Having been retired since 2007, I am accustomed to setting my own schedule and priorities. There are still chores to do, of course. But the rest of my life could easily be classified as “play.” And like Mary Poppins, I can find fun in almost any job. Okay, maybe not cleaning the toilets, but still…I look for something enjoyable in whatever I’m doing every day.
- Road trips with my spouse of 50 years. Short or long doesn’t matter. We enjoy getting out of town–up into the mountains or the desert. Reno is equidistant from both. And he usually buys me lunch.
- Reading. Most days after lunch will find me with my feet up in my favorite chair in the living room. Extra play value if I’m reading outside in a lounge chair. Extra bonus points for that lounge chair begin near the water. The ocean, a lake or stream, or even a hotel pool.
- Puzzles. I begin my day with the Mensa crossword and the New York Times Wordle, Spelling Bee, and Connections. During the pandemic, we began doing jigsaw puzzles and the habit has continued.
- Doing ANYTHING with my daughters and granddaughter. Lunch. A movie. A play. A musical performance. Coffee. Shopping. A pedicure. They are three of my favorite people on the planet and they always make me laugh.
- Reading at the preschool. While this weekly gig is one of my volunteer duties with Assistance League, it is pure fun. I look forward to sharing my love of books with four-year-olds every week.
- Playing with photos using Canva. It’s another one of my volunteer duties, but it scratches a creative itch. I also like playing with a purpose, creating something useful, like crocheting hats to donate to local charities. Even working in the backroom at the Thrift Shop can be seen as play because of the wonderful people there.
- Writing, especially making progress on Us, Again, or this blog.
So you see, my retired life is basically play. I recommend it to anyone.
Lorie Smith Schaefer 