Who are we when we no longer work?

[TrudyM]

My husband and I where talking last night about identity and self worth etc.
All our lives he has been the Hawaiian aerospace engineer and I have been the workaholic retail exec.
Who are we when we no longer work. :undecided:
He loves golf but will it get old?
As witnessed by how often I am here on this site, I haven’t found not working (all be it not by choice) as great as I thought it would be. All the stuff I never had time for doesn't seem that interesting anymore.

Don't mean to be a downer just wondered.

Any of you have trouble with the transition.

[k2at]

I have had the same discussions with my wife. I realize we all worked our whole lives and now "it is time to reap the harvest", however both my wife and I are of the opinion that there is something wrong with taking and giving nothing back. Maybe if I start volunteering my services somewhere I can shake this feeling.

There has to be more to the rest of our lives other than pickleball in the AM, golf in the mid-afternoon, and the town squares in the PM.

Am I a sick pup or what?

[Sandy222]

This is the adjustment to retirement that no one warned us about. Never did I realize how much my job was my identity. Now we become the greatest procrastinators ..theres just no motivation to get anything done. Now the next phase ----- can you get tired of too much fun. I guess this is when the volunteering or going back to work thoughts start running through our head. Glad to hear that there are others struggling with this. Don't get me wrong I love the Villages and all the fun things it has to offer. Maybe there should be an "Adjustment to Retirement" support group.

[BobKat1]

I must be a slug! I worked for the same (national) company for 33 years and was more than ready to retire. It's been 5 years on July 30th and I've enjoyed every minute of it.

Seriously though, I know many co-workers who didn't adjust right away, I think it varies by person and their personality/outlook. The people I know, eventually settled into "the life". Good luck to everyone who posted here. IMO, retirement is a great time of life to be enjoyed.

[Barefoot]

Interesting topic. I have retired friends who feel useless and without purpose as retirees. Their identities were so entrenched with their jobs. They feel now that they are on "the slag pit of life". :( My husband, a Fire Captain, is still employed and unwilling to set a retirement date. He loves his job.

I worked for 40 years and have embraced my "golden years" without a ripple. :highfive: I truly feel these are the most enjoyable years of my life. :thumbup:

[njbchbum]

I will celebrate my one year anniversary of retirement in just a few days - and I have LOVED, LOVED, LOVED every minute so far!

13 yrs ago my husband and I purchased a vacation home in Maine - which we could only enjoy on vacations from work - now we can go whenever we want to endure a 7/8 hour drive - and we do.

6 yrs ago my husband had hip replacement surgery - so we had an above ground 15 X 30 pool installed for his workouts pre- and post-op. We added a heater, ground level deck and an 8 X 10 shed that we turned it into a cabana. With a little bit of landscaping we have a backyard oasis to enjoy.

3 yrs ago we bought into the Disney Vacation Club so we could travel to Orlando and Hilton Head Island every winter - now we go whenever the spirit moves us and reservations are available!

This past March we went to WDW and then visited our friends in TV en route back to NJ - we wound up buying a 2br/2ba in Silver Lake while we were visiting! What a souvenier to bring home!

I still awaken at 5:30 a.m. like the days when I was employed - but now I laugh my butt off and go back for 40 winks. I enjoy my morning paper and coffee on my screen porch, I plan what to cook for dinner, and I set about doing whatever chores must be attended to. In the evening or during a rainy day I crochet afghans which I donate to charitable organizations or give as gifts as the events arise. Occasionally we girls get together for a movie nite and my husband gathers with the guys for a cigar nite. We dine out on Saturdays and sometimes get in a round of miniature golf after dinner.

There's no golf or pickle ball in our lives right now - but maybe there will be in the future...that would mean we will have to plan for lessons in those sports - maybe we'll take up shuffleboard and/or bocce.

We could not be enjoying these things if we had not started to plan some 30 years ago. One day we realized that we were making good money and had nothing to show for it. So we went on a crash course to start saving, we invested tax returns and financial gifts, and we talked about the things we wanted to do that we could not do while we were working. So much more has come about than we ever thought possible. Never did we even come close to imagining that we would own 2 vacation homes!

I think that the transition from employee to retiree has to start a good number of years before anyone's retirement date. But for those who did not plan that way, I would suggest that it is never too late to start the planning process. Make a list [I still shudder at those words because of how often my Father said them to me!] of all the things you like to do and then make a plan on how to accomplish them. And as for volunteering - don't let it take over your life! It can too easily become a substitute for employment - and you already did that!

Don't ask yourselves 'why should I/we' - ask yourselves 'why shouldn't I/we'! There is rarely a reason not to..................!

[nONIE]

Trudy,
Very thought provoking topic! are you living in "The Villages" or just contemplating a move there????

[ijusluvit]

The "Adjustment to Retirement" support group is a waste of time. The group these folks need to form is "Share What You're Doing".

There is one simple fact about life after work. MOVE on. DO other things.

I can't think of any reason, except major health problems, why a retired person can't do enough things to stave off sheer boredom. We have all dreamed of the day when we would be free of the daily grind. It is a shock to wake up on the day it happens. But by that first afternoon we have to begin moving toward some new goals, frivolous, and profound. Boredom is a prelude to death, and it should be our wakeup call. Fortunately, life is still a challenge even when everything we think we need is taken care of with the monthly electronic deposit to our savings account. Take a look at your world. What are your challenges? Meet them.
Luckily, TV has more opportunities to DO than many other places. Volunteering is not only noble, but there are an almost inexhaustible number of ways we can get involved. Go out and play, make new friends, etc. We don't have to confine ourselves to central Florida, we are connected to the whole world. Just DOING can not only contribute to others but it is the means by which we can achieve personal fulfillment and happiness. Allowing ourselves to sit and become bored can only erode the chance to be fulfilled and happy.

geeez, I got going there for a minute. ok, I yield to the chair.

[tpop1]

I guess I was lucky, as I never really defined myself mainly by what I did for a living.

I thoroughly enjoyed my work as a Computer System manager, by I also enjoyed and was defined by my role as a father, a Little League Coach, a small town politician, a poor golfer, a beach goer, a small boater, a skier, etc.

One of the reasons we chose TV can be found at the link to the Recreation Newsletter .........http://www.thevillagesdailysun.com/content/current/sections/recnews.pdf

To paraphrase the words of a not so famous philosopher I ran into in Virginia Beach more than 40 years ago, “If you can’t get turned on here, you have no switches.” If you can’t find things to do here, that will make you happy EVERY DAY, you have no switches!”

Forget about work and find your passion!

There’s a big wide world of things to get passionate about here in TV…..

There’s groups covering sports, cards and games, physical activities, arts, dance & music, community activities, geographical background, ethnicity, health builders, support organizations, religious studies, technology support, knitting, sewing & quilting, intellectual activities, cars & motorcycles, volunteer services, and more.

I for one don’t know how I’ll find the time to do everything I would like to try once I get to The Villages.

[TrudyM]

Trudy,
Very thought provoking topic! are you living in "The Villages" or just contemplating a move there????

Not in TV yet. Just trying to come up with a plan, worked in a planning dept. so it comes natural.

We are 23 months from my husbands retirement given the realestate market turns around, we sunk allot of money in this house as a fix it upper with a city view, and if things had not gone south would have made a nice piece of change as it is we may or may not make anything. I was working in the Macys regional buying office which closed in May of 2008. So I hadn't planned to be not working.

[nONIE]

I guess I was lucky, as I never really defined myself mainly by what I did for a living.

I thoroughly enjoyed my work as a Computer System manager, by I also enjoyed and was defined by my role as a father, a Little League Coach, a small town politician, a poor golfer, a beach goer, a small boater, a skier, etc.

One of the reasons we chose TV can be found at the link to the Recreation Newsletter .........http://www.thevillagesdailysun.com/content/current/sections/recnews.pdf

To paraphrase the words of a not so famous philosopher I ran into in Virginia Beach more than 40 years ago, “If you can’t get turned on here, you have no switches.” If you can’t find things to do here, that will make you happy EVERY DAY, you have no switches!”

Forget about work and find your passion!

There’s a big wide world of things to get passionate about here in TV…..

There’s groups covering sports, cards and games, physical activities, arts, dance & music, community activities, geographical background, ethnicity, health builders, support organizations, religious studies, technology support, knitting, sewing & quilting, intellectual activities, cars & motorcycles, volunteer services, and more.

I for one don’t know how I’ll find the time to do everything I would like to try once I get to The Villages.

TPop1 has said it all. I guarantee that once you move to "The Villages" Your memories of working will fade so far in the past you wont even have time to think about "working"

There is an assortment of diverse activities to stimulate your mind and body, whatever your interest, TV has it all. Friends are made easily and before you know it you will be so involved you wont know how to fit it all in.

Being in The Villages is like being on a permanent vacation. I realize that everyone handles retirement differently but Ill just bet that you will be loving life once you move down. TV is magical!

[gardenia]

How timely. I recently returned to my home in NJ after a 2 wk trip to TV, and 9 months of "transition" after losing my job of 25 years in Information Technology management. Some of the questions I wanted answers to were "what might it be like on a day to day basis living in TV and not going to work", how will I "feel" in TV vs NJ"? And the few days I've been back, I began to get my answers. In TV, I see lots of "energy". I got up and ran before 8 every morning on Sumter Landing boardwalk or in the Santiago Village, and so many others were already out walking, running, already on the golf course or playing pickleball. Compare that to folks in NJ: driving by in their cars off to work, little kids accompanied by their parents going to school, no sign of "fun" or any one that appears to be in the same position I am in. Being in TV, it was apparent that most folks are pretty much in the same "place of our lives" and appear to have a much deeper sense of community and comraderie than living in a community where everyone work or have young kids in school. As for what I would do, I popped into the bead store in SL while I was there and just walked into a beading class and loved it, so now I am interested in learning more about jewelry design. I have always had an interest in mosaic crafts but never pursued it, figured I could find a place to learn that when I move to TV next year. Now, I am not artistic at all, but that's what I envision myself doing, finding interests and pursuing them. Loved the idea of visiting Disney, silly me, hadn't thought of that! I know that I will want to visit my kids in the NJ/DC area and figure rental of extended stay facilities up north for a month each year might be an option, to break up the day to day life in TV. I am amazed at how neighborly folks were in Santiago, iniitiating friendships, initiating bike rides, offering gardening advice which I have never seen in neither NY or NJ. Oh, last thing, I just bought a book entitled "The Healing Journey through retirement" which I first got from the library and thought it was such a great book for journaling the transition to retirement that I had to buy it. So, that's my answer to how to prepare for retirement, works great for me!

[BUC]

I plan on moving to TV in a couple of years. My wife will retire from the school system, I hope to be able to continue to work. My Company has a big presents in Flordia, our corp. headquarters is in Tampa, but we have offices all over the state. I sure you have seen our trucks managing road construction projects. I've already spoken with shirt and tie guys about a transfer and they are agreeable, when the road project I'm currently working is completed 12/31/10, If I end of driving a couple of hours to whatever project I'll be working will be fine I'm use to it, Company truck with gas card. I may not work the hours that I do now 60+ per week, and I try to take a vacation each year, but I can't see myself as a Walmart greeter ( nothing wrong with that but not for me). It's really not about money, I really enjoy managing construction projects, mainly Roads and bridges. That's just my opinion I want my wife to be able to enjoy all the TV has to offer!

[ijusluvit]

How timely. I recently returned to my home in NJ after a 2 wk trip to TV, and 9 months of "transition" after losing my job of 25 years in Information Technology management. Some of the questions I wanted answers to were "what might it be like on a day to day basis living in TV and not going to work", how will I "feel" in TV vs NJ"? And the few days I've been back, I began to get my answers. In TV, I see lots of "energy". I got up and ran before 8 every morning on Sumter Landing boardwalk or in the Santiago Village, and so many others were already out walking, running, already on the golf course or playing pickleball. Compare that to folks in NJ: driving by in their cars off to work, little kids accompanied by their parents going to school, no sign of "fun" or any one that appears to be in the same position I am in. Being in TV, it was apparent that most folks are pretty much in the same "place of our lives" and appear to have a much deeper sense of community and comraderie than living in a community where everyone work or have young kids in school. As for what I would do, I popped into the bead store in SL while I was there and just walked into a beading class and loved it, so now I am interested in learning more about jewelry design. I have always had an interest in mosaic crafts but never pursued it, figured I could find a place to learn that when I move to TV next year. Now, I am not artistic at all, but that's what I envision myself doing, finding interests and pursuing them. Loved the idea of visiting Disney, silly me, hadn't thought of that! I know that I will want to visit my kids in the NJ/DC area and figure rental of extended stay facilities up north for a month each year might be an option, to break up the day to day life in TV. I am amazed at how neighborly folks were in Santiago, iniitiating friendships, initiating bike rides, offering gardening advice which I have never seen in neither NY or NJ. Oh, last thing, I just bought a book entitled "The Healing Journey through retirement" which I first got from the library and thought it was such a great book for journaling the transition to retirement that I had to buy it. So, that's my answer to how to prepare for retirement, works great for me!

Wow, now that's the spirit!!! You will always fit right in here because what you saw in your visit is "the way it is" everywhere in TV. And it AIN'T NJ!!!!

[rshoffer]

We moved to TV a little over a year ago. We came down on the 'lifestyle package', liked what we saw and decided to add a new chapter to our lives. There was one stipilation: I did not want to stop 'working' but I did want to slow down. I was able to join a practice here and go from 5 1/2 days a week to my current 4 days a week. After doing this for the past year I feel that 3 days a week would be ideal. I have prepared my wife for the reality that I could never see myself working less than 2 days a week.

[SteveFromNY]

I haven't moved there yet (although I've owned for a few years), and I am coming up to my retirement in a matter of about 8 or 9 weeks. I've been wondering what it will be like without a job too, although all of the time we've "vacationed" at our house in TV we've never felt idle at all.
My job had defined who I was until about 7 years ago when I took a package from my employer of 22 years. I was in IT management, and was planning to switch careers to real estate. I got my license and gave it a shot but hated it. I then got another regular job again in IT, after 13 months of being away from IT. And that's where I really woke up. I was no longer a "company man", and no longer cared about my career as it was just a job. These 7 years have positioned me for leaving the work force without caring about my career defining me, but I am left with one rather large fear: money. My spread sheet says we will be OK financially until we are into our 90's without a problem. But we need to be careful and not spend wildly. And there is my fear: Will we be happy on a budget?
So for me it isn't having something to do, or feeling good about what I'm doing, but rather not having the steady income.

[SteveZ]

Moving here is definitely a "matter of attitude."

For all purposes, I "moved" here in January (although I didn't retire from my last spot until April). My spouse stayed working full-time until my retirement date, and then she too threw away the yoke.

Our feeling is that we need a year to fully adjust, so we consider that year (April 2009-April 2010) as a sabbatical. It's that long vacation that we have never taken, and each day is just another day closer to becoming "human," as opposed to being efficient machines within our prior professions.

Am not sure what either of us will be doing come April 2010, but we are going to let circumstances draw us in, rather than try to force-fit ourselves into any group(s) or activity(ies). In the meantime, re-connecting with the area (used to live near Orlando until 5+ years ago), just enjoying time with the best friend (each other), and learning to be spontaneous (efficiency has become a bad word) has been a joy.

Life is not something to fear, and there is much life beyond the filling of a W-2 form.

[Sandy222]

My new identity yogini, golfer, swimmer, bicyclist and reader. All things that I never got to enjoy in my working years. All things that I can be and do daily in The Villages. What a wonderful life. Just took me a while to adjust.

[Yoda]

My husband and I where talking last night about identity and self worth etc.
All our lives he has been the Hawaiian aerospace engineer and I have been the workaholic retail exec.
Who are we when we no longer work. :undecided:
He loves golf but will it get old?
As witnessed by how often I am here on this site, I haven’t found not working (all be it not by choice) as great as I thought it would be. All the stuff I never had time for doesn't seem that interesting anymore.

Don't mean to be a downer just wondered.
Any of you have trouble with the transition.

A good question but in my opinion the real answer is elusive.

I had no job identy problem. I had too many jobs to form a firm identy or self image based on work. I have had 4 careers and many jobs. I have had fun. I never got rich but I had fun.

Now, my opinion. Do you like to be alone with yourself. That is the secrete to successful changes in life. After all, it is you who is the most permanant and stable point in your life. I am sure that you know these people.

1. Goes on vacation and has each and every moment and action planned to the smallest detail. (This type in my experience are uncomfortable be ing alone with their own thoughts.)

2. Goes on vacation. Knows where he wants to go. Knows what he wants to do. Throws a map in his backpack and takes off with on his vacation.

With #1 being 1 and #2 being 10, what is your number.

The lower the number the less you need a job title to Identify yourself. The higher the number, the more likely you are to Just have FUN.

Yoda

[MMC24]

My wife is a retired teacher and I am a retired project manager. We love retirement. We play a lot of Golf, are members of several clubs, travel, dance two or three nights a week in the squares, attend performances, go where we want, stay as long as we want and are in the planning stage of a 6 week vacation to Europe next summer. We go to two elderhostels per year. We are both busier now than when we worked!!! So if you are now retired and you are bored than you haven't moved to TV yet because it is impossible to be bored with nothing to do here.

[TrudyM]

My wife is a retired teacher and I am a retired project manager. We love retirement. We play a lot of Golf, are members of several clubs, travel, dance two or three nights a week in the squares, attend performances, go where we want, stay as long as we want and are in the planning stage of a 6 week vacation to Europe next summer. We go to two elderhostels per year. We are both busier now than when we worked!!! So if you are now retired and you are bored than you haven't moved to TV yet because it is impossible to be bored with nothing to do here.

Allot of you mention travel. Now that we will be missing three plus years of my salary in the retirement pool and missed on cashing out on gains in the market when I had them, I am not sure extensive travel will be in the budget. We now go home to Hawaii every other year but when we where on the east coast it is very far and expensive. I think a few weeks summers at my families place on cape cod may be all we can afford. I have removed all stock related moneys from my spread sheet and left them as emergency money so the picture looks different.

But it is the self worth and identity that worries me most.

[BethS]

Hi Everyone, Been in TV for almost 3 years. Retired at age 52 from GM, in early 2006 was pretty much forced to retire, was not ready, did not have a 5 year plan, the only plan I really had was working until age 62. So, in May of 06 visited friends here and before we left had bought a home. Went home and put my newly built home up for sale and told my employer I would like to leave by Sept 1st rather than waiting till December. Retired Sept.1st, sold my house and relocated to TV by the 28th. The first few months I was so busy getting settled that I never paid much attention to what I was feeling, after that I got busy learning to golf, taking line dance lessons, yoga, water aerobics, etc. I was at the pool everyday and had a heck of a nice tan. Then, it started, the anxiousness that only a few of my close friends could relate to. Reality had set in and it was a bit overwhelming for me. What had I done, it was scary. I eventually tried working at a few different places and never really felt like I belonged, where were my old friends and the jokes and the stories we would tell at milk break? Well folks, I am here to tell you it took me all of these 3 years to feel like I belong here. I am now working at Kohls, (customer service-part time) and feeling good about all of these lifes changes. I am not at the pool everyday, nor do I golf as much, but I do make time in my schedule when I want to do those things. I take a tap, jazz and ballet class through the college and that fits too. So, to anyone that has just retired, take some time, see what feels good and where you fit, everyone is different, some may be able to glide into retirement perfectly, others may feel a real loss, I know that feeling and its real. Get out and join some clubs or get involved in activities, make new friends, and when all is said and done you may find a job also fits. Good luck to all of you.

[CSilvestrucci]

We are the people our parents' warned us about

[champion6]

Hi Everyone, Been in TV for almost 3 years. Retired at age 52 from GM, in early 2006 was pretty much forced to retire, was not ready, did not have a 5 year plan, the only plan I really had was working until age 62. So, in May of 06 visited friends here and before we left had bought a home. Went home and put my newly built home up for sale and told my employer I would like to leave by Sept 1st rather than waiting till December. Retired Sept.1st, sold my house and relocated to TV by the 28th. The first few months I was so busy getting settled that I never paid much attention to what I was feeling, after that I got busy learning to golf, taking line dance lessons, yoga, water aerobics, etc. I was at the pool everyday and had a heck of a nice tan. Then, it started, the anxiousness that only a few of my close friends could relate to. Reality had set in and it was a bit overwhelming for me. What had I done, it was scary. I eventually tried working at a few different places and never really felt like I belonged, where were my old friends and the jokes and the stories we would tell at milk break? Well folks, I am here to tell you it took me all of these 3 years to feel like I belong here. I am now working at Kohls, (customer service-part time) and feeling good about all of these lifes changes. I am not at the pool everyday, nor do I golf as much, but I do make time in my schedule when I want to do those things. I take a tap, jazz and ballet class through the college and that fits too. So, to anyone that has just retired, take some time, see what feels good and where you fit, everyone is different, some may be able to glide into retirement perfectly, others may feel a real loss, I know that feeling and its real. Get out and join some clubs or get involved in activities, make new friends, and when all is said and done you may find a job also fits. Good luck to all of you.Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm not sure how I will adjust to retirement (in 2012). However, I'm thrilled to have learned about TV. As you described, there are so many choices for us to make in TV - and they are only a golf cart ride away! Although I can't predict what the future holds, I can hardly wait!!!

[BobKat1]

I wonder if age comes into play for a smoother transition into retirement for a lot people? Most of my friends/co-workers who retired around the same time as I did, were 60+ (including me), and all of us adjusted quickly and to a person have enjoyed it since day one.

Maybe if a person retires either by choice or circumstances at a younger age there might be a feeling of a career ending too soon or a missed opportunity for more income and savings. Not really sure of this, just a thought.

[villages07]

Another angle on this discussion, as it relates to life in The Villages...

You can pretty much check your resume or job title at the door when you arrive here. It really doesn't much matter to the folks you meet in your neighborhoods, social clubs, pools, golf courses, or at the squares. In fact, the question of 'what did you do for a living' rarely comes up. So, for those folks who feel their identity is their job title, rank, salary, etc this could be a rude awakening.

[BobKat1]

Another angle on this discussion, as it relates to life in The Villages...

You can pretty much check your resume or job title at the door when you arrive here. It really doesn't much matter to the folks you meet in your neighborhoods, social clubs, pools, golf courses, or at the squares. In fact, the question of 'what did you do for a living' rarely comes up. So, for those folks who feel their identity is their job title, rank, salary, etc this could be a rude awakening.

Funny you mentioned this. One of my co-workers/friends mentioned above, moved to TV (Glenbrook) about 6 years ago, and said the exact same thing when we visited them shortly after their move.

[Keedy]

Another angle on this discussion, as it relates to life in The Villages...

You can pretty much check your resume or job title at the door when you arrive here. It really doesn't much matter to the folks you meet in your neighborhoods, social clubs, pools, golf courses, or at the squares. In fact, the question of 'what did you do for a living' rarely comes up. So, for those folks who feel their identity is their job title, rank, salary, etc this could be a rude awakening.

That sounds great to me. Sometimes I want to pull my hair out when we go to social events as the guys always want to talk about work. I really like to talk about the present and future. For the last 10 years or so I have refused to go to Army reunions.
Someone on the forum said it was a place where executives and car assembly people play golf and have fun together and nobody asks their rank.
I like that.

[F16 1UB]

I'm the one that laid your paper by your front door so it didn't get wet from your sprinkler.

I'm the one that brought you a plant as a welcome gift.

I'm the one that waved to you as you drove by on your golf cart.

I'm the one that cleaned the dog #$&% out of your yard.

I'm the one that held the door for you.

I'm the one that allowed you in front of me.

I'm the one that laughed the 1st time I lined dance.

I'm the one that cried when you told me about your pet.

I'm the one that'll change your light bulb when a ladder is an issue.

I'm the one that will bring you a warm meal when you're not able to cook.

I'm the one that will shovel the snow from your driveway. OK there are always some exceptions.

So who are we when we no longer work? We're just the folks next door that are here like you with plans of enjoying the rest of our lives the best way we can in peace & harmony.

[Campbell soup]

My wife and I have had this same discussion also over the years. She retired at 49 after a long teaching career. I retired at 54 after being a Launch Manager for many years at Chryslers. We both went through a transition of identity crisis. Thankfully, this crisis did not last long for either one of us. We are both very grateful that we have had the opportunity to retire. After reading headlines almost everyday about how people struggle financially just to make ends meet we feel very fortunate to be able to retire. However, retiring in TV is something we never dreamt possible. We love it here and our beautiful home in Michigan. As I am typing this I am watching a Cardinal singing for its breakfast in my backyard. I am sipping on a warm cup coffee and planning out my day.

We are double lucky.

1. We are lucky
2. and we know we are lucky….

Life is good….
:beer3:

[champion6]

We are double lucky.

1. We are lucky
2. and we know we are lucky….

Life is good….
:beer3:

I love it! Thanks, Campbell Soup.

[Sandy222]

We sure do learn alot about ourselves when we retire. I never had time to try new things, make new friends or even try new recipes. I do now. Retirement is truly a whole NEW life. Just takes a few of us longer to adjust.