Silly Me

When I first thought about retirement, one  fear crossed my mind.  What would I do?  What if I became a recluse?  What if I never went outside the house?  What if I sat for hours on end, just watching television, playing on the computer, or staring into space?  What if each day my good intentions turned into "Well, I guess I can just do that tomorrow?" only tomorrow never came?

I remember sitting with Darlene Mellon at the West Central Retired Teachers lunch in May and mentioning to her that I was afraid of becoming a hermit.  She laughed and said that was the LAST thing she would expect me to be.

My sister has a great comeback every time I mention something that I did or somewhere I went. 
"Oh really?  You really are sitting around doing nothing during your retirement!" or "Way to be stuck at home all the time."  Or something similar.

I like January and February.  Not that I like winter time, because I really don't, but because I like wearing winter clothes.  I like long pants.  Boots.  Sweaters. Sweatshirts.  Gloves, scarves, and hats. Coats.  Vests.  Those are my kind of clothes.   Karen W. told me I must feel more self-conscious about my body because I like to have it more covered than summer clothes will do.  Part of that is true.  I don't like my legs and would rather they be covered.  My feet are ugly and the bunions make them look distorted.  Plus my ankles will swell sometimes and it is easier to hide swollen ankles in boots than in sandals.

Back to liking January and February - all I have to be concerned about is keeping the inside of the house clean and presentable.  From April to November it is a constant battle with grass, weeds, leaves, flowers.  A quick sweep of the sidewalk occasionally is all that is needed.   No one expects the outside to look great because of the cold weather, winds, snow, and ice.

Plus I do like inside activities - reading, knitting, crocheting, watching tv. 

Here it is, January 28, and I have had no desire to sit around in my pajamas all day, nor have I missed a day of showering and shampooing.  Trips to Ohio.  Visits with Landon, Tessa, Cooper, and Owen (and their folks).  Movie matinees.  Visits to the quilt shop.  Lunches with friends.  Shopping in the middle of the day.  Late nights reading.  Early mornings with devotions.  More meal planning and food prep. 

Silly me.  And I thought I would be sitting around in my pjs.