My, How Time Flies!

My first month of retirement flew by. I spent the first 3 weeks trying to accomplish everything I’ve been wanting to do. I scheduled my housework, set up a dinner menu, made a shopping list, and penciled in my gym workouts. (Yes, I am a chronic scheduler and a maker of lists.) I actually, stuck to it, until…my husband took a week off from work. We slept late, relaxed, hiked,  worked in the garden, took a spontaneous trip to Bixby Bridge, and he did some of the chores that have been on his list for a very long time. The only glitch was when he went grocery shopping with me. “Why are you buying that? Can’t you get that cheaper at the other store?” He really put a crimp in my process. He’s gone back to work this week so now I can get back to my “new normal.”

I Love Lists

I enjoyed January. I feel very accomplished. The house is cleaner, I made it to the gym regularly, started my garden, and cooked some pretty nice meals, but I noticed, I did not schedule time for play. So, February will see some changes.

Which brings us to…

Tuesdays With Tutu (that’s me)— I’ve been wanting to spend more time with my two-year-old grandson. So, on Tuesday’s we’ll have a playdate. I’m looking forward to a new adventure each week. Dennis the Menace Park, the beach, The Farm, the library, the Butterfly Trees, the list goes on. I’m sure I’ll be exhausted by the end of the afternoon, but I can always take a nap.

And…

Fabulous Friday—Friday’s will be my day off. No cooking, no cleaning, no stress. I’ll be doing the, “I wish I had time to do that,” things I dreamed about while I was working. I’ll be spending my time playing tourist in my own backyard. The Monterey Peninsula and surrounding areas are full of history, inspiration, and beauty. Exploring the gardens, perusing antique shops, taking a walking tour of Old Monterey, visiting the missions, writing overlooking the bay, sitting on the beach enjoying a good book with the warmth of the sun relaxing each and every one of my muscles. Hmmmmmm, I want to soak it all in.

It’s time to stretch my wings, to step outside myself, to stop waiting around for someone else to say, “Hey, let’s go.” It’s time to Just Do It. It’s not only about discovering the world around me. It’s about self-discovery, of becoming my own person, of being comfortable to get in my car and have an adventure. Of course, I’ll be sure the gas tank is full, the tires are aired up, and the oil, brake, transmission, and wiper fluids are all full. ‘Cause that’s just a part of being me.

“Smiles are contagious; let’s start and epidemic”

-Laura Smith-