I’m not retired and due to divorce, current age and adult child issues, don’t expect to retire early. However, I will be retired or semi-retired within a few years and today found myself daydreaming about what I would do in a typical day of retirement. Thinking about this might be a good exercise in that I should think about how to do more of these things today, even before I’m retired. It also makes me think about the social networks that need strengthening or creating.
My ideal day looks something like this:
Up in the morning, cup of tea and light breakfast or protein drink.
Go to gym for two hours (I like to dawdle in the sauna and jacuzzi after)
Followed by meeting friends for coffee/brunch.
Home for afternoon of reading or writing, or crafting or practicing music. On some days this might be substituted with taking lessons in music or art.
Late afternoon dinner prep.
Evenings - one night a week practicing or performing with a new band (my old one broke up). Other nights: going out to concerts or movies with friends, staying in to relax and watch a movie, maybe a regular casual dinner party nite with friends.
Reading over this I can see a couple of things:
I need to shoehorn more exercise into my current working schedule, difficult though it is. Also, I need to plan more social activities for the weekends to maintain/build up social network. (Note that I haven’t mentioned a partner - I have a boyfriend now but he has stage 4 lung cancer and it’s not very likely he’ll still be with us when I retire. I might date again if that happens but if so that would just go into the evening activities).
What does your perfect day in retirement look like? And what could you be doing right now to bring some of that into your current life?
