Monday, October 05, 2009

Tinkering and Puttering

I have been retired for exactly 5 years this month. A lot of people ask me what I do to keep busy - especially people who are really scared of retirement. I really don't know what to tell them. So I spent a few days last week really analyzing what I did all day long. And I have reached a conclusion. Are you ready for this?

I Tinker and I Putter.
I sew a little - okay, I guess I'll admit it - a lot! This is the quilt that is in my machine at the moment. The pattern is a disappearing nine patch. It will be donated to Quilts from the Heart. I'll show you a photo of it when I am totally done.
I knit a little and maybe crochet a square or two. I also have my plants, which keep me more than busy. The whole solarium is full right now. It is getting cold outside, so all my tropical plants need to come indoors. It's a big job! This afternoon I am going to transplant these succulents known as Echeveria . They were outside all summer and now I have to take them in. The have a lot of dead leaves and need to be cut and re-rooted. And there are a lot of other plants which need some TLC before they come inside too.
And then there is the computer. Oh, but don't get me started on that! That darn computer keeps me hopping. What did people do before computers? Oh yeah, right! Housework. Glad I don't know what that is.
I blog and I take photos and I read and I cook the occasional meal. I even bake sometimes - but not often. I have a lot of other hobbies too. I do stained glass when I can get downstairs into my workshop. I used to do woodworking and folk art, but not lately. Funny thing, I was saving those hobbies for my retirement. Guess I should start doing them again. I also love to be outside in my garden. And of course there are my furry babies who need to be petted and brushed and fed and cuddled.

So there you have it. My retirement- Tinkering and Puttering!
Also known as 'being a slave to your hobbies!'

8 comments:

Donna said...

you make it soulnd like one big long day off! :-)

Pat said...

Actually, I'm busier since I retired than BEFORE...but now most of my "busy" time is spent doing things I LIKE rather than things I NEED to do!!!

Winny said...

You sound happy and active. I wish I could retire.

blushing rose said...

Retirement provided me with more 'things' to accomplish & to 'do' than before ... I love it.

Have a great week. TTFN ~Marydon

LizzieJane said...

Your day sounds a bit like mine Hetty. I always go to bed tired but with a big smile on my face. Then I hope that the next day has more hours in it so I can get more finished!
x

Vicki said...

Sounds like fun. I wish I had more time to spend with my furry babies and more time to do my quilting instead of shlepping to work 5 of 7 days to do something that in the overall scheme of things really isn't all that important other than to bring in a pay check to pay the bills. Please give your furries a pet from me :-).

Barb said...

I am not retired, just don't work right now in American Samoa...but I am the worlds best putter...er.....that is all I do is putter. Everyone is always asking me what I do all day...I find things, get bored only occasionally. It is great!!

dutchcomfort said...

When reading your blog I never think of someone who’s retired. You are so busy and active!

I still have a long time to go before retirement. My husband would love to be retired as his work has become so stressful. As I’m an independent entrepreneur and working at home for the last 15 years, I guess, I’ll just slip into retirement. I try to find as much time as I can to craft now, I hope I will be able to continue those activities.