This is a neat photo I saw in the newspaper recently. It seems there is a national reading plan underway. Visit here more info:
I met an acquaintance I knew from the gym in the grocery store around Christmastime. We got to talking about retirement as her husband had retired 3 years earlier. She said that in the first year they did a bit of travelling but eventually got tired of that. Now her husband has just gone back to work full-time in another job. He gets lots of vacation and better still, full health and dental benefits until he turns 65. He is doing what he loves. It turns out to be the right decision for him. She recounted the years when he was home. She felt it was her duty to be by his side, cooking 3 meals per day and watching a lot of TV. They both gained weight. She gave up her regular activities, before she was in great shape and spent a lot of time at the gym and with her friends. They both were more bored than happy with their so-called 'good life'. In retrospect, she feels it is important for each person to keep their 'sense of self', and live their separate lives, keeping their own hobbies and interests. It makes the time you spend in each other's company more enjoyable and with more of a sense of fulfillment. It sounded like great advice, for them anyway. What do you think?
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I met an acquaintance I knew from the gym in the grocery store around Christmastime. We got to talking about retirement as her husband had retired 3 years earlier. She said that in the first year they did a bit of travelling but eventually got tired of that. Now her husband has just gone back to work full-time in another job. He gets lots of vacation and better still, full health and dental benefits until he turns 65. He is doing what he loves. It turns out to be the right decision for him. She recounted the years when he was home. She felt it was her duty to be by his side, cooking 3 meals per day and watching a lot of TV. They both gained weight. She gave up her regular activities, before she was in great shape and spent a lot of time at the gym and with her friends. They both were more bored than happy with their so-called 'good life'. In retrospect, she feels it is important for each person to keep their 'sense of self', and live their separate lives, keeping their own hobbies and interests. It makes the time you spend in each other's company more enjoyable and with more of a sense of fulfillment. It sounded like great advice, for them anyway. What do you think?
13 comments:
I think it's different for everyone. I do believe each person needs to have some time on their own also though. I go to Zumba on my own and have lunch with those friends every Friday. Art goes walking for a couple of hours or more with a high school friend every Monday. He does his Meals on Wheels on his own also. We go to tai-chi together and we're together more or less the rest of the time. It works for us.
Yes, sounds like now they are both doing what they want! I enjoy my retirement very much, spend a lot of time out of doors, and have loads of time for painting and reading - just great! Valerie
Love the photo you used for this post Christine.
And it sounds like excellent advice to me.
Hugs
Peggy
That is very good advice...for them. And probably a lot of other people. But for others, something different may work. "One size doesn't fit all'.
I think there really isn't one great big secret for how to make a relationship work. Each person wants their own things. For some people the bit of distance helps but for me and my friend we like to spend as much time with our partners as we can. It all depends on what you as a person want.
I think even those that are retired (but healthy) should find something meaningful to fill their days with. I can easily see people getting bored being at the house all the time.
There is so much to do that I cannot imagine just sitting around, watching tv and cooking all day. Men seem to have a tough time, though, in retirement as they usually don't have hobbies for friends that get them out of the house as much.
Because I am out of the house 3-4 days a week on projects and activities, I enjoy those days when I can stay home all day and get things done around the house. On some of those days Terry is home too so we can have lunch together. But I don't cook. We eat leftovers.
Sounds like it will get better for her now.
Im agree with Adam Christine. Always you can make lots of things:))
Thanks for all your wonderful insight everyone!
There is a balance between togetherness and having individuality. I cook dinner, but that's it for the two of us! Kay has it right. Tuesday is my morning alone. I love it! I have been taking long walks in the forest!
David and I don't miss the job-related stress at all. We love being retired.
There are things I do with Alex and things I don't. I guess what amount of separate things a couple does comfortable depends on the couple... I love that book picture/idea.
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