To begin with, one month is NOT enough time to really reflect on. Because the retirement celebrations were held the first week of January (some connecting still continues, in fact), because we’re still unpacking from moving to our home in Northern Minnesota, and due to other things that have arisen since the first of the year that require our attention, my wife and I really haven’t had a chance to develop a “retirement rhythm.” I really haven’t had any time to “get bored” either. In reality, I’m looking forward to seeing if there is such a rhythm. Or, because of the freedom that retirement offers, is the new normal getting used to not having a reliable rhythm. After all, isn’t that what retiring happy, wild, and free is all about? In other words, doesn’t the spontaneity that retirement provides require breaking down such rhythms? Or, maybe there’s a rhythm that exists based on location. For example, maybe there’s a rhythm when we’re at home, but that’s it. The rhythm that develops at home is reliable and predictable only when we’re there. That’s my thesis. We’ll see how it goes….
Anyway, as to how the month went, January went well! It also went fast. I spent a fair amount of time unpacking from our move, reading, and sleeping. I think I had a little catching up to do on sleeping. I also set up my woodshop in our new location, did a long-overdue closet makeover, went snowshoeing, went cross-country skiing, did some fun cooking, and spent a lot more time with the kids and grandkids. Finally, my wife and I began exercising more regularly. All in all, it’s been fun and gratifying to start making progress on my own retirement “tree of life” (as discussed by Ernie Zelinski in his book How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free“). More about that in a later post.
I won’t belabor the first month any longer. Suffice it to say we’re only at the beginning of this journey, and can’t wait to see how it all unfolds! Thanks for being part of the journey!
GC