My best friend and I are both retired teachers. We have talked on the phone, pretty much every night, for the past 30+ years. We live in towns that are roughly 15 miles apart, and we have been talking on the phone since the days when it was long distance for us to call each other.
These days the favorite thing about retirement, for both of us, is that we can pick up the phone and call each other at ten o’clock in the morning. We will often call just to chat about something stupid that just happened, or to share what’s going on. And our new favorite phrase is,
“I thought I’d call…Why???…Because I can!!!”
It is our favorite thing! We no longer need to wait until the end of the workday to share our stories. And it got me thinking about the many, many things that we now are able to do…
Because We Can
Read a book until 3:00 AM. Or in the middle of the afternoon.
Take a nap in the middle of the day, or whenever we feel the need.
Work on craft projects – for me it’s quilting – whenever the urge hits.
Eat popcorn for dinner or pizza for breakfast!
Run errands in the middle of the day. Mow the lawn on a Tuesday. Shop for groceries ANY day but the weekend!
Take a trip, near or far, and leave on a Tuesday, with very little notice and not too much advance planning!
Enjoy the many, many venues that exist in our city, but which we have never previously taken advantage of: the art museum, the history museum, the botanical garden, the local parks, our many craft breweries…you get the idea.
Oh yeah, and have cocktails or a glass of wine – at 4:00 in the afternoon!
Putter our way through household chores – We no longer need to get everything done on the weekend. A little laundry here, a little dusting there…good enough!
Take a walk in the middle of the day, or go to our 24-hour gym at 9:00 at night!
Go out for brunch any day of the week.
Meet up with friends, pretty much whenever it’s convenient!
So how about it. What are those things that you love doing now in retirement, just “because you can?” I’d love to hear how others are enjoying their voyage!
Lynn
Photo credit: Charlz Gutierrez de Pineres ~ Unsplash
An Encore Voyage 
You captured the joys of retirement in a nutshell. I work from home but still enjoy an easy schedule as a widow. How wonderful that you and your friend share such a bond. Happy Monday.
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Thanks! You too, Lori!
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Yes Lynn, I can totally relate. I have been retired over 2 years now and it is nice to go grocery shopping on a Monday morning instead of the weekend with everyone else. Happy Monday my friend! 🙂
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Thanks! You too!
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I was just thinking about this! I feel so free and can’t imagine having my time scheduled like that again. In fact, if I have more than one or two appointments in a week, I start to feel over-burdened. I hope you’ll share some of your quilt projects one of these days!
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I may never get the current quilt project finished! It keeps getting interrupted by OTHER good stuff! LOL!
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I am working 2 mornings a week for 6 weeks. I love what I do but find that I am annoyed at how a fixed schedule interferes with my “freestyle” life. Fortunately I only have 3 more weeks to go.
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I know how you feel! I worked for a client for almost five hours today, and it kinda cramped my style! 😀
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We are so spoiled!
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So many good ones in there, Lynn, but my favorite has to be following your biology instead of an arbitrary schedule. Eat when hungry, sleep when tired, wake when refreshed, etc, etc. ☺
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Got up ridiculously early this morning, and it didn’t matter. I’ll go to bed earlier…BECAUSE I CAN!
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There you go….☺
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Great list, Lynn! For me I love being able to choose what I say ‘yes’ to and what I politely decline.
“Yes, I’ll be there — midday, midweek — no problem!”
“No, thank you — I do not wish to take on that kind of commitment at this time”
Donna
http://www.retirementreflections.com
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You are so right! It’s one of the best parts!
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What a great post Lynn. I’ve not quite hit retirement yet but I still work (write freelance) from home so in a way I sometimes feel as though I’d heading that way, as I have a lot of time to do what I want. I love your list! 🙂
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Being semi retired I only have to get up early two days a week, 8 months out of the year; my choice. With two weeks to go of school, I plan to start a small vegetable garden…because I can. And yes, hubby still works, so I get house to myself for hours! What a life!
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Oh, I temember those days! I still enjoy that time when he travels out of town to a project! Not that I don’t love having him around – it’s just an extra treat to have the house to myself!
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You make it sound so fun, “Mom”.
Enjoy yourself.
http://runwright.net
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