I retired yesterday! :o

Thank you for your wonderful insights! I have friends who tell me they have no idea what they are going to do when they retire. I have so much I want to do, I'll never get it all done! I've kept a "dream list" or "bucket list" for most of my life and have periodically updated it. I know I do best with an underlying daily schedule, and I also treasure those times of "flow" - where you get so involved in a project that you lose track of time. There are far too many UFO's calling my name. On Monday morning, I'll figure out a tentative schedule, BUT I'm taking the weekend off!

I've been "retired" for 2.5 years now...actually was layed off from a high stress corporate job and after some reflection, realized that I didn't HAVE to go back to work. I was old enough to start my SS and had a pension here and there. I realized that I had been gifted from Heaven!!
I remember my first "retired" day I spent at the computer for 8 hours, just like I had at work...old habits die hard. I still spend too much time online but oh the things I've learned and the friends I've made especially on FB. With the computer, and going to the gym 5 days a week, and 5 dogs, 2 cats and a house to clean and a husband to feed lunch and dinner to etc. I find it hard to break away and go sew. The answer is a timer and better time management. You'd never know I actually taught time management in several companies!
I've seen about 5 of us here mention timers and mine is right to my left at the computer. But, no matter what, I go to QB to see what's up. I've learned so many good things here...the latest being Pinmoors. Whoever recommended them should be sainted!! I ordered, used and LOVE!. Meanwhile, I'm too darned busy to lose myself in quilting and I regret it. Hence, a new leaf....just as soon as I look at the pics posted today!

Have been retired since August 2006. It took me about 4 years to start enjoying it. Never understood fully the term, "goal oriented" until I retired and realized that, by nature, that's what I had always been.....start a job, complete it!...start a project, complete it. Realize that's a goal many strive for and that can be a good thing but, if taken too far, you never learn to relax. At some point along the way though I reached the conclusion that when working I had to pick and choose what I had time for but, since I was retired, I could do ALL the projects I wanted to and that it was impossible to complete ALL of them at one time...even though I tried!!! Everytime I turned around there was another "really cool" pattern to be tried, a new craft to be learned, new fabric to play with, new computer site to visit, new book to read, etc., etc., etc!!!! Never could understand the concept of "being bored" . I'm doing much better now as a recovered goal-a-holic! I do what I want, when I want and I've learned to like it. But, I will use the timer idea.....that way I can do what I want for a specific period, do something else for a specific period, etc. and, eventually, they ALL get done. We do not have air conditioning (by choice...LOVE to have the windows open, listen to the birds in the daytime and the crickets at night ) but this summer has been brutal with the heat. So I alter what I do with the season and enjoy each day.

I retired 5 years ago and have loved every day of my life since because my retirement gift was a Bernina embroidery machine. I am on the quilt board but not as much anymore because it seemed to be taking over all my quilting time. I do some type of quilting every day whether it is embroidering blocks for my next quilt, piecing, and in the evening I do most of my hand work while "watching" tv with my husband. This summer I have even added lots of reading as it can be done outside, though I have set my FW sewing machine up on the patio because I always have a great new project to work on. Retirement is a busy time when did I have time to work. LOL
Hope everyone is having a fun retirement-

Although mine was pretty much a "forced" retirement (I was laid off, my husband became disabled, I'm the only driver) I managed to do some quilting and sewing, although I think I accomplished more when I was working and snuck in sewing/quilting, early in the morning, before and after dinner, plus some weekends. Now, I'm recovering from a spinal cord injury, C-4-5 in my neck, 2 weeks in the hospital, surgery, then rehab for 4 months, I've been home a little over a month, but I'm beginning to get into the "groove again", with limitations. My friends say that I'm a lot happier, now that I'm quilting again - me too. I made 3 Bow Tucks bags last week, now I want to finish a couple "play" quilts for my granddaughter, so I guess I'm on my way back. I thank God every day that I have recovered over 90% since I fell, so I feel very lucky.

...as for spending too much computer time- a few of us (i started they thought it a good idea) set timers- when i am turning on my computer i set a timer for 45 minutes- my timer has a 1minute warning beep= when that one minute beep happens i finish what ever i'm in the middle of & i shut down the computer- then i get up & go do something else- ckcowl

I agree that this timer is a great idea. The computer can be a real time suck and not very productive at that. Great discipline technique.

I have been retired for 10 yrs. and only started quilting about 6 yrs. ago-I have always sewn or painted my entire life but I wish I started to quilt about 25 years ago - I love it-I am into art quilts and fabric dying now-

What a great question! I've been retired 3 whole months now, and have been going through being totally bored to not leaving the computer, to sewing constantly. I am finding that I really need to feel like I'm doing something worthwhile and not wasting time. I've made blankets for Project Linus for a long time, and now I'm on a terror with that.
I can't sit and watch TV without having something to work on so I can accomplish some that way.
The other thing I've noticed is, I am now finishing a few things I started long ago. I am terrible at that so it has become a goal to finish at least one thing for every new thing I start - well with the exception of the PL blankets. Those I get done.

I get a lot of quilting done each day after I spend the first 2 hrs reading qb

my hubby always says "i worry about you, when you retire. what are you going to do?" hah. i've been working in hospitals on one level or another since i was 14, as a candy striper. i can't ever remember having enough time to relax and do something i really want to do. even with babies' births, by the time i got organized, it was time to go back to work. i guess he hasn't figured out that all the times i stayed up late making easter dresses for the girls, sewing for friend's newborns, making quilts and comforters were all practice for when i hang up the gloves and intubation equipment. i haven't been "banking" all that fabric just to insulate the sewing room! it's my retirement savings!!!

I have been retired since 2000 and just really got into quilting about 4 years ago. I too am sporadic. Some days I spend almost all day on the computer checking out tutorials, looking a blocks and "window" shopping fabrics. Then some days I start at the machine right after the morning coffee and still am there at dinner time.....Today I plan to get back to a top I'm working on for my DIL. It's all in purples, whites and lavenders. Have at least 3 more to do for family members and if I don't get started pretty soon it will be Christmas before they get them !!!

I retired for a year, june 2010 - June 2011 and made 18 quilts. Working I can only make about 16 or 17. How I spend most of my time. Of course, I have hosework, laundry and such. I went back to, I felt I was too young to retire. We have a family business so not like many other jobs.

I'm retired 8 years and it took a while for me to realize it. Now I relax and take care of DH and sew. I have a goal list and when it gets done - it gets done. I rushed to work with a family and now its time to rest. So enjoy.

I'm not retired nor can I work due to health reasons. Can't get on disability so I try a few days at my Aunts office answering the phone a couple days a week. I LOVE fabrics, looking at patterns and collecting, I purchase fabrics, by the neat little gadgets, collect loads of magazines but...I can't ever seem to get started or work on anything. My daughters require a lot of my help and so I do for them and the 8 grandchildren. What little money I make at my aunts normally goes on utilities and or the children. I've let myself go, don't feel worth much these days. No friends except family...no really! I can't keep up with them going shopping or styles or hair fashions so...I almost feel as if I exist for other people instead of myself. I've thought of selling everything I have because I have no time or ambition. I LOVE being on here trying to interact with the ladies here and really, sometimes I feel this is all I have outside me of real life here at home. I love coming here, I was in a swap but unable to fulfill my end of the swap because my daughter forgot to mail my package for me so, that wound me up out of the swap until next year. Which is ok, I loved participating when I did for almost 2 years. Oh well, I didn't mean to go on like this, sorry to had bent your ear for so long. But, yeah, I wish I could get into the swing of things and get my life back...that was like 8 years ago when my husband and I were together. I loved him so much but his love of alcohal was to much and I left for Chattanooga. Still married and wishing things were the same but...maybe one day I'll get a life! Ha! Thanks for listening ladies. :o

Certainly hope you can find the joy in something soon because there is so much in the world to enjoy.
Hoping there's an ALANON organization near you and, if so, would STRONGLY urge you to attend. It's only for an hour, one day a week. Check the phone book in your city. You are as important as your family so TAKE that hour for yourself no matter what other demands there are. ALANON is not for the alcoholic. It is to teach you how to undo the damage done to you. You have already taken the biggest step in knowing you alone do not have the solution. Good luck and so happy you enjoy the QB.

I got more done while I was working and how go just quilt when I actually have extra time. I think while we were working we knew we had to get it done and now if it doesn't get done today we can do it tomorrow.

I retired 12 years ago. Several times I have gone back to part time work and during that time, I did very little quilting, but I did get some done. The last job was part time in a quilt shop. It was fun, but still very little quilting. I have been home retired for the last two years plus, and I get to sew/quilt about 15-30 hours a week average. This past week I think I only sewed about 3 hours, but it was a busy week for me outside of the house. I really do not know where I foung time to work. I am bad. Really enjoy retirement and getting what I like done every day. Yea.

Retired since Nov 2009 and DH retired Jan 2010. Changing family needs have given us lots of free time. First year felt a little strange and 'at ends' but it didn't take long to readjust our lives. He bought his dreamed for RV and we have spent about 5 months out of the year (not at one time!) on the road. I have revived all my crafty things (fabrics, oil paints, beading supplies) I think I have too many interest :) Finally I made the ever growing list of to-do's and ideas and UFO's. Recently was gifted a Singer Model 15. I am having a great time cleaning it up. Am amazed at the beautiful stitches and how quiet it operates being 75 years old. Will admit I spend a lot of time with the QB but it is worth the time spent. Everyone is such an inspiration and so talented. Thanks to each one for your mentoring and willingness to help! I can now plan and play with my creative ideas without dealing with deadlines. I like that!

I get less done now that I don't work. I haven't sewn in about 4 days. And I don't think I will for another week or two. I get burned out too often. I almost make it my job because I don't work anymore. I've had lots of times where I'll sew for weeks and weeks and weeks and then...nothing. I close the door and stay out of there. I am not motivated right now. I need some motivation.

mic-pa, I to retired years ago ,that was to take care of DH, sewing and the computer kept me connected with the out side world. He passed away in 2001 , but quilting and QB has helped me keep going. I travel summers but the sewing machine and computer go too.

What a wonderful thread. It has been a joy to read about what others have done with retirement and how I relate. I have been retired for about 15 years myself. And quilting was what I wanted to do and I have been doing that ever since. My hubby became ill a yr ago and quilting has kept me from going bonkers but I don't seem to get as much completed as my days at home are constantly interrupted. When he became housebound, they told me to keep my quilting groups up as I needed to have an outside activity away from home and I have done that. Finally even went to a retreat overnight, my first one, this past spring. Not sure there is any retreats in the future though as it becomes harder and harder to be gone overnight. I have a long arm and do for others but the stress level is such that I have given up doing as much for others for $$. I plan to quilt and sew as long as I can. I too spend far too much time on the computer although I do limit it and housecleaning and everything else now in our home is my responsibility. Quilters are my best friends whether on line or in groups. I try to sew every day and hand sew in the evening--does not always happen but 15 min sometimes is the best therapy.

I am busier now that I retired than when I worked. I volunteer at the local food bank, help run the free library (our population is only 450) help make scarves and blankets for the xmas angel tree, garden, (flower and veggie) and now quilt. So I guess I just quilt when I am not busy with other things. Do love it though.

Just a question from Australia
 

I am a 56 year old full time worker from down under and reading these messages about being retired and having time to quilt when you want to and not fitting it in made me green with envy. It also got me thinking about the retirement age in the USA as compared to Australia. My husband, the builder, broke and had to retire when he was 53 so our plans to retire together when he was 60 and me 57 went out the window. The retirement age for me in Australia is 66 and a half before I am eligible for any kind of a pension if I am not to be a self funded retiree, and beleive me on any Monday when I go to work I know I am not going to make it! Here the retirement age goal posts keep getting moved further and further away from what used to be the standard 65 for men and 60 for women. I was wondering if this is the same there?

Today I have spent all day here catching up on 10 days worth of QB. In the past two/three weeks I have gotten caught up on all the alterations that needed to be done & worked on a special project for someone. Made 142 chair covers (straight back) that was needed for a special occasion. Made it on time. No wonder I was behind in my QB.

I am not yet retired, but I have clients who are and they say the way they get to quilt and sew is to have a group get together and get out of their homes to make time to do projects, they meet at the local Senior Center at least once a week, they started a group so they could not only grt out of the house, but to be able to quilt and talk

Now that I've retired, I started the TV program, and seem to have less time for quilting that when I was "working"

I've been working on some projects so I've been quilting a lot. Did take a day out to read a book and I go to the gym daily for about 45 minutes - a short walk from home. I hesitate to get it all on a schedule in fear of feeling like I'm working again!!! I quilted a lot when I worked but have more time for Linus and some hero quilts now too.

I retired Sept 1998 and have loved every minute of being retired, without a job(thank goodness), rarely having to set an alarm clock now, and I am so busy, I dont know how I ever found time to work !! My spouse says that when you retire, you loose all of your organizational skills.......I think he is right! Who wants to vacume when you could be sewing..I sew, usually, every day.........when I cant, I find symptoms of withdrawal soon happen. I try to do 2 quilts every week, for LINUS.....plus, I do quilts for family and friends.....and there always seems to be someone who needs a hug.......quilt hug, you know...........so I manage to keep a couple of larger ones, in reserve, for the next person who I find that needs a little something. And someone always comes into my life that is in need. So, I sew a lot....many miles put on my machines, and its the best hobby thing I have ever had .. been quilting for about 13 years now.

I retired early. After my husband passed away over 10 yrs ago I turned the bedroom in my apartment into sewing room. I spend most of the day there, me, my sewing machines, my serger , and my PC. What else could a girl want (besides the fridge and chocolate). I sometimes spent endless hours sewing-after the compulsory couple of hours playing with the lap top of course. I love retirement: eat when I'm hungry, sleep when sleepy, and who says I can't?

I've been home for 5 years now. I was so much more organized when I worked. Hubby told me the other day that he couldn't figure out why the house was always clean and we had food in the house when I worked. I told him that I didn't have enough play time then and now I do. We have adopted 4 dogs and 3 cats since I retired and they require lots of attention--but sure are fun. I am currently reorganizing my scrapbook room and my sewing room, so by the time winter rolls around, I'll be ready to go. Have fun and enjoy your retirement. You've earned it!

Uh, notice my screen name? I was busy before retirement, but I'm on a real roll now! Just got back from hiking 31miles with the North Country Trail people. An unfinished quilt beckons to me as I have to start a Christmas one really really soon. Retirement rocks.

I have been retired about 12 years -- for the first 5 years I was a quilting fiend doing it well into the night. Now I have to plan my time and get into it. I find I need to make sure I have a couple of hours that I can spend or I don't feel it is worth it to get started. I guess I could say I am sproatic. What I have noticed is that what used to take me 1 hour now takes 2 -- I am not sure if I am over thinking (too many ways to do a block -- and too many blocks in my head) or if I am just slow.:shock: