Author Topic: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..  (Read 13097 times)

PtboEliz

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Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« on: May 14, 2014, 04:46:44 PM »
.. bike to my gran's to take care of her for a few hours when her nurse had to cancel..


Hi there, I'm new to the forums and am in love with this community of people (it's like finding my lost tribe ;). I'm interested in hearing about something that your downshifted life allowed you to do.. simple, lovely things especially appreciated! If you're just on your way to FI, maybe share something that you will do once you've said goodbye to FT work..

Thanks for sharing :)
jes

deborah

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #1 on: May 14, 2014, 05:18:01 PM »
Go on Wednesday Walks that are run by the native plant society.

We go somewhere different each week, and look at the plants growing where we are. Each walk is only half an hour from home, and every walk is different. We start early, have our morning tea and lunch (which we bring ourselves) sitting on logs or rocks (depending on what's around) and finish halfway through the afternoon.

I don't know the names of plants, but I guess I'll learn in time. We have plant lists for the area of each walk, and identify them as we go (well, everyone else does). It is exciting to find something no-one else has found yet (even if I don't know what it is). It is good to add something new to the list. It is wonderful to get out in the sunshine, in native field and forest, with spectacular scenery. But the real thing I am learning is how to look at what is around me. In the past, I have walked and looked at distant scenery. Because there are many more small plants than there are big plants, I am learning to look in a more composite way, and nature is so much more interesting.

rubor

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #2 on: May 14, 2014, 05:26:20 PM »
...help my dad spread mulch around his garden and play with my 1 year old on a beautiful day instead of being cooped up indoors!

MayDay

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #3 on: May 14, 2014, 05:49:10 PM »
SAHM here, don't know if that counts.

This morning I worked bin the garden while DD played outside with the neighbor kids. This afternoon I helped an elderly lady clean her house and now her lawn (she did pay me, but I still feel happy that I could work for her instead of for the man).

CarDude

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #4 on: May 14, 2014, 06:08:23 PM »
Go to the zoo!

Emilyngh

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #5 on: May 14, 2014, 07:45:03 PM »
Only semi-retired here with a spouse who SAH FT,

but  today we were able to have some 3pm "adult time" ;)

kkbmustang

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #6 on: May 14, 2014, 09:01:05 PM »
I'm semi-retired. I've read a ton of books, made decent progress writing a novel, decluttered a large percentage of my home, and focused more on my kids. I'm working on fixing my jacked up spine (literally fractured in two places -- I can walk) and am self-employed part-time.

Actually, I've done more than I realized.

Catbert

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #7 on: May 15, 2014, 08:17:01 AM »
...spend the day at the hospital with DH while he got a biopsy without worrying about work. 

Retirement is great for all the fun things; however, it also helps you deal with the bad and sad things that happen.

going2ER

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #8 on: May 15, 2014, 08:39:14 AM »
...spend the day at the hospital with DH while he got a biopsy without worrying about work. 


Yesterday I spent the day at work worrying about my daughter as she had a biopsy that morning. I can't wait to be able to FIRE. I want to be able to be home with family after those things, I want to be able to putter around the house or outside depending on the weather and how I feel. I just don't want any restricitions on my time.

BuzzardsBay

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #9 on: May 15, 2014, 10:41:45 AM »
Today I would have volunteered some place in town this morning and then spent the afternoon at the beach reading and playing in the sand.  Instead I'm at the office.  But I'll get there!

dude

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #10 on: May 15, 2014, 11:35:53 AM »
oh boy, the list is virtually endless . . . spend more time outside, read more books, climb more rocks/mountains/icefalls, take longer walks with the dog, become proficient in Spanish, spend more than 1-2 weeks at a time in foreign countries, grow a bigger garden, visit with friends more often, take up surfing again, get many more days in snowboarding each winter etc., etc., etc.

The possibilities seem endless.

former player

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #11 on: May 15, 2014, 01:14:41 PM »
1) take my 91 year old mother to the train station, so she could go and have a holiday with her 100 year old cousin (and his live-in carer who will look after both of them, thank you deity),

2) take my 96 year old aunt out to lunch and shopping (new shoes only, she and my mother were mustachian 60 years before MMM was born),

3) walk my dog on the beach in the sunshine.

meadow lark

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #12 on: May 15, 2014, 03:31:23 PM »
Only semi-retired here with a spouse who SAH FT,

but  today we were able to have some 3pm "adult time" ;)

You are a riot.

I am semi-retired (work 2 days a week) and spent the day (really the whole week ) at home with my 19 yo son who is recuperating from knee surgery.  It would be very stressful if I needed to work full-time to pay my bills.  He is going to need at least 2 weeks of someone being home with him at all times.

deborah

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #13 on: May 15, 2014, 05:21:48 PM »
Get passport photographs without getting upset, angry or frustrated - just went with the flow. The form said EVERY post office is set up to take photos. The first I went to said they were the only one that didn't - and said that my second choice did. My second choice didn't, and couldn't suggest anywhere. Finally satisfied by my third choice.

I could have got the photos cheaper somewhere else, without going to three separate shopping centres, but post offices are given the training to ensure photos are right for passports, so I figured it was best to go with them.

Boz86

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #14 on: May 16, 2014, 06:54:40 AM »
just went with the flow.

that is one of the great things about being retired, rarely having to meet a schedule and the peace of mind that brings.

DanielleS

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #15 on: May 16, 2014, 08:29:26 AM »
Usually we travel fulltime in our RV. But the past several months we've been helping out my in-laws, since my MIL needs two surgeries. She's already had one and we're gearing up for #2.

I know that plenty of people will care for aging parents while having jobs, and I admire them a lot. Doing this seems like a full-time job sometimes, but we do what we can and try to accept their 80 year old idiosyncrasies. This would be much more difficult for me if I were carrying around the stress of a 50+ hour workweek.

So a simple thing I can enjoy doing is today I'm taking MIL to go shopping for some new clothes at thrift stores. We can take our time and do it on a Friday in the middle of the morning.

dude

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #16 on: May 16, 2014, 11:12:57 AM »
Usually we travel fulltime in our RV. But the past several months we've been helping out my in-laws, since my MIL needs two surgeries. She's already had one and we're gearing up for #2.

I know that plenty of people will care for aging parents while having jobs, and I admire them a lot. Doing this seems like a full-time job sometimes, but we do what we can and try to accept their 80 year old idiosyncrasies. This would be much more difficult for me if I were carrying around the stress of a 50+ hour workweek.

So a simple thing I can enjoy doing is today I'm taking MIL to go shopping for some new clothes at thrift stores. We can take our time and do it on a Friday in the middle of the morning.

Excellent point -- I think THIS is the one that finally reached my S.O. re: FIRE.  She is an only child, and her parents are in their late 70s.  She stresses about being the only one who'll be taking care of them.  During a discussion of my FIRE plans, and while trying to convince her of the benefits, I brought up the issue of caring for aging parents AND having to cope with a full-time job, and posed the question, "Which do you think would be more stressful, being retired and having all the time you need to do it, or trying to balance work and taking care of them?"  The next day, she increased her 401k contribution by about 25% over what she'd been contributing . . .

deborah

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #17 on: May 16, 2014, 03:36:39 PM »
Usually we travel fulltime in our RV. But the past several months we've been helping out my in-laws, since my MIL needs two surgeries. She's already had one and we're gearing up for #2.

I know that plenty of people will care for aging parents while having jobs, and I admire them a lot. Doing this seems like a full-time job sometimes, but we do what we can and try to accept their 80 year old idiosyncrasies. This would be much more difficult for me if I were carrying around the stress of a 50+ hour workweek.
I was so thankful that I was retired when my father got cancer a year ago and mum couldn't cope. Sure, its a 7.5 hour trip there and a 7.5 hour trip back each time, but I am happy doing it. If I was still working, I might resent it.

quilter

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #18 on: May 16, 2014, 04:09:42 PM »
Spent the morning making pottery

Walked two miles to the pool, swam for a while and walked home.

Going dancing in a few minutes but will be home by 9.

 Then watching a redbox movie we got for free. Philomena.

Tomorrow:  meeting friends at the pool for water volleyball.  Will probably bike there
Making stuffed peppers
Working on a quilt I am trying to finish

Monday have plans with friends to go on a picnic and then on a boat ride with the manatees.

In between I manage to throw a load of laundry in and make the bed.

meadow lark

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #19 on: May 19, 2014, 05:35:24 PM »
Wait just a minute Quilter - how did you end up with my dream life?

Daisy

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #20 on: May 19, 2014, 08:38:49 PM »
Usually we travel fulltime in our RV. But the past several months we've been helping out my in-laws, since my MIL needs two surgeries. She's already had one and we're gearing up for #2.

I know that plenty of people will care for aging parents while having jobs, and I admire them a lot. Doing this seems like a full-time job sometimes, but we do what we can and try to accept their 80 year old idiosyncrasies. This would be much more difficult for me if I were carrying around the stress of a 50+ hour workweek.

So a simple thing I can enjoy doing is today I'm taking MIL to go shopping for some new clothes at thrift stores. We can take our time and do it on a Friday in the middle of the morning.

Excellent point -- I think THIS is the one that finally reached my S.O. re: FIRE.  She is an only child, and her parents are in their late 70s.  She stresses about being the only one who'll be taking care of them.  During a discussion of my FIRE plans, and while trying to convince her of the benefits, I brought up the issue of caring for aging parents AND having to cope with a full-time job, and posed the question, "Which do you think would be more stressful, being retired and having all the time you need to do it, or trying to balance work and taking care of them?"  The next day, she increased her 401k contribution by about 25% over what she'd been contributing . . .

I spent a lot of time with my aging parents during a short unemployment stint a few years ago. I purposefully took 4 months off.

Well, they got so used to it that now I hear complaints about how I don't spend enough time with them. Sigh...I hope to have some quality time with them after ER-ing in the next 1-2 years. They do need a lot of help.
« Last Edit: May 19, 2014, 09:44:06 PM by Daisy »

Emilyngh

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #21 on: May 20, 2014, 02:09:43 PM »
So, as I stated earlier, I'm only semi-retired with a SAH spouse, but b/c I'm semi-retired

Yesterday morning: we were able to go strawberry picking (picked 27 lbs!) with DD and my friend and have a picnic lunch at the farm overlooking a pond

Yesterday afternoon: I was able to paint the front porch, while DD napped and DH worked out

This morning: I was able to work in the comfort of my own bed both on things for my main job and a side gig making extra dough while DH and DD did the laundry and went to a park

This afternoon: we all had lunch together, I did our week's grocery shopping, and DH weed whacked.

Tomorrow: I'll be spending most of the day at my friends house while we chit-chat, make the strawberries we picked into jam, and have lunch.  DH will probably go visit his father in the later afternoon/evening when he should be coming out of surgery.

« Last Edit: May 20, 2014, 02:11:54 PM by Emilyngh »

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #22 on: May 20, 2014, 02:30:18 PM »
Got boat out of storage...weed/feed lawn... cleaned Garage....went to lake and chilled for awhile (not on boat)....Kids coming home now then off to Soccer game.

Joggernot

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #23 on: May 20, 2014, 02:52:38 PM »
Spent three hours this morning with a friend while he worked on his wood carving of Lincoln; and I started painting three wood carvings I had finished...sanded down the aluminum gate to remove the oxide, and then put mineral oil on to protect the finish...started a game of Wii with my spouse only to have the house lose power, and then come back on.  Unfortunately the Wii didn't come back on.  It is the only electronic thing not plugged into a UPS; wouldn't ya know it..."  Yes, I hit all the reset buttons, but it looks like a visit to Craigs List is in order.  Now for email and MMM and then a good mystery book.

PS:  We started using UPSs in NM because we lost a lot of electronics (computers and TVs) during thunderstorms and have continued to use them in TX.  Haven't lost a device since using them, but have lost three UPSs that were repaired by the company for free after they were fried.  One got hit so hard the rug under it was scorched.

Edit: Found a link on the internet on how to fix the Wii.  Followed instructions and Wii is working again.
« Last Edit: May 20, 2014, 07:08:55 PM by Joggernot »

RootofGood

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #24 on: May 20, 2014, 02:56:59 PM »
Spent a few hours walking to/from school with the kids and walking to/from the library and community center with the 2 year old for story time and play time.  Met a good friend at the comm. center for a couple hours of hanging out with our respective children.

Chatted with the community center manager to get a few things fixed at our local park (tennis courts need nets, water fountain busted, bathrooms not open for the season yet).

Picked wild berries from a few fruit trees and finally got the 2 year old to try them. 

Shopped for a new computer game but didn't buy it.

Tonight I'm setting up my new computer and volunteering in the neighborhood (with some friends) to put out decorations for Memorial Day (Americuh!!!). 

I'm hoping to work on a few articles for my blog and a freelance gig.  But when the weather is nice, I prefer to enjoy the outdoors as much as possible.

brewer12345

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #25 on: May 20, 2014, 03:09:37 PM »
I took up beekeeping this year and have a hive in the backyard.  At this stage I need to look in on the colony about once a week.  I need good weather and the best time is between 11 and 4.  Being out of the cube makes this way, way easier.  Yesterday I did a thorough hive inspection for the first time.

Today DW and I biked Waterton Canyon, about a 13 mile ride (uphill the entire first half - literally no downhills).  Cannot believe how green everything is this year.

meadow lark

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #26 on: May 20, 2014, 04:14:20 PM »
Semiretired.  Last night I was able to stay up all night with my teen (very depressed/emotionally fragile this week) watching Star Trek, talking about his friends, his future, suicide (bad, don't do it), school (good, do it.)
  I think intermittent FMLA should be available to all parents.  Childhood and adolescence should count as medical emergencies.

totoro

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #27 on: May 20, 2014, 04:29:54 PM »
I guess I'm semi-retired...

Made pizza and cinnamon buns early for school lunch - plus smoothies for breakfast.

Took two of the kids to the walk-in clinic.  Both went to school later but it is nice to know that I'm here if someone needed to stay home sick. 

Went through a walk in my local village to the bank and grocery store. 

Picked up a courier package.

Paid bills. 

Made a booking for our vacation rental. 

Made greek salad and shish kebabs and cleaned the kitchen.

Read part of a book. 

Researched some topics for a personal project. 

Worked on the landscaping plan.

Posted on MMM......

Now the kids are on their way home from school and I'm putting out their snack.   Later this week I'll go watch some of their sports events and Friday I volunteer at their school.

MMMdude

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #28 on: May 20, 2014, 04:36:50 PM »
I'm not retired, but took today off on the back of Victoria DAy MOnday in Canada (holiday).  So it was a four day weekend.  Absolutely glorious as two days were to catch up on house stuff and then I felt like I actually had two days to enjoy myself.  Took dog for brisk 1.5 hour walk, read a book and some online stuff, slept in of course, listed some stuff for sale on Kijiji and of course enjoyed a couple beers on the patio.  I am absolutely dreading going to work tomorrow.

OH well, 4.5 years to go!

Jon_Snow

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #29 on: May 20, 2014, 07:05:49 PM »
Can't wait until I can participate in threads such as these as a legit early retiree....

Rural

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #30 on: May 21, 2014, 07:17:20 AM »
I'm not retired, not even semi, but because I arranged my life (and took lower pay) in a way that allows a flexible schedule and a great deal of working at home, today I'm able to wait for my 170-pound male Dane to lie down on his own so that I can treat his injured foot before I go to work. He'll stay still for me if I catch him off of that foot (once I put an arm over him, he somehow thinks I'm holding him down), but I cannot turn him or lift his back foot if he's sitting. During this injury, he has "conveniently" forgotten the diffence between "sit down" and "lie down" because he's scared of anyone messing with that foot. Once he sits on it, I just have to wait him out, and fortunately, I can.

quilter

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #31 on: May 24, 2014, 08:51:16 AM »
I'm not retired, not even semi, but because I arranged my life (and took lower pay) in a way that allows a flexible schedule and a great deal of working at home, today I'm able to wait for my 170-pound male Dane to lie down on his own so that I can treat his injured foot before I go to work. He'll stay still for me if I catch him off of that foot (once I put an arm over him, he somehow thinks I'm holding him down), but I cannot turn him or lift his back foot if he's sitting. During this injury, he has "conveniently" forgotten the diffence between "sit down" and "lie down" because he's scared of anyone messing with that foot. Once he sits on it, I just have to wait him out, and fortunately, I can.

Now that is a huge dog!

Helping with grandkids today. Helping kids do chores around the house, and cooking to give the parents a break.

Nords

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #32 on: May 24, 2014, 10:03:39 AM »
1.  Go surfing almost anytime I want.

2.  Plan and execute a 10-day stay in Houston for our daughter's college graduation and commissioning, along with seven other family & friends.  It included a pair of 4000-mile flights, spending hours with everyone over meals & talk story, helping our daughter pack out her apartment, and waving goodbye as she headed out on the road to her sea duty.  If I'd had to "keep in touch with the office" while we were working on this, it would've driven our family nuts.

CaliToCayman

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #33 on: May 26, 2014, 12:34:24 PM »
1.  Go surfing almost anytime I want.

That alone makes me so jealous

legacyoneup

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #34 on: May 26, 2014, 07:43:04 PM »
Gardening : I hope to have a sizable plot to stay busy with gardening.... maybe a small aquaponics setup. I'm going to try to make it completely automated from culturing duckweed through to the monitoring of ph / nitrite-nitrate levels / temperature, etc..... and the entire setup will be managed via solar power. This should be a fun project. Not sure if I will be able to pull this off.
Renaissance / Indian / Oriental art : Paris, Florence, London, Rome/Vatican. I'm going to build a stamp collection of renaissance art pieces ...as I can't afford the paintings.
Go back to school to study something fun like Chemistry / Geology or Art History / Painting / Sculpture.
Start a geode / minerals / rocks collection.
Get a microscope and make all kinds of fun slides... a telescope to do some stargazing.
Watch BSG / Stargate SG1 + Atlantis / Star Trek / Warehouse 13 / Hercule Poirot / Sherlock Holmes / Perry Mason all over again.
Go for long walks with my golden retriever and schnauzer.


RootofGood

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #35 on: May 27, 2014, 02:14:09 PM »
Extract my sister in law and her kids from the grips of my abusive brother.  I had time to drop everything last night and research domestic violence statutes in my state, prepare SIL for her day in court today and attend court with her.  She was able to get an emergency protective order issued today giving her sole custody of the kids and restraining the abusive spouse from being within 100 yards of her house, anywhere she is, or anywhere the kids are (school, childcare, etc). 

Mission accomplished. 

While working, this would have been a huge inconvenience to take the day off with almost zero notice.  Last night when she fled the abuser, I set up a conference call as they got her away, and started prepping her for the hearing in court today.  I said "hey, no problem, I don't have any concrete plans."  I had to postpone a playdate for the 2 year old till Thursday but otherwise wasn't inconvenienced in the slightest.  It's fun getting back into the courtroom (retired lawyer). 

Rural

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #36 on: May 27, 2014, 03:56:24 PM »
Extract my sister in law and her kids from the grips of my abusive brother.  I had time to drop everything last night and research domestic violence statutes in my state, prepare SIL for her day in court today and attend court with her.  She was able to get an emergency protective order issued today giving her sole custody of the kids and restraining the abusive spouse from being within 100 yards of her house, anywhere she is, or anywhere the kids are (school, childcare, etc). 

Mission accomplished. 

While working, this would have been a huge inconvenience to take the day off with almost zero notice.  Last night when she fled the abuser, I set up a conference call as they got her away, and started prepping her for the hearing in court today.  I said "hey, no problem, I don't have any concrete plans."  I had to postpone a playdate for the 2 year old till Thursday but otherwise wasn't inconvenienced in the slightest.  It's fun getting back into the courtroom (retired lawyer).


Good for you. So sorry it's your brother. Extra good for you.

RootofGood

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #37 on: May 27, 2014, 05:35:24 PM »
Extract my sister in law and her kids from the grips of my abusive brother.  I had time to drop everything last night and research domestic violence statutes in my state, prepare SIL for her day in court today and attend court with her.  She was able to get an emergency protective order issued today giving her sole custody of the kids and restraining the abusive spouse from being within 100 yards of her house, anywhere she is, or anywhere the kids are (school, childcare, etc). 

Mission accomplished. 

While working, this would have been a huge inconvenience to take the day off with almost zero notice.  Last night when she fled the abuser, I set up a conference call as they got her away, and started prepping her for the hearing in court today.  I said "hey, no problem, I don't have any concrete plans."  I had to postpone a playdate for the 2 year old till Thursday but otherwise wasn't inconvenienced in the slightest.  It's fun getting back into the courtroom (retired lawyer).


Good for you. So sorry it's your brother. Extra good for you.

It's my form of volunteering. 

RetiredAt63

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #38 on: May 27, 2014, 10:04:12 PM »
Nowhere near the impressiveness of RootOfGood's day, but I was able to take my therapy dog on her weekly visit (daytime hours, when I would have been working) to her seniors residence.  They love her.  The staff also love petting her.

Ozstache

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #39 on: May 28, 2014, 04:05:45 AM »
.. spent about six hours putting the final touches on my major economics assignment due on Friday for the Master's course you guys helped convince me to do this year.

I did get to walk the dogs is the bush (or woods as you northerners call it) for an hour or so mid morning. I love the solitude of walking at that time, when all the other munchkins are out working for the Wizard.

soccerluvof4

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #40 on: May 28, 2014, 06:05:53 AM »
Planted 7 trees. ( 4 Techney Arbor Vitaes and 3 Black Hill spruce all 7-8'). Grocery shopped and I was pretty pooped out after that. Took son to Soccer game. Crash and burned!

meadow lark

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Re: Because I'm "retired", today I was able to..
« Reply #41 on: May 28, 2014, 09:33:45 AM »
Root - great day!