I still follow the rhythms of weekends and holidays with my husband, who works full-time. I left the workforce some time ago, but weekends still feel special and holidays even more so with my kids at home.
Glad to hear that! It will be interesting to see how it feels when your husband retires. And I know you’re still working on your Substack, even if not at a job! I wonder how it will feel when I get to the point that more of my friends are retired. Many do volunteer work or take classes, which are on a schedule, so there’s that.
Time is different for me as a retired person and I’m freer to see people.. But I look forward to the holidays perhaps even more because there isn’t the time pressure of having to get all the visiting and cooking and cleaning and resting in before going back to work. It’s a different kind of holiday joy!
Time is definitely different when retired. It’s still surprising to me when someone says “have a good weekend!” I’m always a bit thrown off for a second, before realizing “oh yeah, it’s Friday, right?” When I was working I never would have not realized the weekend was coming up. The main difference with the weekend now is having to strategize a bit more about when to shop at Trader Joe’s, as opposed to during the week when it’s a bit less crowded. It’s also more likely to see friends on the weekend, or go to a music event, although those things can happen during the week too. Although I love not working, I no longer get that special kind of pleasure you get from an extra day off, a vacation from work, a holiday, even a sick day. The expression, “the problem with being retired is you never get a day off” is actually true in a strange way. Because I have every day off, I never actually take a day off. Every day I have my writing to work on, meeting people to interview, errands, keeping up with my father’s needs, work around the house, taking a walk, bike rides, planning trips, feeding the animals, etc. The days go fast, and I’m always busy. I don’t know how I ever found the time to work.
I know, the few times I've been between jobs I was always surprised at how busy I was! I'd think having all that freedom is worth not having the special feeling of days off — would you agree? Of course, you have a lot going on now especially with your father's stuff, which is quite a job, as I know all too well.
Yes, having every day off is definitely worth it, even though you don’t get that extra thrill of being “away from work”. It just becomes the new normal, which is great.
Rosana, I liked the way you were spending time contemplating how time might look different when you retire. That thought also crosses my mind for my future retirement as well.
When I have a day off I enjoy being footloose and fancy free--the captain of my own agenda. Not hanging around but enjoying that complete freedom of flexibility with the only things scheduled being my choice. I'm really looking forward to that feeling on more of a regular basis.
I'm looking forward to that, too! When I've been between jobs I've been surprised at how busy I stayed, but it was somehow a more relaxed version of busy. I do appreciate having more time like that already.
We too gave up the gift exchange years ago. Our last gifting was to the young grand-nieces and grand-nephew -- we enjoyed giving books.
I am on the long glide path into retirement, still working about half as much as I did when "full time." The money and personal enjoyment and satisfaction keep me in the editing ranks. But thank goodness for Social Security! If I COULDN'T work, we could live on it (along with retirement savings). I relish the stretches without work commitment.
I guess I'm on that glide path, too! I do look forward to a time when I don't have the interruptions of meetings, work emails, etc. But for now, we need the eggs! ;-)
Tangentially on this subject, I'd now like to quote a great child star of yesteryear: "I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph." -- Shirley Temple
I still follow the rhythms of weekends and holidays with my husband, who works full-time. I left the workforce some time ago, but weekends still feel special and holidays even more so with my kids at home.
Glad to hear that! It will be interesting to see how it feels when your husband retires. And I know you’re still working on your Substack, even if not at a job! I wonder how it will feel when I get to the point that more of my friends are retired. Many do volunteer work or take classes, which are on a schedule, so there’s that.
Time is different for me as a retired person and I’m freer to see people.. But I look forward to the holidays perhaps even more because there isn’t the time pressure of having to get all the visiting and cooking and cleaning and resting in before going back to work. It’s a different kind of holiday joy!
That sounds wonderful, and something to look forward to!
Time is definitely different when retired. It’s still surprising to me when someone says “have a good weekend!” I’m always a bit thrown off for a second, before realizing “oh yeah, it’s Friday, right?” When I was working I never would have not realized the weekend was coming up. The main difference with the weekend now is having to strategize a bit more about when to shop at Trader Joe’s, as opposed to during the week when it’s a bit less crowded. It’s also more likely to see friends on the weekend, or go to a music event, although those things can happen during the week too. Although I love not working, I no longer get that special kind of pleasure you get from an extra day off, a vacation from work, a holiday, even a sick day. The expression, “the problem with being retired is you never get a day off” is actually true in a strange way. Because I have every day off, I never actually take a day off. Every day I have my writing to work on, meeting people to interview, errands, keeping up with my father’s needs, work around the house, taking a walk, bike rides, planning trips, feeding the animals, etc. The days go fast, and I’m always busy. I don’t know how I ever found the time to work.
I know, the few times I've been between jobs I was always surprised at how busy I was! I'd think having all that freedom is worth not having the special feeling of days off — would you agree? Of course, you have a lot going on now especially with your father's stuff, which is quite a job, as I know all too well.
Yes, having every day off is definitely worth it, even though you don’t get that extra thrill of being “away from work”. It just becomes the new normal, which is great.
Rosana, I liked the way you were spending time contemplating how time might look different when you retire. That thought also crosses my mind for my future retirement as well.
When I have a day off I enjoy being footloose and fancy free--the captain of my own agenda. Not hanging around but enjoying that complete freedom of flexibility with the only things scheduled being my choice. I'm really looking forward to that feeling on more of a regular basis.
I'm looking forward to that, too! When I've been between jobs I've been surprised at how busy I stayed, but it was somehow a more relaxed version of busy. I do appreciate having more time like that already.
Enjoy that additional flexible time Rosana!
We too gave up the gift exchange years ago. Our last gifting was to the young grand-nieces and grand-nephew -- we enjoyed giving books.
I am on the long glide path into retirement, still working about half as much as I did when "full time." The money and personal enjoyment and satisfaction keep me in the editing ranks. But thank goodness for Social Security! If I COULDN'T work, we could live on it (along with retirement savings). I relish the stretches without work commitment.
I guess I'm on that glide path, too! I do look forward to a time when I don't have the interruptions of meetings, work emails, etc. But for now, we need the eggs! ;-)
Tangentially on this subject, I'd now like to quote a great child star of yesteryear: "I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph." -- Shirley Temple
Tangential, indeed! 🤣