I did not start sewing until I retired. And I have made pretty fine use of it since then.
1. Can you keep your sewing area clean and organized after you retire? At first I was sewing in a quest room. And then I moved my sewing machine to a hallway that was never used. It became my sewing room. Now we have moved closer to the grandchildren, and I have a sewing room. Much better. It gets cleaned up from time to time. Right now with Christmas projects it is a little overwhelmed.
2. Can you put together Large blocks of time to quilt? Yes definitely. Your time is your own. The grandkids get their time too. But I often sew in the morning when the kiddies are in school. And I have found other things to do that interest me. I joined a book club and am attending a new church I enjoy. I was in a Guild before I moved, but have not joined a Guild in my new home. Maybe next year.
3. Do you actually use up your stash and happily keep from spending retirement funds? I use my stash and I happily spend my retirement money. I have time enough to do both. I didn't have a stash before I retired, but I have developed one in the last ten years, believe me.
4. Or, does your stash bore you and you keep right on shopping? See above.
5. Are the floor-to-ceiling stacks of magazines being utilized like you intended? I have them in book cases but I don't use them a lot. I did at first. I don't buy them much anymore. I did put together a notebook of quilt projects I hope to do someday. But there is always more hope to's than even I can find time to do.
6. Are you able to take the classes, or go to the Sit and Sews like you planned? I took a lot of classes when I retired, because I was a new quilter. Now I take one or two classes a year. This year I took a Tuffet class. We made stools with fabric strips. I have now made four. You can take a class if you want or you can You Tube your classes. You will have time for classes if you want.
I like retirement. I highly recommend to friends and relatives. The time fills up, but you will have time to enjoy many things including quilting.