Now that I’ve retired, I find myself gardening and birdwatching. I’m considering getting really into knitting, just to complete the little old lady persona. Come to think of it, I’ve been knitting on and off since I was in my 20’s.
My mother loved crossword puzzles, but I thought she was just wasting time. Now that I’m retired, they are indeed a pleasant pasttime. And I am always reminded of her sitting in well-worn recliner, focused on solving it.
Just think of them as jumping jacks for your synapses.
He was also known to feature an occasional modern spiritual.
That’s exactly how I think about them-two a day from the New York Times, whether I need them or not.
Ah yes, I am in the UK.
I worked 14 years at one place and 21 years at another - both these pensions were ‘Final Salary’.or ‘Defined Benefit’.
Defined benefit pension plan - Wikipedia
Interestingly these pensions are jolly good so many companies have now stopped offering them.
I also get the UK State Pension as I’m 70.
It’s not technically an activity, but I am beginning to see the appeal of a big, comfortable American sedan like an old Buick or Lincoln.
Last year I went to a B-52s concert, and was somewhat surprised to find I was one of the youngest people there (at age 42 at the time). I never thought of the B-52s as only for old people, but I imagine younger people probably do.
I did both of those since I was a child, but not knitting. I am a total failure at knitting.
Yes, naps. Just woke up from one, feel falling into the next one coming soon. Good.
Gardening.
Silence while doing nothing, not even reading.
Sleep. Oh, how I used to fight sleep. Now I can’t get enough of it. I have the best adjustable tempurpedic bed and now I have a soothing sound/light machine I run before bed while I’m relaxing with my Kindle. It’s heavenly. Sometimes when I crawl into bed at the end of the day I make little involuntary happy noises. My bed is THAT comfortable. I venerate sleep. And is there anything better than a stolen nap on the sofa while the sun drifts gently through the window? I have a good napping sofa, too.
Oh yeah. I remember trying Scotch when I became old enough to drink, and it was vile. How and why did old people like this stuff? But the older I got, the more my tastes matured, and I discovered that there were good and very tasty Scotches out there.
Somewhat similarly, cigars and pipes. A good cigar or a good pipe tobacco to accompany my Scotch, is a treat. When I was a child, I never knew why my Grandfather liked his cigars and pipes. Now, I do.
And I’m another crossword puzzle fan. NYT Sunday puzzles are my preference, but I’ll work others if they’re all that are available. I’ve always got a book of them in my briefcase.
I knew exactly where that link was going, but I clicked on it anyway because of those groovy fashions.
Me, too. But I’m a wiz at crochet. My older sister taught me how to make a granny square when I was about 12, and I was self-taught from there. I liked to go to the Japanese bookstore to get crochet pattern books.
Sadly, I suck at crochet as well.
I can sew though. I mend, darn, quilt, embroider, even sew clothes (I am finishing up a winter coat for my goat right now, as she was show-shaved when I got her). I always wanted to weave, but I’m always overfilled with projects … but many people have tried to teach me knitting and crocheting over the years, in vain.
I’m fairly old, but I find that the things I like doing now are the very same things I liked when I was twenty – growing plants, textile arts, keeping domestic animals, riding horses, hiking, progressive causes, a personal spirituality, and writing. I never much cared for ‘youthful activities’ – drugs and rock and roll and hare-brained sexual adventures – although I engaged in them all. What’s really changed is my energy and skill levels (one went down the other up). Plus I have way more peace of mind than ever I hoped for before.
Early mornings. I was a night owl forever, until a couple of years ago, right when I turned 50, but also right in amidst the pandemic when mornings became unusually peaceful. Now I go to bed early and enjoy the sunrise every day.
Murder mysteries, and cosy bucolic dramas. I still enjoy the occasional genre adventure show, but I tend towards the slow paced period drama or romance these days.
I haven’t taken up jigsaw puzzles or playing chess in the park just yet, but I am not far off from an equivalent I suspect.
Naps!
Yeah, I saw a meme recently that says:
“Dear naps,
I’m sorry I was mean to you as a child.”
I sometimes tell friends who are still working that I have an N.A.P. meeting this afternoon.
mmm
On the same note, Going to bed. No matter the current problem, I can at least try to not worry about it for 6 hours or so.
I tell you folks, I really want a week of clear sailing. It’s been stormy all summer.
It is early, still dark out. I just announced that I have to “check the neighborhood” and opened the front door, glancing up and down the block.
That’s an old person move if I’ve ever seen one.
mmm
Add me to the ‘naps’ list. I’ve had early a.m. insomnia for years, and lately I’ve been taking cat naps during my lunch break - even 15-20 minutes is a big help in getting me through the afternoon.
But just another nine weeks, and I’ll be able to nap whenever and as much as I want to. I am SO looking forward to that!