I do like to knit but was taken aback by someone who suggested I knit sweaters for her two little boys. She would buy the yarn and I would put in a bazillion hours of work to create them. Um, no.
Yes, it's interesting to watch the "social consequences" when we choose to no longer work for $. Now I can decide what to care about (family, friends, hobbies, the future of the world/humanity). No longer am I required to care about anything involving "payment."
Though I don't knit, like bestwife, it's been startling to see the number of well-intentioned folk who assume I must have time on my hands to account for. Lots of invitations to help with various volunteer efforts.
I sometimes explain that I felt like a "volunteer" throughout 34 years of teaching: chaperoning, attending meetings, running meetings, coaching, grading mountains of papers on nights and weekends, constantly writing letters of recommendation..........all for essentially no pay.....maybe an occasional token stipend.
Folks say, "Well, that's a teacher's job." So, yes, one time I figured out what the hourly rate would have been if I divided my salary by the number of hours on the job both during and outside of the school day: less than minimum wage.
Was happy to do it. Loved the kids and many of the activities; but rarely did I have time for hobbies and personal interests during those years.
So, now, no longer does someone else get to decide how I will spend my time. Since there's no longer a need to earn $, it's a thrill to know that soon (after a huge down-sizing project) I'll get to return to all those beloved activities that have no financial value: tap-dancing, auditioning for the Sweet Adelines, playing piano (for nobody else's benefit), reading any old book (without having to figure out how to teach it), watching anything I want on TV (whenever I want). Sleeping in.
Who cares if "retirement" is not a PC term? My favorite people don't care!
(Sorry for rattling on and on. But it's fun to daydream, "free-associate," or just sit and revel in what I will get to do next.) And "next" happens on my schedule, not somebody else's!