I have learned a few things about retirement and myself. I have learned that retirement is a huge deal and that I have to learn to be flexible. It's okay to have a blueprint, but I have to be flexible.
I retired from the federal government (voluntarily) on January 28. My original plans were to give it a few weeks, then clean up my apartment and spend three or four days a week going to the library. It hasn't quite worked out like that. Today is March 14th, and while I have spent on average, two days a week at the library, that is all I have done. I now get up somewhere between 9:00 and 10:00. I was waking up at 6 to get ready for work and during the days immediately after retiring, I would still wake up between 5-6, then go back to bed after a bathroom run. Today, I tend to sleep from 1-8 or 9. I was never a morning person and I don't fully awaken until close to noon. I had to wing it when I was working, but now I can drag on until 12. I find though that I must leave the apartment . If I don't , I feel sluggish. Once I get out, I feel re-freshened. So far, I have only ventured to the library and on a train to Connecticut. I have train travel planned for April, so this means I am going to rework my retirement plans.
I still plan to hit the library at least three days out of a seven day week.
Two days a week I will relax in my apartment.
Between now and July I will clean the apartment and storage area, making no hard deadlines. I am shooting to do most of this work during May.
I think it is important to have free time. I am retired. There is no reason to have to validate every hour of my life. There is nothing wrong with watching television or reading a book all day. I'm not going to make that a daily activity. And be rest assured, once my annuity kicks in, I will fit in physical activity like bicycle riding and walking.
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