Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Ready...aim...retire.

The countdown is over. 22 years have trickled down to zero
and this is my last day of gainful employment.
I was able to work from home, so in that way, it was the best job ever.
But all good things must come to an end. I prefer to spend my remaining years
doing something besides sitting in front of a computer.  

 I've been organizing my retirement plans the old-fashioned, analog way.


One to-do list is simply not enough to corral all the projects and chores I'd like to accomplish,
so I've got about 15 started ... so far.



May I ask you a favor? Please check in occasionally and remind me that
retirement wasn't built in a day and I don't need to wake up tomorrow morning
and do everything at once. Someone needs to save me from myself.

I haven't written "blogging" on any of my to-do lists because I consider it a given.
I miss posting here regularly and have every intention of fixing that. I think.
I can be such a flake sometimes. 

I'm thinking that the posts might become more journal-like, 
a place to dump before-and-after project pictures and such.
In other words, it might get really boring.

The boys will try to keep things light.












56 comments:

  1. Congratulations!! You will wake up every morning and say to yourself. "I don't have to work today" After a while you will wonder how you did anything when you work. One thing I would recommend. I too was a Graphic Designer. Keep up your PS skills.

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  2. Welcome to retirement!!!

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  3. Happy New Year, Happy Retirement!! I love your 'work journal', and I actually worked with a man that kept a 15 year planner. I loved it. Not only ambitious, but optimistic! I love options...and with a planner organized like yours, you can do whatever inspires you that day. Close your eyes and pick if you feel uninspired. I will look forward, as I always have, to your posts, be they pictures only or words, as well. All the best to you and your furry friends in 2018...m

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  4. Congratulations! You...boring? NEVER! Your postings are the first thing I search for every morning. One thing I've observed in some new retirees is there is a period of searching to find a new focus to their life (volunteering, hobbies, exercise, etc). 10 yrs after I retiring and I'm still searching. Looks like you have plenty to keep your attention.

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  5. Congratulations on your retirement! I have a feeling you are going to be busier than you ever imagined!

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  6. Congratulations, I retired in 2006 and have loved every minute of it.

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  7. Congratulations on choosing to retire!

    Your posts will never be boring - I enjoy catching up with my friends, no matter what they are doing.

    One note, I was retired for a year and a half and during that time I volunteered at our local school library and at a food bank; but while that was enjoyable, it wasn't enough to fill the emptiness. I went back to work three years ago as a part-time federal employee assisting the public and I love it. So be aware, at some later date you may feel the siren call of employment.

    Laurie in NB, Canada

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  8. I have heard too often how folks tend to be busier in their retirement then they were while still working! I have never experienced that phenomena in my own retirement! I have found you make your own busy-ness and you choose what you want to be busy with!
    Bad knees have slowed me down way too much ... since living in Colorado [2004 to now], both knees have been totally replaced. That has slowed me down even more! And I weigh too much! And, I am heading towards the 75 mark!
    Be as active as you can be for now, because you will slow down eventually whether you want to or not! :)

    Hugs from CO ... Marcia

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  9. Congratulations!!! Enjoy doing everything you want to do and we look forward to seeing it happen.

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  10. BRAVO YOU! And now I want to be inspired by your to-do folders. It's more than wonderful that you're going to be blogging more because we, your public, get sort of antsy when we're not in touch. The idea of a journal-like blog sounds just right. BRING IT!
    And did I mention, BRAVO YOU? XO

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  11. Best wishes in your retirement and I look forward to enjoying it with you through your awesome blog, Linda! I come here every day to see if you've posted and throughly enjoy it when you do.

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  12. Congratulations! Every once in a while you will have to stop with the big grin because those muscles get tired. You will find your new pace. No squeezing in all the daily chores around the work beast. Time will still fly though. The boys will feed off your happiness. Yes, we want to read here. Anything you choose to post. So very happy for you.

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  13. Congratulations, Linda! A well earned retirement, no doubt. Looking forward to following along with your shenanigans, whatever they may be, right here on the blog. My best to you as you start this new, exciting chapter!

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  14. Happy New Year! Congratulations to you too!! I, like many others, look forward to your posts. Can't wait to see how you enjoy your days. Even if it is just a weather report. Your skies are so beautiful. Have a great day today enjoying your coffee a bit longer. Big Smiles!!

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  15. Congratulations! If you are like me it will be all and more than you expected, have fun!

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  16. Congratulations! I would say enjoy being able to sleep in, but with your herd, that is probably not allowed. In the words of an old song”the future is so bright, you have to wear shades”

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  17. Yay you! If I can ever hire a replacement who stays on the job more than 3 months, I plan to do the same. Have a ball with all your plans and can't wait to see what you accomplish.

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  18. Hooray!! Retirement is the BEST! Here’s hoping you enjoy your new freedom immensely. I’ll look forward to reading all about it. One warning: you seem to be a real “do-er” like my husband. His response to retirement has been to get involved in so much, take on so many projects, that he’s about as overburdened as before retirement. They’re projects of his own choosing, but still waaaay too much. Don’t be like him. Leave plenty of room to btreathe. Again, congrats!

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  19. Congratulations!! So looking forward to my day. :) Wishing you the best for 2018! Looking forward to all the new adventures happening at the 7MSN since now you will be retired.

    Sydney
    NE Oklahoma

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  20. Michelle from Vancouver1/2/18, 9:08 AM

    Congrats !!! Enjoy your time and keep us posted.

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  21. Congratulations. I love the analog organizer.

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  22. Congratulations! I seriously doubt that anything you blog about will be boring! I missed your posts. I would love to retire but I am worried that health insurance will cost too much.

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  23. Congratulations! I have no doubt you will make the most of it!

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  24. Congrats on retirement. I'm sure that you will set and attain goals. If you are anything like most of my friends who have retired, you will be a little focused on the "doing" until you let yourself relax into the moments of pure "ahhhhhhhh". Best of luck with the new stage in your life. Come meet the Cuckoos for coffee in ABQ sometime. xoxo Oma Linda

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  25. Congratulation on your retirement! You wont have time to become bored...the herd will see to that! I hope you find lots of fun things to do to fill your days! :)

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  26. Congratulations! Enjoy your retirement and we'll enjoy reading about it. Skritches for the family and Happy New Year!

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  27. Congrats! Hope to do the same thing myself in 2019. I look forward to your musings on the subject.

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  28. Congratulations. If you don't already have a YouTube, channel with subscribers, you might consider that in your future plans. You have so much that would interest people and some of the ones I see there are making money doing it. They share their lives-- something they'd be doing anyway.

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  29. Congratulations!! You've earned every second of retirement, and I look forward to reading about all of your adventures and projects, no matter how "boring"--your project before and afters are some of my favorite posts!

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  30. Congratulations on your retirement! Onward to your next incarnation! Nothing you do is boring. I have loved watching the do-it-yourself queen in action and often wished to be like you in my next life. So, please, do post your before and after shots and all the shots in between. And, by all means, please include the boys in your future posts and all the wonderful help they will be.
    Linda D.

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  31. Congratulations! I hope you enjoy every second of your new "job(s)". Oh, and hey, can I have your old job? I really need a work-from-home job!:)

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  32. I found the toughest thing about retiring was getting into a routine that was productive. A year later, I am finally starting to get my life on track, but I was quite lost for a long time. Blogging helped to keep me motivated, as well as daily chores.
    I look forward to your before and after project posts, as well as your usual lovely farm photos.

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  33. Congratulations! And your “boring” blogging is still the best thing out there! Aunt Jean

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  34. Happy New Year and Happy Retirement to you LInda. your posts are never boring. I see a lot of work in that list, what about a "Enjoy Life" ,"Outdoor Adventures", "Visiting friends" in that list?

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  35. Whatever you post will not be boring to me! Can't wait to see this new stage of your life!

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  36. Congratulations! I'm excited to follow along in the next stage of your (and your animals) lives.

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  37. Enjoy..........I have been retired now for 5 months, and I can tell you that I have accomplished NOTHING that I had on my list of things I would do when I retired;)........but I am enjoying the freedom to not answer to the clock. I encourage you to take your time and savor the days. We look forward to hearing about your journey!

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  38. How marvelous, my sister! Time for another 7MSN Contest. Who guesses the closest date before you start doing "something?"
    You're like Dad. Gotta be moving. Whatever it is, many happy wishes.

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  39. Cheers to new beginnings, new adventures and new projects! And you are never boring. You do you anyway you want. You deserve it!!!

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  40. Awesome! Congrats! You & your critters, living 7MSN, could never be boring. Remember to breathe. Neither Rome nor retirement was built in a day. Will be looking forward to seeing more blog posts and you write the next chapter of your story.

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  41. Congratulations! We are all so happy for you. Looking forward to your retirement projects....before and after.

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  42. Retirement, the best job I've ever had!

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  43. I'm so happy for you! I have no doubts that you'll keep yourself as busy if not busier than you have been all along. It's amazing how projects and ideas present themselves so often after you retire. We just finished Dave's 17th year of retirement and he's busier now than ever before and loving it. But now, he gets to choose his projects. Have fun with it and please do take us along for the ride. You have such a way with words and pictures that we can never be bored. That picture of Alan cracks me up. He looks like he's got cholla thorns sticking his tongue and cheeks together. What a hoot!

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  44. Yay! So happy for you and by the looks of that notebook I have no doubt you will get everything done but not all in a month, please!
    It’s been a little over 7 years since I was retired and I love it! ( my first job, a $1 an hour ringing the bell and watching the bikes at the pool);-)

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  45. Congratulations! What a wonderful new adventure. All the best to you and your special critters.

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  46. This comment was emailed to me by Danni, who gave up trying to post it in frustration:

    "Dangit. Since my first comment went AWOL, here it is again - one more time, with feeling: I can’t believe the count-down timer has counted its last! I am so looking forward to watching your planner grow with plans, ideas, updates, secrets, gossip, and finished projects. And I’m keeping my fingers crossed that my favorite tab is still there but just out of sight. :-) Congrats Carson - the fun starts NOW! xo"

    Blogger doesn't play well with certain browsers and devices. I wish I could fix it but it appears hopeless. I've heard from others who have had similar problems. Please know that if one of your comments does not appear, I'm not censoring you! I only censor those written in Russian, which are many, hence the need to moderate the comments.

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  47. Test test. This is me, Testy Danni (not to be confused with testes) testing other ways to post to your blog. Delete as needed :-)

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  48. Another testing test. This time from “Name/URL option.

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  49. Congratulations, Linda, on reaching retirement. I retired a year ago so I can tell you it is all that you want it to be.

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  50. woot woot! I enjoy you blogs.... Alicia from Texas

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  51. Wishing you a wonderful and joyful retirement! Here's hoping we'll be hearing lots more from you -- and you could never be boring! Let the adventures begin!

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  52. Having retired a little over a year ago, I can attest that one of the best things about it is if you have something on your to do list and you don't get it done today, there is always tomorrow. If not tomorrow, no problem, there's the day after. Take your time and enjoy it!! Congratulations!!

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  53. An American in Tokyo1/14/18, 5:47 PM

    CONGRATULATIONS!! Woo hoo!!
    You worked so hard until now, please enjoy your retirement!!

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