Retirement - what do you do in yours?
Jun 15th 2017, 8:39 am
#1
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2017
Location: Barlavento
Posts: 381
Retirement - what do you do in yours?
Good morning folk.We have been retired here for 17 years, 10 'early'. The first years were very busy having just renovated an old property. The non-existent garden is now a lush jungle which a gardener maintains every three months.
I took up painting and for six years did commissions and displayed in three locations in the Algarve. For four years I ran a photography blog about the Algarve. I cycle 5kms on a static bike 3/4 times a week. I read and enjoy any kinds of crafts. I am writing a whimsical children's book about the lives of my cats. We socialise and lunch out with friends three times a week. I do not like soap operas or mindless TV but like forensic and criminology programmes. I do not like shopping centers or 'going out for coffees'. I do not like being out in the heat preferring to relax in the shade.
I am bored!!!!!
What do you do with your time, especially in the heat?
Jun 15th 2017, 9:43 am
#2
Banned
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 26,724
Re: Retirement - what do you do in yours?
Good morning folk.We have been retired here for 17 years, 10 'early'. The first years were very busy having just renovated an old property. The non-existent garden is now a lush jungle which a gardener maintains every three months.
I took up painting and for six years did commissions and displayed in three locations in the Algarve. For four years I ran a photography blog about the Algarve. I cycle 5kms on a static bike 3/4 times a week. I read and enjoy any kinds of crafts. I am writing a whimsical children's book about the lives of my cats. We socialise and lunch out with friends three times a week. I do not like soap operas or mindless TV but like forensic and criminology programmes. I do not like shopping centers or 'going out for coffees'. I do not like being out in the heat preferring to relax in the shade.
I am bored!!!!!
What do you do with your time, especially in the heat?
TV is only of real interest in the winter once the dark nights set in.
I have never had so many books bought to read but still unread.
I have a large music collection of Lps and CDs to be listened to.
Old video tapes of holidays to be edited and stored on disk.
Then there is always some decoration to be done.
Would love more time for Golf and fishing.
I do not know where I found the time for work.
Cannot remember the last time we just sat around the pool doing nothing.
Jun 15th 2017, 12:08 pm
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,031
Re: Retirement - what do you do in yours?
I'm always busy; I have a wood workshop and a metal workshop, and I build things I want or need.
I like doing this.
We chose our property carefully, so that the shop space would be available.
I'm backed up now, with projects wall to wall. I'm just finishing up a caravan renovation, then I want to finish a yard sweeping attachment I'm making for the tractor, and after that I'll start my long-planned solar heating build.
Rarely socialize, never go to bars or restaurants, rarely go to the beach [only 2km].
Walk my dog every morning [or he walks me], and we do like to relax with some escapist TV in the evenings.
Although there was some confusion while switching between CNN news and "House of cards". It was hard to tell the difference.
I like doing this.
We chose our property carefully, so that the shop space would be available.
I'm backed up now, with projects wall to wall. I'm just finishing up a caravan renovation, then I want to finish a yard sweeping attachment I'm making for the tractor, and after that I'll start my long-planned solar heating build.
Rarely socialize, never go to bars or restaurants, rarely go to the beach [only 2km].
Walk my dog every morning [or he walks me], and we do like to relax with some escapist TV in the evenings.
Although there was some confusion while switching between CNN news and "House of cards". It was hard to tell the difference.
Jun 15th 2017, 1:05 pm
#4
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 0
Re: Retirement - what do you do in yours?
This worried me when I first considered retiring but you are both right, there is always loads to do including learning the language & doing the garden, things to do keep finding me!
Jun 15th 2017, 3:56 pm
#5
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 6,313
Re: Retirement - what do you do in yours?
Good morning folk.We have been retired here for 17 years, 10 'early'. The first years were very busy having just renovated an old property. The non-existent garden is now a lush jungle which a gardener maintains every three months.
I took up painting and for six years did commissions and displayed in three locations in the Algarve. For four years I ran a photography blog about the Algarve. I cycle 5kms on a static bike 3/4 times a week. I read and enjoy any kinds of crafts. I am writing a whimsical children's book about the lives of my cats. We socialise and lunch out with friends three times a week. I do not like soap operas or mindless TV but like forensic and criminology programmes. I do not like shopping centers or 'going out for coffees'. I do not like being out in the heat preferring to relax in the shade.
I am bored!!!!!
What do you do with your time, especially in the heat?
I say that ,because so was I during the very wet period we had not so long ago. Then I didn't want to go out,but hated staying in.
We have gone through various stages in our 6 yrs here.They actually reflect the life we had for 30 yrs in NL. Periods of hectic activity and involvement . Followed by fallow periods when no one is here ,or friends have died ,moved, or just drifted away. Joined and left clubs. Family going through good,bad and terrible times... The only difference is we hang the tag 'retired' on it.
Routine can be a killer. Reduce your social days by one and go do something entirely different on that day. (once a month even) Visit historical sites for e.g. Whip out an illegal metal detector and see what you can find
(I do
)We are in fact just coming out of a slump ,(caused by family problems.) They made us question why we were here. Almost had the house up for sale. Then for no discernible reason at all,it all just changed.
i started writing my third book, (inspired by a local tragedy) and dug out my watercolour paints again. OH re~modelled part of the garden and I planted 30 Iris corms.thinking of that wonderful Japanese painting ,and wanting to replicate it in my garden.ha. That lead on to other projects
From the sound of your post,you like regular challenges (every few yrs).Have you thought of doing something else in your garden?. Succulents? grass's? I am a passionate follower of Piet Oudolf (world expert on grass's) Lucky enough to meet him and visit his garden,buy some of his grass's .I now search for new and interesting ones ,as they thrive here .
As a crafty person..how about introducing some mosaics into your garden scheme-? making it yourself.
I am with you on the criminology/crime progs... Watching some good ones now.. FEARLESS. and THE LOCH.---Luckily with encore etc we can watch them late at night or whenever it suits...
The heat can be a big problem.. We play Golf and it certainly curtails that a bit.We go with the flow though.. Get up a lot earlier.to play golf. then swim ,have lunch and take a nap like all who live in the heat do. Good luck..
Jun 15th 2017, 4:31 pm
#6
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 0
Re: Retirement - what do you do in yours?
LOL... No your not... bored that is.. Your just temporarily short of ideas
I say that ,because so was I during the very wet period we had not so long ago. Then I didn't want to go out,but hated staying in.
We have gone through various stages in our 6 yrs here.They actually reflect the life we had for 30 yrs in NL. Periods of hectic activity and involvement . Followed by fallow periods when no one is here ,or friends have died ,moved, or just drifted away. Joined and left clubs. Family going through good,bad and terrible times... The only difference is we hang the tag 'retired' on it.
Routine can be a killer. Reduce your social days by one and go do something entirely different on that day. (once a month even) Visit historical sites for e.g. Whip out an illegal metal detector and see what you can find(I do)
We are in fact just coming out of a slump ,(caused by family problems.) They made us question why we were here. Almost had the house up for sale. Then for no discernible reason at all,it all just changed.
i started writing my third book, (inspired by a local tragedy) and dug out my watercolour paints again. OH re~modelled part of the garden and I planted 30 Iris corms.thinking of that wonderful Japanese painting ,and wanting to replicate it in my garden.ha. That lead on to other projects
From the sound of your post,you like regular challenges (every few yrs).Have you thought of doing something else in your garden?. Succulents? grass's? I am a passionate follower of Piet Oudolf (world expert on grass's) Lucky enough to meet him and visit his garden,buy some of his grass's .I now search for new and interesting ones ,as they thrive here .
As a crafty person..how about introducing some mosaics into your garden scheme-? making it yourself.
I am with you on the criminology/crime progs... Watching some good ones now.. FEARLESS. and THE LOCH.---Luckily with encore etc we can watch them late at night or whenever it suits...
The heat can be a big problem.. We play Golf and it certainly curtails that a bit.We go with the flow though.. Get up a lot earlier.to play golf. then swim ,have lunch and take a nap like all who live in the heat do. Good luck..
I say that ,because so was I during the very wet period we had not so long ago. Then I didn't want to go out,but hated staying in.
We have gone through various stages in our 6 yrs here.They actually reflect the life we had for 30 yrs in NL. Periods of hectic activity and involvement . Followed by fallow periods when no one is here ,or friends have died ,moved, or just drifted away. Joined and left clubs. Family going through good,bad and terrible times... The only difference is we hang the tag 'retired' on it.
Routine can be a killer. Reduce your social days by one and go do something entirely different on that day. (once a month even) Visit historical sites for e.g. Whip out an illegal metal detector and see what you can find
(I do)We are in fact just coming out of a slump ,(caused by family problems.) They made us question why we were here. Almost had the house up for sale. Then for no discernible reason at all,it all just changed.
i started writing my third book, (inspired by a local tragedy) and dug out my watercolour paints again. OH re~modelled part of the garden and I planted 30 Iris corms.thinking of that wonderful Japanese painting ,and wanting to replicate it in my garden.ha. That lead on to other projects
From the sound of your post,you like regular challenges (every few yrs).Have you thought of doing something else in your garden?. Succulents? grass's? I am a passionate follower of Piet Oudolf (world expert on grass's) Lucky enough to meet him and visit his garden,buy some of his grass's .I now search for new and interesting ones ,as they thrive here .
As a crafty person..how about introducing some mosaics into your garden scheme-? making it yourself.
I am with you on the criminology/crime progs... Watching some good ones now.. FEARLESS. and THE LOCH.---Luckily with encore etc we can watch them late at night or whenever it suits...
The heat can be a big problem.. We play Golf and it certainly curtails that a bit.We go with the flow though.. Get up a lot earlier.to play golf. then swim ,have lunch and take a nap like all who live in the heat do. Good luck..
