I've been retired 4 years now and love it as I did the first day of retirement. The first week of retirement I got two phone calls if I wanted to volunteer for this or that. I do volunteer for things but am very selective as I don't want volunteering to become another job or tie me down too much. And my kids don't expect me to be their babysitters either. I'm the backup sitter when daycare does't work and I love that arrangement. That was my kid's idea as they said "you didn't retire to take care of our kids all the time". I respect them very much for that but I am always here if they need me. I also know some Grandparents don't have that choice and have to step up to plate to take care of those precious little ones and "hats off to you" - you're special. Anyway I do love retirement and haven't looked back even once - and I do quilt quite a bit. They're starting to pile up.