A series of unfortunate events colliding

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The past week was a potpourri of events (some not so fun and some fun) to make it a tough week. I learned a few things about retirement. I love it! It’s been 11 years since I’ve had to jump out of bed at the crack of dawn to start my day. Don’t miss the jumping part.

I am an early riser, but I don’t like rushing around. I like a morning sweet spot of drinking my mocha and checking my emails and blog leisurely. I don’t miss taking a shower at 6:30 a.m. which I did everyday for 45 years. I don’t miss hurrying up.

 Loving my jeans and/or exercise pants with a warm sweatshirt. It’s sneakers too. My feet thank me. Occasionally I like to dress up, but it’s become more occasional. Way more occasional. Maybe weddings and funerals. I’m not dressing up for mine.

Other than greetings at Starbucks and a cat trying to sit on my head, I prefer all live exchange to start later. Even my exercise buddy wants to walk at 11 instead of 8.

Some things don’t need a decision today. Or tomorrow. The key is to figure out which does and the consequences.

I don’t like multiple commitments in a day or even a week. Scratching a cat is one commitment.

Almost anything constitutes dinner. You just need to survive. Every day doesn’t have to be a gourmet day. Ok, maybe not potato chips. You need to wash them down with something from another food group. Maybe iced tea? Dip would round it out.

Recovery time is important. Recovery from errands, walks, thinking too hard (yes a lot of thinking too hard). You get the idea.

I’m not a couch potato (although this post makes it seem that way), I just like an easy way of sliding through the day without a lot of jerky stops and jackrabbit starts.

Just cancelled a Friday morning appointment and declared it a “me day.” Next week will be better. I hope.

Note to regular readers: Gracie came through the dental surgery ok although it was more extensive than expected. She’s a trooper, a toothless trooper. She’s on sick leave so either one of the other cats or this peep will give an update on Friday.

86 thoughts on “A series of unfortunate events colliding”

  5. It’s been 7 years since retirement already for me, which I find hard to believe. I prefer not to talk before noon if I can help it, and try never to schedule morning appointments if I can help it. 40 years of washing and blowdrying and styling my hair EVERY SINGLE morning? Where was my head? Now, maybe twice a week, but I’ve been known to stretch it to five days if I don’t have to go anywhere. No I don’t miss work at all. Who knew I could be so happy doing so little for so long. 2 or 3 commitments a week is more than enough, the rest is down time.

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    • The hair thing amazes me too. Today’s working women don’t do that every day. They also don’t so all the elaborate stuff we did on a daily basis. That’s time we’ll never get back. I like late morning appointments. Afternoon is free but I still can savor my slow start.

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  6. Glad to hear Gracie made it through the dental surgery well. We hope the recovery goes well. I’m with your on the whole notion of retirement. It’s funny, I used to juggle 17 balls at a time and now if I have to do 2 things I get anxious. I vote for easy does it and a slower pace!

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  7. I have always preferred sliding slowly into the day. Even when I was working, I got up early enough that I could soak in the tub while eating breakfast and reading a book. Sure, I could have slept longer but I hate to hurry around in the morning.

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  8. I’m with you about “sliding through the day without a lot of jerky stops and jackrabbit starts.” Hear, hear. I am productive and efficient enough, but I refuse to be busy anymore. There’s no joy in it.

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  9. “Me” day–is that even possible with pets? Especially cats? Every day revolves around the cats, you know!

    I think I have to leave town for a me day. Except then I’ll be calling to make sure spouse doesn’t forget to fill the water bowls, etc.

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  11. I’m with you, why rush around? Why pack each day with activity? The older I get, the more of a homebody I have become, and I love it. I don’t think you’re a homebody, I just happen to be one now. Glad Gracie is doing fine!

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  12. Poor Gracie but glad she’s getting along like a little trooper. I love retirement too and while I still have a horrid habit of super early rising I’ve used that to my benefit by getting my computer “stuff” done before my husband is even awake in the morning. Then we have coffee together and do whatever we want instead of things we “have” to do. I’ve been retired for a long time and while I mostly enjoyed all those years of working I’m enjoying even MORE all these years of “me time”.

    Hugs, Pam

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    • I had a 6 month transition from full time work to full time retirement. I worked 20 hours a week. I really loved that. It kept one foot in and one foot out. People should start that at age 50. Full retirement has not disappointed though. I have to seek out activities but that means I don’t have to do full day budget and goals meetings anymore. Don’t miss those at all!

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  13. I am glad Gracie is home and recuperating well. Very happy she likes wet food. I share all your thoughts about take it easy mornings. I love my afternoons at home. Don’t like to run around and do errands or commitments. Been doing that all my life and nothing is that important anymore. Good Night, Kate… I am a night owl 🙂 It’s so peaceful at night.

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    • With Gracie under the weather, I’ve been up at 3 a.m. checking and fussing and it’s the same peacefulness. Today was the first day I slept through until 6. Gracie is doing wonderfully. Last night she even gave chase to the mousie (no not a live one) which she hasn’t done in ages. I should have missed the luncheon. It was nice but with worry sitting on my shoulder it wasn’t as wonderful as it could have been. I am resolved not to let my schedule get so packed down again. At least if I can help it.

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      • Great news about Gracie this morning! That was an extensive dental with extractions. She must really be feeling better with all those troublesome painful teeth out. ! I vow to not get my schedule packed down but the calendar is always filling up with those 6 month medical appointments. So over them. If you don’t go they hold your medication hostage. Probably still good you went to the luncheon, no matter where you were you were going to worry, impossible not to.

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        • I played Mahjongg on Monday afternoon. I thought it would be a good distraction as her surgery was on Monday. It was. I even won a game and was damn close in two others. The luncheon wasn’t quite the same. Worry triggers my IBS which is also triggered by food so any food related activity was questionable. I couldn’t relax and I left early.

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  17. I am still up early as I walk, but when I worked in downtown Detroit for years, you could set your watch to me leaving the house … most days, earlier on snowy days as the bus often was late showing up and I’d get an earlier bus running late. In Summer, I’d hand-water everything, even weed a little get ready for work … that’s dressed up, make-up done, hair done. Now I go flying out the door, sweats or shorts and a tee-shirt, hair in a bun or under a hat and no makeup and glasses. How far I’ve fallen! Like you, the younger me juggled different things pretty effortlessly – not anymore. Sigh.

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  22. YES, on the multiple commitments!!! Sometimes I look at my weekly calendar and get upset if I see three things on there hahaha. This morning I had a dentist appointment at 9:15, and I was so cranky having to be social at that hour. hahaha
    (No word on Perry yet)

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  23. Glad Gracie is ok. I agree that one appointment in a day is enough. I don’t like rushing around either. I’m up early, but take my time in the morning. Even my cat takes it slow and doesn’t get out of bed until about an hour after I get up.

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  24. I’m not loving hurrying anymore either. Even hate days when I have pet sits morning and evening…would prefer all morning and then done for the day, and I’m working in that direction. And a good nap in the afternoon is pretty nice too. We worked for decades…time for a less crazy schedule.

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  28. I used to be an early riser – like 3:30 AM was my norm – and it took me five years to get to a place where 6:30 AM no longer feels like I’ve been sleeping in. And, like you, the comfy clothes are the way to go. I’ve decided to be cremated when I pass away, and I’m not sure whether I’ll have clothes on for that or not! I hope Gracie will get better quickly and be back to her normal mischievous self soon.

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