the id, the ego, & the single misfiring brain cell

Since I began thinking about retirement and "what's next," as so many people say (or ask)--and that began three years ago, if I have to put a date on it--I've fluctuated between excitement and fright. The nearer it got, though, the more excited I became. A new beginning! And? Michelle was happy to take a permanent part-time job to help with the bills, so we won't even have to live on a budget, so there were no real pressures awaiting me when I threw the uniform into a crumpled pile in the corner. 

I've told people for months that the first thing I'd do when my terminal leave began was to bore myself to tears. On purpose. To just...sit around and do nothing until I began to wonder what was the point in living. Then I would decide what I wanted to do next. 

I still like the plan, but it hasn't kicked in yet. I haven't yet had time to be lazy. 

We all make jokes about the "honey-do" list, myself included, but when some of Michelle's friends were asking me if she'd given me a "honey-do" list yet, Michelle said, "I haven't had to. She's doing stuff I didn't even realize needed doing." 

And it's true. It's been a week now and I haven't slowed down. I'm exercising, cleaning the house, running errands, and socializing every day. I haven't even taken an afternoon to curl up with a good book, which is precisely what I had planned for my first week. 

So far, I've spent time with several friends, entertaining or being entertained. I've only begun to be a basement sloth, watching The Next Generation (another early retirement plan I'm struggling to make time for). I've taken my guitar to an accomplished luthier, finally, after carrying the poor thing around in my truck for months, looking for the time and energy to find the man and turn it over. I've done grocery runs and pet store runs and even stopped into the thrift shop on base a couple of days ago and popped some tags. I keep meaning to sleep in* then read all day, but that's easier said than done.

* Until 7am, if I'm lucky. Years of rising early is not overcome overnight.

In addition, Michelle bought us Fitbits for Christmas, and while the concept may sound a bit silly, they really do make you conscious of how much you don't get up and move around in a single day, so you're motivated to get out and walk around in the sunshine, which is doing great things for my general attitude and well-being. But...it takes time. 

I'm going to Pennsylvania for a week in a few days and when I come back, I plan to start my closet overhaul. 

Oh. Our master bedroom closet is sizeable, but it was carpeted and all it took was for one cat with a bladder infection to pee in there. After that, it seems to have become a regular dumping ground. Michelle ripped out the carpet and ended up ripping out the shelves at the end, as well. Now, I'm planning to rip out the rest of the shelves and drawers (they aren't very pretty or very well made), patch and paint the walls, put in hardwood flooring, and design/build a new arrangement. It's a project I am looking forward to...when I find the time. 

I haven't made it to my art table yet (which is built; it just needs to be used now), and I still haven't finished Asimov's Guide to the Bible, a rather amazing book I was making good time through while I was still working. 

I have more to do (and energy to do it!) than I knew, and I haven't stopped moving since I shucked the uniform last Friday. 

How did I ever find time to work?

d

PS. Oh yeah. I also had my hair cut and layered. I lost a good five inches, and still have a lot left. It took me a full five days from my last day in uniform to do that. :)