Pete retired after 30 years in the Army in January 2006. By November of that year he had himself a new job and was out the door every morning. It's a mixed blessing to me. I sure don't get much done when he is home, but I do enjoy having him around. He has a lot of hobbies and interests and I think when he finally retires for good we will have a great time together. But, then again, I may be living in a dream world!! :shock:

About a month ago, a very dear friend was here so my self and she got together with another widow friend, for a few toddys for our boddys.
We got to talking about how our t.v. channels have changes for all of us.
One of the ladies said that there is no more live poker playing on her t.v. and there is no more yelling at the players on how to play.
The other lady said that lo & behold, her t.v. no longer has ANY sports channels. And the volumn is a LOT quieter.
Now myself, I am sooooo glad that the outdoor channels have gone somewhere else. My t.v. now is very rarely turned on. Sure is quiet around here. And sometimes just a little lonely. sigh. But darn, I just can't find that channel!!!!!! & I am NOT looking for it either!!

I know what you mean!
Seems the news channels disappear from the lineup on the tv when hubby is gone. Then when he comes home, they magically appear again!

I've had my days to myself too long to be followed around or asked why, what, when, and how all day.
I told him one day he or I may be dependent on one another 24/7 but it's not that day yet and I don't need a companion to go grocery shopping. The last time he went with me to shop for paint and house stuff, we took separate cars. I can't deal with the I'm ready to go look. That gets me really angry. He should have stayed home.

I love to spend time with hubby but he doesn't understand "me" time or girlfriend time. He thinks I should want to spend all my time with him. He's lucky he's cute and can carry a conversation, just like my dog (j/k) or I would be running out the door.

He's not ready for retirement and I work LOTS of hours, he stops at my office every night on the way home from work to see me. I usually end up telling him to go home because he pesters me.

Overall, I can't wait for retirement. I have a "bucket list" a mile long so he better get rested up (he's 9 years older than me). I'm going to run him ragged. (He'll be the one posting I'm constantly bugging him)

I like Loretta's reply! I retired in June and soon found that my enthusiasm for activities and projects to be done on weekends and after my husband came home in the evening, was WAY higher than hubby's!! (He works full time as a haematology lab technologist and works his own business several hours a week collecting blood samples from seniors too ill to go to the lab.)

So I made a cute little magnet backed pad to hang on the fridge: "PAUL's Honey-Do List"

Now he can look at what needs to be done, what he has energy for and go through the list at his own pace!
He retires from the hospital in 3 years and I plan to have a very long list for him. I am also going to have my own satellite receiver for the TV in the sewing room because there's no way that I am listening to elevator music for the rest of my days!

OK Terri I am injured and can't be laughing like this unprepared!!

I laughed at the "go whack his balls ...." I don't think mine would be willing to do that
:roll:

Oh, my! How sad! I don't understand men who retire and can find nothing to do to continue to be productive people. Do they really mean to "sit and rot?" I hope not!

My husband is 78. At age 70 he fell off scaffolding and broke a lot of bones, including 3 places in his pelvis. This man made a remarkable recovery (the Dr asked what he did) because he has kept active. He has worked with Habitat for Humanity for 20 years where he led crews and taught people about house construction. He attend several of the Jimmy Carter Work camps, having breakfast with Jimmy on one occasion. He was also adopted into an Indian tribe in S.D. He is never home. He works/volunteers at a Senior Center, driving people to appointments. He has served Meals on Wheels. He has something planned for every day.

Saturday he left for N.C. (9 hour drive) to help his 83 yr old brother celebrate his Birthday. He goes and goes like the Energizer Bunny.

If I need something done, it gets done pronto (most often) and for 22 months he spent finishing our basement so I could have a sewing room.

Men don't need to ROT! If they choose to rot, they need to have a good swift kick in the pants. WHY would any healthy person want to sit around the house all day and do nothing? That is not healthy! That seems to indicate they are depressed because they think their productive years have ended. That is not so. And, take a look at Jimmy Carter and Roselyn. They both get out and do the physical labor. They are in their 80's.

I know you won't like this, but I say "Shame on any man who has nothing better to do than sit and read the paper to his wife or watch her cook."

Take him to the Doctor and find out why he has lost his Zest for Life. There must be something wrong.

Married life was not meant to be a DRAG on the tail end....and it does seem like the "tail" is dragging. You have my Sympathy! My husband said this past year was the BEST of his life. He was Busy and Happy!
Can't ask for more than that!

THE END.

June, I want one of those like you got!
My dad never was a self starter. I figure he has been depressed all his life, but he can do what is right when it benefits him.
Don't have a husband or kids, so I do what I can to keep my life meaningful!