When I Have Time

In this week's column I talk about my imminent "retirement" and the chance to do more of what I really love - perhaps rediscovering favorite childhood activities  like playing the violin. 

What one thing do you look forward to doing when you retire and have the time? 

Click on "comments" and leave your answer.  Best response wins a copy of "You May Already Be a Wiener!"

Be sure to include your e-mail for prize notification!

Comments

[Mark Mervich]

I look forward to growing vegatables again. And designing and building a house for my lovely wife and myself. Also more photography.
Mark

[Richard McCaleb]

Mary and I are colleagues from my now former employer. I preceded her in retirement by a couple of months. Mary, how interesting that you want to go that far back into your youth and take music lessons.... Well same for me, but my interests are a little more exotic. Like you , I was in the elementary school orchestra. 1st trumpet, but I never persued it into JR high....

Over the years, my love of music has taken many turns, and finally now I have time to devote to it. I'm learning the Dan Bau (see URL) A traditional Vietnamese instrument, and one that takes years to master. In USA terms, it sounds something like a pedal steel guitar, and is very common in Vietnamese traditional and popular music.

I've tuned it to middle "C"..... We could play together, your violin and my dan bau.... Co le mot ngay (maybe one day)...

-Richard.

[Suzanne SMith]

I would like to "rediscover" how a person actually retires! I have tried it three times and it seems that I am busier than when I was working. The first time, I began tutoring adult illiterates on how to "literate." (Highly successful and very proud of my and their accomplishements!) I gave up teaching highschool English, and then ended up teaching a humor class and writing humor essays myself, getting them published (Mary Hanna was my prize student!) This is all mentally rewarding, but where is the easy chair and the scaggy pj's and a good book? I retired from the local power company, swearing to sleep in every morning and not brush my teeth or get dressed until 3:00 p.m. Instead, I am awakened at 6:00 a.m. with a call from the school system wanting to know if I can sub teach for a kindergarten/ intermediate/junior high/highschool teacher in one hour? What do I know about chemistry and the Hindenberg explosion? Or the DNA and gene reaction in Biology? Or how many want peanut butter and jelly sandwiches versus taco salad for lunch today? But I trot out and do my thing to save even one good mind. YOu can leave a village, but the village remains. Add grandkids, tutoring two highschoolers in creative writing, and caring for an elderly Alzheimer's patient every other Saturday, ...again, I say...when does the time come for two solid days of nothing but eating cherry flips and reading the newest mystery thriller? One of these days, I will actully get around to retiring. When I do, perhaps...maybe perhaps...I will hit that high C (I was one of the quick ones who beat Mary to the clarinet while the supply was still available) and meet Mary half way, possibly Las Vegas,lose a little at the slots, slather on the Bain de Soliel, reminisce over a mint julep at the poolside, oggling the 21-year-old male masseur (is that redundant?) and say, "NOW, THIS IS RETIREMENT!" Until then, I am still searching the answer on how to rediscover how to retire. My "to do" list is getting unmanageable; my calendar slots are fuller than Harrah's. (Thanks, Mary, I already have a "Wiener" book, just venting.)