I'M SWAMPED

WHY I’M SO BUSY

I am often asked by my aging friends what I do now that I am retired and in “The Home.” Well, I had no idea how busy I would be. A typical day:

It begins when I wake up about 7:30-8:00. The first decision is whether to get out of bed or not. That can take 10 minutes or longer. Of course, I always have to pee so then come back to bed if that was my decision. Can’t do that on Mon-Wed. Mon. I have a chiropractic appointment 9:15), Tue. I help bring bread and sweets from the Food Truck (9:00). Wed. I pick up bread at Orowheat (8:30).

Next I try to smell myself to determine if I really need to shower. The answer is always yes to that, so I have to add the equation of “Do I want to.” Who will I meet later that will care”? How close will I be sitting t someone who will care”? “Do I care if they might care”? Some of these things are guess-timates so that issue takes time. Once I decide to shower or not, I go back to my room and smell my clothes to decide if I can wear the same clothes I wore yesterday. That is very important. More dirty clothes mean I have more laundry. Laundry means more quarters. More quarters means more time spent begging on street corners.

After I put the same dirty clothes back on I face the kitchen. Which of my four boxes of cereals will I chose or will I make pancakes (blueberry, apple or plain). Will I make French toast (add cinnamon, corn flakes or plain)? What about eggs? Fried, hard-boiled, scrambled, omelets (with ham, sausage cheese – not suppose to have, mushrooms, peppers, various spices, always add onions, etc.)! I do like them a bit runny unless they are scrambled. Will I add toast (whole wheat, muffin, bagel, etc.)? What about hash browns. That always takes time as I make them has browns fresh. Just these decisions alone cause me to take a rest, so I check my computer to see who did not email me or did not write on my wall on Facebook. While doing that I multitask by listening to the Today Show and turning to watch what catches my interest. No much. But I listen to the weather.

Then I make what I decided to eat. Whew. That’s a big load off my shoulders already.

Next comes going to coffee. I know I am going Mon-Fri as someone else made it and it is free. I eat the snacks when if there is a cinnamon roll or something with raisins. I should have nothing. But we all die of something, why not good food. Next I must decide how long I will stay, 30 minutes or two hours. That depends on the potential for good stories.

I don’t watch daytime TV, so (and here’s where the tough stuff comes in) I have many afternoon decisions that bang my brain. Will I read, write, draw, work on a puzzle, hang-out (teen talk), get groceries, see the doctor, pick up medication, see a movie, get gas (for the car — the car, I said), or nap. Add to that the occasional times to visit my family, hang out with grandkids, shop someplace other than a grocery store. I don’t go to look. I go to get something. If I need nothing I don’t go. I may make a day trip, eat out, etc.

Since I don’t eat a noon meal I am hungry and make lunch-supper (called lunupper I guess) about 3-4 p.m. I then may go back to the puzzle (usually), find someone to talk to (same as working the puzzle) or any of the earlier afternoon activities I can do in my room. The “lunupper” meal is often easier than breakfast. What can I have ready in 10 minutes or less. That’s the guideline. I keep waiting for Rachel Rays new program “Easier Meals under Ten Minutes.” Just a suggestion!

A somewhat regular pattern develops in the evening. After I eat, which I often do during some movie on TV or one I got from Netflix, of have a nap, I play on my computer and turn the news on looking at it when it interests me (not so much). 7:30 I watch Jeopardy (can answer 3-4 questions a night – good huh?) And settle in to watch any regular shows that may be on the menu. Nothing I like is on Wednesdays, only one on Friday and Saturday is a lost cause. The next main attraction is Amazing Race.

As the night is winding down I catch up on my computer correspondence (usually none), play a game on solitaire, or read my book – the same book I held in my lap will watching TV and that I read during commercials. That is calculated to keep me from snacking. It works for me. I often have one sugar free snack somewhere during the night and will make popcorn once week. I must decide when I will do that. Would do it every night, but I like real butter.

Fascinating isn’t it? Never knew I would be so busy, did you? Retirement is a very busy life. It is not for the weak of heart or an indecisive person. Then there is the fact that time speeds up as you age. I barely have enough time each day to do what is necessary. Time flies even when you’re not having fun — but I’m having a blast.