into a 4 day weekend. Monday was kind of a trial run for retirement and it went perfectly.
Started with a bike ride (I have a triathlon coming up in early August, so training for that), followed by a leisurely breakfast (my coffee is so much better than the bland stuff at work - lowest common denominator coffee). Then worked really hard in the yard digging out some old overgrown flower beds and replanting them. I was so into it that I didn't stop for lunch until about 1.30 (at work I am starving by 11.30).
Got cleaned up and DW and I went out for lunch at Chipotle, which was a real treat because I don't usually get to go out for lunch with her, since we work in different places. Then back home and read my book on the patio for a little while ("Skippy is Dead" by Paul Murray - highly recommended).
Then I made some pesto with the basil plants DW had been cultivating - managed to harvest about 12 oz's of basil, which doesn't sound like a lot but it was a big pile on the countertop! After that I prepared one of my favorite dinners, which was a Thai style salad (Stir Fried Lemongrass Beef with Asian Greens - you can get the recipe on Epicurious). Before eating said dinner we went out for a couple of laps swimming around the local lake with the triathlon club (again, training for that upcoming race). Got home from that around 8.15, ate previously prepared dinner, cleared up, read for a while and went to bed, tired but happy.
If this is what retirement will be like, then I'm ready - I just have to get over my OMY syndrome (and that day definitely helped push me closer). I don't understand people who think they will be bored in retirement!
Started with a bike ride (I have a triathlon coming up in early August, so training for that), followed by a leisurely breakfast (my coffee is so much better than the bland stuff at work - lowest common denominator coffee). Then worked really hard in the yard digging out some old overgrown flower beds and replanting them. I was so into it that I didn't stop for lunch until about 1.30 (at work I am starving by 11.30).
Got cleaned up and DW and I went out for lunch at Chipotle, which was a real treat because I don't usually get to go out for lunch with her, since we work in different places. Then back home and read my book on the patio for a little while ("Skippy is Dead" by Paul Murray - highly recommended).
Then I made some pesto with the basil plants DW had been cultivating - managed to harvest about 12 oz's of basil, which doesn't sound like a lot but it was a big pile on the countertop! After that I prepared one of my favorite dinners, which was a Thai style salad (Stir Fried Lemongrass Beef with Asian Greens - you can get the recipe on Epicurious). Before eating said dinner we went out for a couple of laps swimming around the local lake with the triathlon club (again, training for that upcoming race). Got home from that around 8.15, ate previously prepared dinner, cleared up, read for a while and went to bed, tired but happy.
If this is what retirement will be like, then I'm ready - I just have to get over my OMY syndrome (and that day definitely helped push me closer). I don't understand people who think they will be bored in retirement!
Real retirement ain't so! That's too much moving about, keeping busy.
