I think I like it ....

Have been free from going to work each day for two weeks, and I must say that I like this life. Someone shared with me that she had asked a Dear Colleague of ours how the Dear Colleague liked retirement. Dear Colleague had responded by asking how the questioner liked Saturdays. And, when the questioner replied that she LOVED Saturdays, Dear Colleague had responded with, "For me, every day is Saturday." How true, how true. I find I am enjoying the prospect of not going to work in the foreseeable future.

I am so grateful to those who organized and produced the retirement celebration, and to those who were able to attend, too. It was festive, fun and filled with good memories. The Lovely Accordion Player and the Smiling Gent need to take their show on the road, and that the Lovely Accordion Player needs to sing more in public - she was funny, creative and has a great voice! The celebration was a fantastic way to spend the end of my last day of work for UVa.

Since that time, we have done yard work (lost a ton of branches and trees in the snow storms of this past winter), run errands, I have moved to a new computer, and I have visited with my mom. We are sorting and packing. We are reading. I am trying to find THE dress for the Wedding in Chicago. We are feeding The Cat.

Speaking of The Cat, while I was visiting with Mom, PapaBear was solely responsible for the care and feeding of the Cat, which usually involves only feeding The Cat. PapaBear would dutifully arise early and feed The Cat her morning vittles and then go back to sleep. The Cat, you must understand, believes in eating just after the sun rise ... which works in the winter but not in the summer ... and yes, we have thought of blackout curtains but have yet to act upon that idea. After the morning feeding, PapaBear would not see The Cat again until 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. At which time, faithfully, The Cat would appear to remind PapaBear that evening vittles were due soon. Evening vittles do not happen until nearer to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, but The Cat remains ever hopeful for an early repast. The Cat was almost renamed "Four-thirty" as a result of this behavior.

More of our daily work: trying to revise our Cottage website, completing needed retirement-related paperwork, writing thank yous, taking care of routine medical appointments for all, getting the cars ready for the trip, planning what we want to do after we arrive at the cottage, etc.

Retirement is tons of fun. We are busy all the time! And yes, I like being retired.