When I first retired, I thought I would busy myself with projects. My first was to clean every room and discard the clutter. That didn't happen as I discover 1) I do not like cleaning and 2) am married to a semi-hoarder. To dispose of items which have not seen the light of day for decades I am forced to do it in the dead of night or when he is out of town, never admitting that I actually did so.
I was forever silenced on the issue when during the "kitchen project" (following the living room project) the refinisher ruined one of my cupboard doors. As we contemplated which "pretties" to display in the gaping hole of a cupboard until a new one could be manufactured, Mr. Hoarder said "do nothing, I have an idea". Darned if he didn't go out to the shed and unearth a previously rejected (by me) cupboard from a previous kitchen project due to an unsightly wood defect. "It's just part of the wood grain!" Umm no. To make it sweeter it was the EXACT cupboard door that had been ruined. This particular item had been lanquishing in the shed for 15 years! It's the old blind squirrel finding the nut now and then theory that preserves a whole lot of stuff for the ages because..."we might need it someday".
However it fits with my theme that there are those of us who putz and those who have projects. Guess who is which. I am happy as long as I have a trip to plan, a remodeling project to design, a lake house to find and purchase (I did all the work and the realtor still gets paid), a refinance to pursue. Without a life-altering emergency or experience to create, I am at extremely loose ends. The OH is excellent at "putzing". Banging occurs in the workshop, items are dragged out of the shed, little trips to hardware stores can assume entire days and weeks.
I have appparently continued with "work mode" into retirement. Because as I have been told "you have no hobbies". Forty plus years of pivoting from new projects to crisis to "no one ever tried that before" (in the case of the MIOSHA Training Institute) my work life was rather addictive and consuming. Sleeping, eating and "putzing" as a retiree does not seem to reside in my wheel house very comfortably. I can explode an afternoon reading (I usually have 2-3 books in play) but then feel incredibly guilty.
Being President of the Michigan Safety Conference for two years has presented some great opportunities for decision making, writing and "kicking butt" on occasion so that's all good and continues my need to be of service. Having time to write in my blog should be an everyday thing, but I want to be sure its entertaining. Having unproductive time on my hands has led me to become more vehement about politics but happy to realize I am still the same fiscal-minded liberal I have always been. What a time to be vehement about politics.
To cover the void when I am no longer President I agreed to be one of the hosts on the new Safety Conference podcast "Safety Spectrum" beginning in May. I definitely "have a face for radio". As an interviewer my job will be to assure the speakers provide conversation that is both lively and informative which means research and practice.
I am looking forward to my sister's wedding in a couple of months which was postponed, thank you corona vi, as they have offered me the new challenge and honor of presiding over the ceremony. It will be a first for all of us LOL. In anticipation, I became a bona-fide ordained Minister of the Universal Life Church (me and Lady Gaga). Plus as her fiance wanted to honor all of our deceased family members I am working on a combined memorial/wedding that hopefully will be of both comfort and joy for all involved.
I just love projects....
No comments:
Post a Comment