Browsing though a couple of threads, I came across statements about what ER is about....such as enjoying leisure activities, stepping off the fast-paced treadmill of American life, having time to hang out, spending time on hobbies, etc. I agree with all of this, especially the idea we need to learn to slow down and experience just "being". That said, ER for me is often not about leisure (i.e. relaxing), but about getting to do just what I want to do, when I want to, and how I want to (although I'm sure my perspective will evolve too since I'm new at it).
Thinking about this made me curious about what "non-leisure" activities other ER folks have chosen to do or plan to do, not because they have to but because they want to. By "non-leisure" I mean activities that are not typically thought of as relaxing or easy (golfing is leisure but I don't consider running a marathon leisure or volunteering at the homeless shelter). I'd also be curious about the ebbs and flows of these non-leisure activities for those who have been retired a long time.
Here's my current list of non-leisure activities that I'm working on at a slow pace.
1) building a treehouse (not a weekend project....about 200 SF plus deck)
2) writing a book (yeah, I hope for a little supplemental ER income here, but it is still a pure "want to")
3) vegetable gardening (too many weeds in my garden for me to call it leisure, but then it is relaxing)
On my to-do list:
1) build a root cellar (that doubles as a wine cellar)
2) build a grass-roofed "green barn" into the hillside for storing a bunch of stuff
3) build a garden wall (to keep out the deer and rabbit and whatever else keeping eating our garden, but more aesthetic than just a simple fence)
3) learn to weld (you can see I enjoy building things, so would like to learn)
Here's a couple of big projects I periodically mull over and learn a little about, but they are very iffy and I'm not sure I want to spend so much time on them.
1) help one of my kids start a small business some day
2) build a little cottage for a rental (I live in the country so have some extra space)
Thinking about this made me curious about what "non-leisure" activities other ER folks have chosen to do or plan to do, not because they have to but because they want to. By "non-leisure" I mean activities that are not typically thought of as relaxing or easy (golfing is leisure but I don't consider running a marathon leisure or volunteering at the homeless shelter). I'd also be curious about the ebbs and flows of these non-leisure activities for those who have been retired a long time.
Here's my current list of non-leisure activities that I'm working on at a slow pace.
1) building a treehouse (not a weekend project....about 200 SF plus deck)
2) writing a book (yeah, I hope for a little supplemental ER income here, but it is still a pure "want to")
3) vegetable gardening (too many weeds in my garden for me to call it leisure, but then it is relaxing)
On my to-do list:
1) build a root cellar (that doubles as a wine cellar)
2) build a grass-roofed "green barn" into the hillside for storing a bunch of stuff
3) build a garden wall (to keep out the deer and rabbit and whatever else keeping eating our garden, but more aesthetic than just a simple fence)
3) learn to weld (you can see I enjoy building things, so would like to learn)
Here's a couple of big projects I periodically mull over and learn a little about, but they are very iffy and I'm not sure I want to spend so much time on them.
1) help one of my kids start a small business some day
2) build a little cottage for a rental (I live in the country so have some extra space)