Due to a change of plans, I am home alone for the weekend. The weather is beautiful, the sun warm, the breeze making my windchimes sing.
So far I want to drive to the gas station for flavored coffee, write a couple of chapters on my novel, move the stuff from my tiny closet to a now-spare-bedroom closet, vacuum, dust, make shrimp in red sauce, walk the magic trail behind the university, walk my own magic trail on my property, sew bling on a particular top, change the kitty litter, shorten the sleeves on a new hoodie, watch the rest of Rome, write a poem, find new artists for my SEAG, read my WordPress buddie’s blogs, ride my bike, rearrange the deck, brush out the cat, and edit another novel.
And it’s only mid-morning.
The only thing I’ve managed to do so far is go get flavored coffee.
Am I the only one who plans big and falls short? All the time?
I often wonder if I would have enough time to do it all if I were retired. Doing the job thing from 6 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. (that includes getting ready) five days a week doesn’t leave much time to fool around. You would think I would have an Architectural Digest-sort of house, lovely gardens, published novels, spiffy wardrobe, plus time to excercise/walk/ride with all the free time I have before I go to sleep at night.
We’re never home on the weekends — whose fault is that? Between visiting the kids and camping and my hubby leaving for work at 4 p.m. on Sundays, there’s not much time left for anything except doing the dishes and laundry. And maybe ONE fun, great meal. If we’re around.
I have talked to many retirees who have told me it doesn’t get better.
It gets worse.
How can that be?
They let me in on a secret. The more time they have the more they think they can do.
Of course, sitting on the deck, listening to the wind blow the windchimes, gets equal billing with mowing the lawn. Painting a picture gets just as much private time as washing and putting away laundry. And they still manage to see kids, grandkids, friends, old co-workers. They manage to get a walk in along with stopping by the farmer’s market, build things in their workshop, write poetry, rearrange furniture, watch a movie, repair the lawnmower, and dozens of other things.
Many of them say they don’t have enough time in their day, either.
I’m beginning to think that Einstein knew more than he told us. That time is relative. For one person time flies by; for others, it takes an eternity to tick out an hour.
I tell myself I’d rather have an overly-long list of “to-do”s than a short list of anything. Having too many things to do in one day assures you that there will be things to do tomorrow. And the next day. And the next. That the Reaper can’t possibly come and visit because your list is too long and he’ll just have to come back when that list is done.
Which makes me think of a few more things I’d like to add…
I am so glad I’m not alone. And I know retirement won’t change a thing! I got about 1/3 done yesterday of what I wanted. I guess that’s better than crossing nothing off my list. Which happens, too.
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Looks like I think the way you do ! A million plans and not a thing you do cos it is hard to choose….now I am retired it is not better alas, my husband keeps leading me astray ๐
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Definitely! I’m trying to get down to writing my novel and 1 day’s break was a dangerous thing ahaha ๐
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I love that I’m not in this alone!!!
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So true! Even are too-long lists have SOME prioritization…don’t they??
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I can relate, there’s never enough time in the day to really do the things you want to do. I guess eventually you’ll come to it on a later day or you prioritize the most important tasks. ๐
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I am retired and get less done than when I worked full-time and wrote 4 books! Go figure. I have always had long lists and still do.
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