This Retirement Thing Is Great!

  This Retirement Thing Is Great!

Welcome Back!

April 18, 2015

July 2014 Sanibel Island, Florida

     Hadn't written on this blog since June 7, 2014, then a wonderful thing happened:  I adopted another greyhound, and my whole outlook changed drastically.  Miss Wendy, adopted on June 21, 2014, from Goldcoast Greyhound Rescue in Orlando, Florida, changed my retirement completely.

     So as soon as Miss Wendy entered my home, my attitude and actions changed for the better...I got off my chair and started living and making plans.  My friend from Alabama, Charlotte, came for a visit, and we drove to Sanibel Island, walked the gorgeous beach, 4 hours from Orlando, had lunch with old friends there at the Mucky Duck Pub , and immediately I decided to move back to Fort Myers.  Plans were made, apartment searches were done (internet searches), and by September, I was packing to leave Orlando!

     Here it is, 7 months later, and I live in my beautiful second floor apartment, overlooking a lake, and within 5 miles of the Sanibel Island bridge!  The home I left in Orlando has been rented, and I am finally living the retirement life I wrote about.

     All of the credit goes to bringing another dog into my life.  That is what it took to get me out of what others have called the retirement rut.  Thank goodness for Miss Wendy!  

Realities of My Retirement--November '13 to June '14

Realities of My Retirement

Not What Research Predicted

June 7, 2014

• "I enjoy waking up and not having to go to
• work. So I do it three or four times a day."
•  - Gene Perret

    

Photo Credit:  www.funnyphotos.picphotos.net

     Let me say that for the past three months I have not written here
 and I don't know why, exactly.

     Several things have happened in retirement:

     1.  Had a lovely stent placed in my artery so my leg wouldn't fall off.

     2.  Visited my family at Christmas, where I was told I was too negative.  Really?  Yep.

     3.  Almost bought a sports car, a condo, a house, a farm, and changed my mind every time.

     4.  Didn't get a new dog or cat...might want to take a trip.

     5.  Didn't take a trip because I didn't want to leave home.

     6.  Attended my granddaughter's graduation and never saw so many photos taken of the same   people in one afternoon.

     7.  Started feeding a cute but hissing stray cat.

     8.  Watched approximately 10,000 youtube.com videos, mostly from Great Britain.

     9.  Joined a gym and go 4 times a week, so my leg won't fall off.

    10. Spent most of the past 7 months sitting at my computer. 

     So, in spite of all of the research I did during 2013, I learned that I'm not one to take my own retirement advice seriously.

     I even stopped writing this blog for 3 months.

     Why is this happening?  I really don't have any explanation. 

     Stay tuned for my next post, as I promise that I will be doing something exciting and unusual by then, fingers crossed. 

     Time for my 11 a.m. nap.  Ha-ha!



Been Retired 3 Months Now---What's New?

Been Retired 3 Months Now--

What's New?

This book may be of some help...

Photo Credit:  www.gettingpersonal.co.uk

     Nothing new has miraculously changed about my life after retirement.  In fact, I find myself sitting absolutely still, in front of my computer, for most of the day.  What?  That's not supposed to happen!

     I wrote faithfully about all of the opportunities and activities that would await me upon retirement, if I chose.  I retired on a Thursday, stayed home that Friday, and haven't really explored much since November 1.

     Here are the three activities I did pursue:

     1.  Purchased the business name for my Professional Organizing business:  Simplify Your Lifestyle.  Signed up with www.findyourorganizer.com .  Had lovely business cards printed.

     2.  Drove 1000 miles round-trip to Alabama to visit a dear friend at Thanksgiving, stayed one night, and came back the next day. 

     3.  Went to visit my family (all of us, including 5 grandchildren) at Christmas.  Experienced some family drama, and couldn't wait to get back home.

     Spent all of January looking at my empty calendar for the month, and rarely got dressed.  Something about retirement isn't going as planned. 

Get the idea?

Photo Credit:  www.singlemindedwomen.com

     Saw an interesting website on "Ellen" about dating sites, and one caught my interest:  www.farmersonly.com  so I joined.  I dropped out after one day, because it caused me to miss my horse and ranch in Fort Myers...Here's the clip from Ellen's segment.

Ellen DeGeneres talks dating sites.

     Watched the Southwest Eagle Cam videos as two eggs were laid, chicks hatched, then one suddenly died last week for no apparent reason.  Here's a tribute video to little E3.  E4 is still thriving.  Tribute to E3 Eaglet--Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, by urdognu



  And during all of these three months, I wouldn't and couldn't think of anything positive or uplifting to write about my newfound "retirement life."

Yep.  This is what I look like every day now, except I'm usually wearing pajamas.

Photo Credit: www.dailymail.co.uk

Photo Credit:  www.pramshow.blogspot.com

     To get this day, now half over, off to a better start, here is one of my newest favorite videos, by Pharrell Williams, called "Happy."  So I plan on doing some dancing and singing today to chase away that black dog for a bit. 

Go ahead: Sing and dance to "Happy," by Pharrell Williams. 

Follow my recent pinterest interests here. Enjoy!

(For some reason, half of this blog is underlined and most of the links aren't working...I've been gone from here too long.)

    



I'm Retired--And Not Working Is Exhausting!

I'm Retired--And Not Working Is Exhausting!

November 8, 2013

 

This is what I thought I would look like after being retired for a whole week!

Photo Credit:  www.alzsmiles.com

 

This is what I actually look like now, after being retired for a whole week!

Photo Credit:  Unknown, Google Images

 

     Yes, it's been 7 whole days of no work, no alarm clock, no driving to work, no stress, and no problems.  This blog is titled, "Idle At Last," but I haven't been idle yet!

 

     Here is the list of my retirement activities, some fun, some not:

1.      Finished loading my car on my last day of work last Thursday.
2.      Unpacked my car after getting home on my last day of work, then put everything away.
3.      Spent my first day of retirement, last Friday, going through all of my unwanted possessions, cleaning them, pricing them, making signs, putting out the signs, and preparing for a neighborhood yard sale.
4.      Saturday, 7am, put all of the stuff in my carport for the 8am yard sale.  Enjoyed 4 hours of meeting people and selling some stuff.  Fun!
5.      Put all of the yard sale stuff that didn't sell back in the house.
6.      Drove around and took down all the signs, then returned the sign holders to the owner.
7.      Hauled home 4 heavy antique dining chairs, unloading them, and cleaning/polishing them.
8.      Put all of the yard sale stuff back in various rooms, but there are still boxes of stuff to put away in the den.
9.      Spent lots of time online searching for the perfect pedestal table to go with the 4 antique chairs.  Found one at Pier 1 site.
10.      Drove to Pier 1 Imports to purchase/order the new table.
11.      Organized my kitchen drawers and shelves Saturday evening since I had no room for all the stuff that needed to be put away.
12.      Sunday enjoyed (yay!) a lovely day at Disney World's EPCOT with all of my family to celebrate my retirement.  Lunch at the Rose and Crown Pub and lovely gifts!  Wonderful!
13.      Monday, went to work at my son's office, 9:30am, to be a kind of Personal Assistant, which included 4 hours of intense thinking.
14.      Continued to organize my kitchen, which involved 3 hours of cleaning and problem-solving (and decluttering).  Watch the video at the end of my post on how to organize your kitchen drawers easily.
15.      Tuesday went to work as a Personal Assistant for 4 more hours.
16.      Waited for the Air Conditioner technician to give my AC it's tune up on Tuesday.
17.      Wednesday, 7am, went for a root canal.
18.      Wednesday, 9:30, went for a crown fitting at my other dentist.  (And on my birthday, too!)
19.      Worked 2 more hours as a Personal Assistant, mind numbing and amazing at the same time.
20.      Thursday, took trip to the Dollar Tree store to get organizing supplies for my neighbor's kitchen makeover.
21.       5 hours organizing/clearing/cleaning my neighbor's kitchen, and hauling out heavy bags of trash.  (I love the organizing part, though.)  Watch the video at the end of my post on how to organize your kitchen drawers easily.
22.      Friday, went grocery shopping for myself and my neighbor, clearing out her refrigerator, and stocking it with her new food supply, including more garbage hauling...Bless her as she waits to come home from the hospital.

     So there you have the real deal on what a retiree does during the first week of not going to work.  Who knew, after all of my research on fun retirement activities, that I would be working harder than when I had a full-time job?

 

Watch this great video on how to simply and economically organize your kitchen drawers.

 

Click this link to my other website on organizing your lifestyle.

(It's called www.simplifyyourlifestyle.wordpress.com)

 

Click this link to see my pinterest interests. Check out my "Thanksgiving" and "Christmas" boards for great ideas.

    

 

 



The Night Before Retirement Day--Broadway Play!

The Night Before Retirement Day--

Broadway Play!

October 30, 2013

 

Photo Credit:  https://www.facebook.com/TheBookOfMormonOnBroadway

 

Photo Credit:  https://www.facebook.com/TheBookOfMormonOnBroadway

 

 

 

 

Here's how I felt after seeing "The Book of Mormon" tonight in Orlando!

Photo Credit:  www.facebook.com/thebookofmormononbroadway

 

 

     I got a surprise invitation to attend the opening night of "The Book of Mormon" in Orlando tonight, the last night before I retire on Thursday.   It is playing at the Bob Carr Theatre.   I was so surprised and pleased that I accepted immediately. 

 

     There was no way to prepare myself for such a raucous, rocking, fun-filled, off-color, brilliant Broadway musical.  It was fabulous, and yes, I did buy the t-shirt to wear on Friday, the first day of being retired.  I can't tell you what is on the t-shirt, because it is in a foreign language and means something totally inappropriate.

 

     But on Friday, the official day of no working ever again, I will wear that shirt with a big grin on my face.  I made it!!!

 

     If you get a chance to see "The Book of Mormon," and if you are not easily offended or shocked, you will absolutely love this show.

 

     Tomorrow, Thursday, is my last day of work as a teacher, my last day of being a role model for so many others, and my last day of my former life.  I am absolutely thrilled to bits. 

 

     I will continue to write posts for this blog, because I want to share the reality of retirement life with everyone...the good, the better, and the best part of being retired.  Thank you for reading my posts for so long.  My year of anticipation is officially over in just a few hours.  Retirement, here I come!!!

 

Click here to watch one of the fabulous songs from "The Book of Mormon."

 

Click here to see my latest pinterest interests.

 

 

 

     

 

 



25 School Days To Go To Retirement Day!

25 School Days To Go Until Retirement Day!

September 25, 2013

 

This is how I think I look when I am teaching my gifted classes!

Photo Credit:  Unknown, from www.Pinterest.com

 

     Only 25 more days of school for this teacher!  I have to say that I am vacillating between leaping for joy and trips down memory lane each morning.  Am I sad?  Definitely not.  Am I worn out and used up with so many years of teaching?  Definitely not.

 

Do you see a sad teacher here?  Nope!  Not me!

Photo Credit:  www.teachermum.com



 

     What I have become is reflective and contemplative.  The days are flying by, and I am busying myself each evening by filling boxes with school supplies to take to my school.  Those supplies may be used by the teacher who will soon replace me.  I hope to have a clean house, cleared of all traces of school supplies and equipment.    I will always have my memories of school, of course.

 

This is what I'm doing in the evening now:  boxing up extra school supplies to take to school.

Photo Credit:  www.livingwaterborger.blogspot.com



 

      My days following retirement are already scheduled with dental appointments (root canal and new crown), clearing the overgrown butterfly garden in my front yard, and having the air conditioner repaired in my very old car.  These activities are in no way enjoyable, but I will finally have the time and motivation for getting them done. 

Hope I get all those butterfly bushes and weeds under control soon after retirement!

Photo Credit:  www.gardeningtipsforall.wordpress.com



 

      There is a trip in my near future, to my friend in another state, where I may take an extended vacation while I remap my future life.  In addition, I hope to finish redoing my guest bath, my kitchen floor, and painting the entire inside of my home. 

 

Well, my little vacation may look like this...or not!

Photo Credit:  www.thedigeratilife.com

 

     Very soon, but not soon enough for me, I will be launching my professional home organizing business, Simplify Your Lifestyle, and that business will be a big part of the future I have been seeking.



Photo Credit:  www.busybeeorganizingplus.com

 





     While none of these activities sound like the "fun" I have been researching all year, they are the things that must be done BEFORE I can take off for parts unknown.  Thank you very much for sticking with my blog all year while I worked through the "scariest year of my life." 

 

Click here to see my pinterest interests.

 

     

 

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Thirty-three More School Days Until Retirement!

Thirty-three More School Days Until Retirement!

September 14, 2013

 

This is how all the birds will line up in my front yard to get their seed when I retire, ha-ha!

"No cutting in line!"

Photo Credit:  www.speedbump.com

 

This machine, called "the purple monster," is what made our copies, way back in 1973.

Photo Credit:  www.cafepress.com

 

This is what I want when I retire:  A big loving dog, a farm, and a smile every day!

Photo Credit: http://i3.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article1922110.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/Hilary-Lewis-from-Dolgellau-near-Bala-in-Wales-with-her-heroic-hound-Gallant-1922110.jpg

 

You are all invited to my retirement party on November 1, 2013, in Orlando, Florida!

Photo Credit:  http://rlv.zcache.ca/teachers_retirement_party_invitations-rbace0f07e13e4f6281a485fde4096933_8dnm8_8byvr_512.jpg

 

 

Yes, all of these will be true...but I will miss teaching forever.

Photo Credit:  www.zazzle.com

 

      Am I counting down the days?  Absolutely.  Am I becoming sad about leaving the children and all of the staff at my school, Arbor Ridge K-8 School?  Absolutely. 

 

Click here to see my latest pinterest interests. 

 

Click here to learn about my new business called Simplify Your Lifestyle.

 

 

 

 



 

 



Simplifying Your Lifestyle--How To Get Help

How to Get Help Simplifying Your Home

in Orlando

September 8, 2013

 

 

     After retirement, I'm going full speed ahead into helping others deal with the "too much clutter" problem.  Here is what I wrote on another blog to explain what I will be doing.

 

 

You have too much stuff to enjoy your lifestyle--Need help? Simplify Your Lifestyle is only an email away, and we can rescue you from the chaos you now call home.

 

We do it all, or we do just what you need for now. If you simply need gentle encouragement to get started on your own, we also offer one-time or ongoing coaching.

 

Also offered is virtual organization: You send photos of the area that needs the most help, and we analyze and offer strategies to get the simple lifestyle back into your home.

 

Your deep dark secrets will be safe with us. We've been there before ourselves.

 

In addition, the energizing of your home through the use of Feng Shui principles for furniture and accessories placement might be your preference.

 

We gently lead you through the chaos into that simple, peaceful, and welcoming home you deserve.

Use the contact form below to send us your problem, your Orlando location, your email, and your phone number.  We serve the Orlando-Winter Park area within 25 miles of zip code 32803.  Hourly rates are reasonable, available on request, and are based on your specific needs. 

 

The only organizational service we don't provide is house cleaning, but we can provide names of those who do provide this service. 

 

We will contact you within 24 hours of receiving your request for help and information.

 

So here is the link to my future career:  www.simplifyyourlifestyle.wordpress.com

 

 

     Thank you, dear readers, for staying with me all year as I examined, researched, and agonized over what to do the day after I retire.   This may be the goal I was searching for all of these months. 

 

Click here to see my listing on findyourorganizer.com. It's official!

 

 

Click here to see my lastest pinterest interests. Clean out your closet today!

How To Simplify Without Buying Anything

How To Simplify Without Buying Anything

September 2, 2013

 

BEFORE I simplified my own linen closet!

Photo Credit:  Del Hylton

 

 

      Today, as it was a national holiday, Labor Day, I spent my day doing some much-needed clutter busting.  The goal was to go through at least 3 or 4 half-empty boxes of school papers and supplies and throw most of it away.  Mission accomplished.

 

      This afternoon, the boxes were empty and I was peaceful with the newly found space in the spare bedroom.  The idea of continuing with my project led me to my linen closet, which is very small and very sad to look inside, as you can see.

 

      Keeping in mind that this might help others with their sad closets as well, I set to "simplifying" my own space.  It is depressing having to dig through nail polish, light bulbs, bandaids, and other necessities, just to find a bar of soap!

 

      So, I took a "before" photo, gathered some containers I already had in my kitchen (which I never use anyway), and started.  The entire project took less than 30 minutes, and I took  "after" photos to share with you here.  Total cost:  $0.00!

 

     The hair dryer that had mysteriously disappeared, causing me to purchase another one, appeared behind the clutter on one shelf.  So, actually the cost of my clutter was the price of the new hair dryer:  $15.00!

 

AFTER I simplified my own linen closet.

Photo Credit:  Del Hylton

 

See the two hair dryers I have now?

Photo Credit:  Del Hylton

 

 

Look at that bottom shelf:  light bulbs and a first aid kit!

Photo Credit:  Del Hylton

 

       So, if I am going into retirement with limited income, I will definitely save money by keeping all of my possessions simple and in clear view, won't I?   

 

Click this link to see my latest pinterest interests. Time to think about fall and Hallowe'en!   

 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

     

I'm A Teacher--My Last First Day of School Today

I'm A Teacher--My Last First Day of School Today

August 12, 2013

 

Click This Link To Hear The Song Of My Teaching Career--"I'm A Teacher"

 

      Today was bittersweet for me:  I experienced my last "first day of school" of my career.

 

      Everything was familiar this morning, and I want to remember how I felt all day today:  The lovely breakfast provided by the PTSA, the heartfelt welcome by our principal, Mrs. Paige L. Tracy, and the usual list of things to remember as we begin a new school year.

 

      As the process of rearranging our classroom furniture progressed, I stopped and stared out at the beautiful sky outside my window.  Would life ever be this pleasant in retirement?  I don't know yet.  I've only got 58 more school days to live the "teacher" life until then.

 

       Truly, I enjoyed every conversation and interaction with all of the teachers and staff I encountered in the halls.  We all bustled to finish up or begin or just perfect our classroom preparations.  Students actually begin their first day of school here in Orlando on August 19.

 

      Memories of my very first teaching job flashed through my mind as I prepared papers to be copied for the older students.  My first teaching job was teaching thirty! three-year-old children in 1973, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, at a very small private school.  Looking back, I don't know how all those toddlers survived the year with me. 

 

      Look at me now:  almost 40 years of teaching later, and I'm still smiling about greeting my students next week.  I'm still checking the alarm clock to make sure it will wake me up on time...can't be late to school, especially if you're the teacher.  That's a big no-no!

 

      All of my official retirement papers have been processed, I've received a very nice letter from our school superintendent, Dr. Barbara Jenkins, and now the days will fly by too quickly.

 

       Yes, today was my last, really last, "first day of school" forever.   I'm sighing deeply as I finish this post tonight.

 

 

 

Click here to see my latest pinterest interests. Love my "Classroom Creativity" board.

 

 



 

     

 

      

What Shall I Do? Panic Has Set In...

What Shall I Do?  Panic Has Set In...

July 27, 2013

 

Here's how I'm feeling nowadays...retirement in 3 months!

Image Credit:  www.homemommanager.blogspot.com

 

      Haven't been able to write here since the tragedy with the butterflies, June 18, but now I'm out of time.  I retire October 31.  The days are flying by and the retirement process is far more complicated than I had imagined.

 

     Lots of decisions on annuities, Medicare choices, and future plans have frozen into non-action.  Next week I sign all the final paperwork for leaving my professional employer forever. 

Reading and studying such books do nothing to ease the panic.

Image Credit:  www.amazon.com



 

     I really believed that research, interviews with retired friends, and positive plan-making would make the transition on November 1 a simple step into my future life.  Not true.

 

      So here I sit, looking at the documents and forms and other paperwork that must be completed before next week.  At the same time, I must commit to applying for Medicare part B with something else called part D...Way too much information.

 

The first thing I must do is get a new life-long companion...a loving dog to keep me company.

Photo Credit:  www.smh.co.au

 

 

     So, come November 1, I will spend the day contemplating the next third of my life and visiting local animal shelters for my new best friend.  I believed that I should jump on the nearest cruise ship to get far away from my home and my former job.  But I think now I must put down some more domestic roots to help me find my way through the emotional ups and downs of this process called retirement. 

 

 

The finish line is in view, and I'll cross it, whether I'm ready or not.

Photo Credit: www.madebythepotter.blogspot.com

 

     In any case, in any scenario, retirement will happen, no matter how much I panic and worry during the next three months.  I am grateful that I will be returning to teaching when school begins on August 12, because that focus will relieve some of the panic every day until the final day arrives.

 

      My suggestion for anyone approaching retirement is to accept the fact that your life is about to change, for better or worse, and the future will be what you decide to make of it from now on.

Happy Trails To Everyone About To Retire!

Photo Credit:  www.blog.ebby.com

 

Click here to see my latest pinterest interests, like the recent birth of William and Kate's little Prince George.

 

 

     

 



Happy Father's Day Next Week June 9, 2013

 Happy Father's Day Next Week
and Pursuing Lifelong Dreams

June 9, 2013

 

 

Happy Father's Day To All The Fathers In The World!

Photo Credit:  www.multilingualliving.com

 



     It's a little early, but Happy Father's Day to everyone who is a father, or who is about to become a father, or to those who love and miss a father.  So here's a video to make you smile and cry...

 

Click this link to hear "Leader of the Band," by Dan Fogelberg.

 

This is what the singer-songwriter said about writing this tribute to his father:

"A one day wonder that I would never have dreamed could have been a hit. My manager, Irving Azoff, heard the track and had it released. Great instincts. One of my most emotional memories was playing it for my father for the first time. He truly gave me more than I could ever repay." (Dan Fogelberg) - from the liner notes in Portrait.

What about "The Leader of the Band," was that something you had been wanting to write for a while?

"That was totally spontaneous, it was a one-day wonder, I just happened to sit down with the guitar and bingo, that thing was done. I mean I never consciously wanted to write a song to my father. If I had consciously thought about it, I never would have done it. Because I thought it was too obscure and certainly non-commercial. That for me was a real great moment, because whether or not that song was ever a hit, it meant a great deal to my father. He got to hear it, and it said things that neither one of us could say to each other. We weren't real communicative males, you know, we're midwestern (laughs). So that song was so timely because he only lasted about another year after that. That'll always be a real special song to me." (Dan Fogelberg) - Interview by Lydia Hutchinson
Dan Fogelberg: Acoustics Guitars and Vocals.
Vince Melamed: Synthesizer Horns.
*Special thanks to Bobby for sharing Liner Notes from his Portrait Booklet!



 

 

On another topic... 

 

     The following article appeared on my Road Runner home page, from www.bankrate.com this morning:  "Pursuing Lifelong Dreams In Retirement."  It's worth a read, but it really encourages giving one's time to helping others after one retires from a lifelong career.  The article was written by Sheyna Steiner and Sharon Anne Waldrop.

 

 

Click this link to read the article on bankrate.com.

 Photo Credit:  www.bankrate.com or www.rr.com

 

       After reading the article, it appears that one should devote the retirement years to giving back to others.  I tend to disagree with that premise; I have been "giving back" to students, parents, and employers, not to mention churches, homeless shelters, Salvation Army, and many, many other organizations for my entire career.

 

     So, I hate to admit it, but I'm ready for someone to give back to me.   The next time a Boy Scout or church youth group or social organization wants to mow and edge the lawn of this helpless old senior citizen, I'm going to say, "Yes!" and "Yippee!" and "Thanks very much!"

 

 

 

     Click here to see my latest pinterest interests. Happy Father's Day next Sunday!