Retirement, like anything else in life, is what you make of it. I wanted to sew, so my days are filled with quilting and sewing. If you enjoy other things and put them before your quilting, that's fine too. I came to quilting late, so I have had to acquire a quilting stash. My sewing stash was filled with the kinds of fabric that make career clothes. Now, I get up and put on my comfortable jeans and sew as much or as little as I want.
My studio stays clean because I set things in order between every project. I chose to live with organization. If you chose to live with clutter that's what you will have.
I am a process oriented quilter who constantly enjoys the planning portion of the quilting experience, so I start planning my next quilt as I put the final stitching on a current quilt. I have never purchased a kit and most likely will never purchase one because a great deal of the fun for me is the planning.
I have a supportive husband who encourages my sewing pursuits and even comes into my studio and reads books to me while I quilt.
My golden years are truly golden. These are the most joyous and creative years I have had. My sewing and quilting are key to my happiness, so I keep them as priorities. I could let all kinds of other people and events dictate how I spend my retirement years, but I have chosen to do what I love and do not succumb to outside pressures.