Trade offs

I'm really struggling right now with money. Wanting to spend it, that is....

A byproduct of my weight-loss is the energy to do more. To say that my yard has been neglected by me for the past several years is an understatement... and now I want to be out repairing the lonely flower beds and preparing my yard. Problem is, plants do not "grow on trees" (sorry, I know it's a bad pun!!) Not to mention mulch, borders, yard art - you get the idea.

While I love, love, love my retirement, there is just so much "discretionary income" on a teacher's pension. We have more that we "need", but not all that I WANT. If I were still working, I wouldn't be home anyway to have the time to do the things I want or to enjoy it... such a dilemna!! It's like which do I want more; being at home away from what became too much stress, or being at home wishing I had "more"?

I've got to work on that contentment issue....

Preview of good things to come!

Yesterday was a wonderful day. Andy was off, and we took to SA before noon. Had a delicious lunch at Texas Roadhouse, (thanks to a gift card!) and then headed to Lowe's. Spent some time in there dreaming - even strolled through the Christmas aisles - and purchased some needed items for the house. Next up, I went to get some new slacks for winter. Down 4 sizes since February, my stuff from last year's wardrobe looks like clown clothes now. Two more sizes, and I'll kiss the Plus-size stores goodbye!! We toodled home leisurely after than and spent some time working in the yard. Chinese food for dinner, and it was the end of the day.

If this is a preview of our retirement years together, I can hardly wait!!

Marvelous May

Before retirement, Jackie always said that she didn't like how I "was" at the end of school; grumpy, tired, and short-tempered. I avoided commitments during the last month in order to keep up the stamina needed to put a year of school to rest. No longer!!

As of today, each and every weekend of May is filled with love and family - the first weekend will take us to Millsap to participate in my cousins' TicketLady Trot to raise money for a scholarship in my aunt's memory. Following the next Saturday will be a weekend visit with some cousins as they journey to the coast for a family vacation. The third weekend is out 35th wedding anniversary - enough said - and the last weekend, we just found out that our friends Steve and Dianne will be coming down from Ohio for a visit!!

Wow! I don't think I could've done all this fun a year ago!! Happy Retirement!!

Living a life at Peace

I really loved being a teacher. I loved the interaction with my peers, and loved seeing growth in my students - both in life and in reading. I came into the curriculum with reservations, and then became a convert after seeing little ones who'd never read before become readers -and loving it!!

Somewhere along the line, though, it changed. I really think it was when my friend and Principal Billie retired. She loved me, but beyond that, she treated me with respect. Suddenly, that was gone, and I became "old", an antique/dinosaur.

I knew I had a pervasive knot in my stomach, but I truly did not see how it was affecting my basic personality. Then, about July, I woke up without the knot, and suddenly I was hearing myself laugh (almost giggle) a lot. It was quite an awakening.

I am truly at peace in this new life; my husband and I are free of the angry woman I'd become without my even knowing she was there. My anger at the situation is truly gone, and while I miss my kids a lot, I know this is where I want to be; with Jackie, Susie, the Monday morning group, and Andrew.

Always with Andrew.

So Far...

The things I like about retirement so far....
~ NO ALARM (for me anyway; sorry, Andrew!)
~ eating lunch with Andy most days
~ not wearing makeup every day!! :)
~ quiet, alone time at home - a first in 34 years of marriage/motherhood
~ Bible Study on Wed.
~ not having to schedule things after 4:00 so I won't miss work
~ not HAVING a schedule after 29 years (Summers don't count)
~ being with Jackie at least two days a week!
~ knowing that my time is my own
~ getting to have long conversations with Erin while the kids nap - YIPPEE!


That's a pretty good start!!

Starting a New Chapter

Well, yesterday came and went, and I survived; but now to get past next Monday.

About 11:30 yesterday morning, it dawned on me that this was the first day back of school. All summer long, it had seemed far in the distance; when people would ask me about being retired, I would say something like, "It'll hit me when school starts"....

Erin, Gregg, Liz and Bladen came home this weekend so that Erin could attend a baby shower for a friend. They stayed until yesterday, and I can't help but wonder if they were staying to help Mom get through the day without being down. Even if that wasnt' even a part of their reasoning - it worked! A morning of the babies and the hustle and bustle of loading up all the stuff that goes with a baby sure kept my mind occupied .

So, somewhere off in the distance, were my former co-workers; sharing stories of their summer and talking about the new year beginning. I wonder if anyone even noticed I was gone? After all these years - you'd hope so.

So, life and PISD go on without me. Someone is preparing to take over my classes, and my kids. Today, the new chapter continues with a day spent with sisters in Christ at Tina's house; I've GOT to learn to do some type of craft if I'm going to continue to go to these gatherings, but for today, I'm just going for the fellowship. Tomorrow will be Bible Study, and so on. Already, the week will be half over.

Now, to get past next Monday, when my kids all go back, and I'm not there.

Morning, Retirement style

By far, my favorite thing about retirement so far is mornings. No alarm, no rushing out the door. Instead, I get to kiss my husband goodbye, and then - if I want - I slip blissfully back into sleep. Once awake, I stretch and twist and think on whatever enters my head until I desire to leave my bed for the day. The quiet of the house and the comfort of moving at a slower pace is luxury.

I've always loved stretching - when the girls were little, I'd gently pull on their little baby arms and legs and rub them - I'd roll them around and twist them back and forth, to limber their little bodies and make them more aware of their surroundings; now, I just give myself that little bit of awareness before the beginning of the day. I've found that, getting older, it really makes the old chassis easier to get going!!

So, before you get yourself up, give a little stretch!!

Decisions, decisions!!

What to do?!? Everyone is interested in finding out my "plans" for retirement, and to be honest, I haven't got a clue!! It all happened so fast, the even idea of it being a reality truely hasn't sunk in yet. It just all feels like Summer time to me; the same summer I've had for 29 years. I know that, come August, I will have to make some decisions, but for now - well - I'm enjoying my lazy, quiet, stay-home kind of days.

I'll let you know what I decide!!

June 20

Wow - how can it already be the 20th of June?!?! This month is speeding by, and I know that the idea of my retirement hasn't sunk in, because I'm "worried" about how fast it is going!! June usually is a slow, restful month, but I guess with all the activity of getting the retirement set up and church activities, the days are whizzing by. Dana comes in on Wed. for a few days, and then, the month will be done. The nice thing is, we're seeing a better picture of how retirement is going to go financially, and Andy is feeling better about it. We know there's a difference we are facing, but thanks to Dave Ramsey, we are in better shape than we would've been... well, I just wouldn't have been able to even consider retiring now, so - thanks, Dave!!

An odd observation

So, today started with a list of items to accomplish - starting off with meeting with the head of Human Resources to discuss my retirement and get the financial end of it going. After arriving late - I'm NEVER late anywhere ! - we got going. Things are looking like it's all falling into place, and I go to Austin on Wednesday to finalize things.

I go to the bank next, to get copies of our birth certificates, and as I wait, I see that the doctor who delivered me, and is LONG gone, never signed my birth certificate. This begins to bother me; am I alive or not?!?! What are the legal ramifications of not being legaly legal?!? Am I like a television series that ends in a snowglobe or someone's imagination??

Silly, I know. But certainly gave me pause on this hectic morning!!