I've got some training to do

[The emperor has no clothes]

I retired exactly 2 weeks ago. A couple days before the big day Brenda's favorite Uncle passed away in Missouri. The next day my favorite Uncle passed away in the Houston area. It was bittersweet for us both. Brenda's Uncle Erman had been suffering Alzheimer's for many years. And my Uncle Elward suffered pancreatic cancer the last 2 years.
 My guys (and gals) threw me a party that Saturday night. The next morning after entirely way too much alcohol induced frivolity we headed for Ozark. I'm afraid I left my calling card from here to Gallup. You would think after 62 years I would have learned that 6 shots of Tequila along with a dozen beers was not going to work out. I'm going to have to build up my alcohol stamina while in retirement.  Even by the time we stopped for the night in Amarillo I still was not up to par. But, I wouldn't trade it for the world. It was a surprisingly emotional, sentimental, fun last hurrah with my crew.
 It was my first time in Missouri, and Brenda's first time in the Houston area. She got to see some of her family that she hadn't seen in 30 years, I got to see some of mine that I hadn't seen in 50 years. I'm greatful that the timing worked where we could pay our respects.
 Now, getting back to the title of this here thread. I've noticed some things in these 2 weeks that are going to have to be addressed. One being that, I didn't realize how much maintainence and projects that I'd let go around the home. I've got a lot of work to do ! Two, I've discovered after ten days in hotels that Sunday night TV is pretty important to my wife. Decades of multiple TV's in the house made me oblivious to this. I can predict "Dr. Pimple Popper" and "90 Day Fiancé " problems in our traveling future. Three, and the biggest retraining obstacle in my future, my wife has awoken me from a nap 3 times in 2 weeks ! This ain't going to fly ! I realize these naps are a new feature in our marriage, but she's going to have to adapt !


It's a good thing I'm "King of this Castle", and I don't have to be the one retrained. 

(Jess from VA jinxed me with his HVAC thread. Our A/C sprung a leak while we were gone. $5200 later and all is good) 

[Jess from VA]

Congratulations on retirement and my regrets on your losses Rob.

Houses (the sonsabitches) always need work (and always will).  Now that you have the time, don't waste all of it in a big hurry working on a big list.  Instead, do a little work more days than not, and in no time the list will be shorter (though it never goes away).

Do not let retirement disrupt a good marriage, they are damn hard to come by, and worth whatever it takes to keep them happy and agreeable.  

I'm a believer in negotiation.... you pretend to enjoy watching some of her TV shows, and in exchange she will stop waking you up from your naps.  Or find a place to nap she can't find you.  

$5200 doesn't sound like a leak, it sounds like a whole new unit.  I was glad to get a whole new AC and furnace; the bill sucked but I'll get over it.  It takes longer to save back big losses in retirement than when working, so drink cheaper beer.

I've watched less TV since retirement than about anytime prior.  I didn't realize that I watched TV as brief escapes from work pressure and conflict.  And that's long gone.  And I've about turned it off entirely since we seem to be in a perpetual state of national conflict (and being pissed off all day does not make you a happier person).  I've started reading books again after a long hiatus, and it is much better entertainment (if you have good books).

[NewValker]

Good for you Rob, enjoy every day!
Craig

[hubcapsc]

Aaahhhh! ! ! Get suites so she can watch those awful
teevee programs out in the foyer...

-Mike

[cookiedough]

the 4 weeks off past 2 months on furlough at home I took way way too many naps during the day usually 1 per day for 1-2 hours each day in the afternoon.  Never took naps during the day in my 20 and 30s but late 40s into 50s seem to be nap happy lately.  Cannot wait to be age 60 and above probably will be taking 1/2 day naps....      REALLY cannot wait to be fully retired no longer having to go into work and will not be drinking with co-workers/bosses when I retire, but drinking HAPPY to be OUTTA wherever I am at for good. 

My neighbor also retired recently was age 64 at the time now just turned age 65 and his wife will be retiring age 60 soon from a janitor job with great benefits/retirement pkg. from a college campus (govt job).  I guess it pays to clean poddies and mop floors/take out the trash for college age kids going to school for I know from what her husband told me her benefits/insurance are awesome as well as GREAT pay.    During this pandemic where the college was and still is closed her doing janitorial work,  she even got paid FULL PAY/benefits (thanks to govt. job)  not having to  go into work or do anything and still is getting full pay/benefits some 3 months now later and will continue to as well.  Pays to work for the school system(govt.) I guess? 

enjoy your retirement and get cracking on those house projects that trust me I know, NEVER go away.

[RP#62]

Congrats and condolences Rob.  I've been retired for just over a year now and I keep hearing how she's not getting stuff done because I messed up her schedule.  It does take a while getting used to the new routine but it beats the crap out of getting up early and driving in to the office.  I took the alarm clock out of the bedroom and I get up now when I get up.

-RP