As retired seniors we can do what we want, when we want, and where we want to do it. It’s almost like being a haphazard, devil-may-care kid again. Of course, there are some restrictions – like health, money, transportation, companionship, and then the big factor, the energy to do whatever, whenever, and wherever.
But it’s not a hallucination or fantasy land – it is right there at our fingertips. The key to this dream is to wake up and do it. Decisions and self-discipline must take over; gee, it almost sounds like work again. However, it really is a job to get off our fanny and have fun. If you have a mate, a partner, you can talk it over and plan it together. If you don’t, maybe you can find a friend to talk it over with. Or, the ultimate decision and predicament – can you do all this by yourself?
Buck up and go at it; make plans, make lists, gather your resources and inventory what can and cannot be fun to use or take with you if it is a trip you are planning. Chart the plan on a map — or not — maybe just pack a bag and get in the car and drive, or hop a plane or train and get somewhere else other than TV land and a can of beer.
Although maybe it’s not even a trip you have in mind but another fantasy … maybe a hobby or planting a garden or building a patio and barbeque in the back yard so you can have parties. Making new friends or entertaining the ones you have is always a good plan. Burgers and dogs grilling on a barbeque create a hypnotic aroma that blends all personalities into one good time. Throw in a few beers and a game of horseshoes or croquet and generate laughter at a fever pitch.
You don’t have a yard or a house, you say, only an apartment or condo like where I live. Well, the party just has to get a little smaller and the kitchen stove — and many times the kitchen itself — becomes the center of gossip and life-saving serious chit-chat about non-important things.
Maybe all that activity of traveling and partying isn’t your cup of tea, as they say. An easy-going hobby might be just the thing to keep the mind in high spirits. Painting with oils or watercolors is one thing, wood carving another, sculpting old junk into odd hunks of art is another, or building bird houses for the neighbor’s and park’s trees is another. Or writing that great American novel for the world to read is a time-consuming but possibly rewarding undertaking. Any of these tasks can allow your imagination to take over — and you are a step out of reality and in a fun place.
This issue of spare time brings up another solution to keeping busy. Volunteering for some activities in the area can fill some of this void: working at the church, or for charities, or the humane society taking care of lost pets, delivering Meal on Wheels, or even baby sitting or house sitting for the neighbors all help yourself and others.
Nevertheless, this life is good no matter what you do. As D. H. Lawrence said, “Life is ours to be spent, not to be saved.” And how each of us spends that time is a personal decision — either doing things, or not doing things. Sometimes just sitting around doing well-deserved nothing, or reading a book, or even watching TV is doing something. Your decision. This being a senior thing is not so bad after all.
Patrick M. Kennedy does full-service editing and writing and has published several books. http://www.abetterword.com/ and http://www.funwithretirement.com/